Bound by Glass

09| Still Regretting My Choice

My heart was pumping in my chest.

The Authorities left.

I didn't leave my hiding spot.

..356, 357, 358, 359, 360..

I slowly retreated from the shadows, stepping into the clear. I watched carefully around me, cautious for any stray Authorities—or worse—wolves.

The wind had rose, and blew an ash cloud in front of the moon. It was now even darker than it was before.

"Kael!" I whisper-yelled.

I unsheathed my dagger from my belt. It was night, and Rifecsa, Mekayka and Authorities were roaming the grounds. I'd better be prepared for anything, even if a small dagger like mine wouldn't make much of a difference. Its worn leather had formed to my hand, stained black from excessive use. I got it from Otanec; he said it belonged to my mother, a long time ago. He gave it to me for my seventh birthday and I've carried it with me ever since.

The freshly sharpened Dark Iron dagger glistened in the moonlight, the small engravings on the narrow blade seemingly glowing black. Its familiar weight in my palm soothed me as I looked around again.

"Kael!" No answer.

Why wasn't he answering?

I took another step on the soft forest floor. My heel sunk into the layer of dead leaves and moss, making a dull, muffled sound.

There were no threats surrounding the clearing, for now. I turned to survey my environment. The tunnel had opened at the face of a small cliff, maybe ten metres high. The cliff went straight up, but made a small curve which casted the bottom in shadows. The rough sandstone rocks were entangled by some stray roots and small plants. In the middle was a strip of darkness, which I recognised as the tunnel. It was hidden by a big rock, covering half of it. If you didn't know it was there, you wouldn't have seen the opening.

The cliff didn't look very appealing for climbing. I saw the small alcove where I had hidden myself. Now, looking upon it, I saw the luck I had had. The rest of the rock face was smooth—although it was covered with jagged rocks and thorny plants.

And... nothing else.

Kael wasn't there. I started panicking, and I felt my heartbeat rise again. I thought he had been just a few metres from me, on the other side of the boulder. Where had he gone?

I rushed over to the rock, eyeing the sides and pacing past the cliff, hoping for an alcove or anything where he could have hidden himself.

My luck ran out. I even ran back into the tunnel, whispering "Kael!" into its pitch black depths, but the echoes were too loud and carried too far. I strained my ears but didn't get an answer.

I sunk to my knees. I took a deep breath, clinging onto my dagger, pushing it into the earth, twisting and turning it around. There was no time to be weak. I had to be strong, or I'd never find him.

I also had to get back to camp. I looked up again, into the darkness of the tunnel. Would he still be in there? I stayed still for a couple of moments, trying to to hear the sounds of Kael's footsteps.

But I heard nothing.

Not only from the tunnel–the entire clearing had fallen silent, like everything held its breath. The bailas had stopped rustling in the wind, and the insects had gone quiet. The moving of leaves and small animals had stopped. It was like the world held its breath for just a second, and you could hear the silence of the universe. The only sound I heard was my heartbeat pounding in my ears.