Unaware Lifestyle.

Chapter 3: The Escape

Lyra's heart raced as she crept through the darkness, her bare feet making barely a sound on the cold stone floor. She had been planning this moment for what felt like an eternity, and she knew that every second counted. The village of Elyria was never silent, but at this hour, the only sounds were the distant howls of wolves and the creaks and groans of the old wooden buildings. She could hear the guards patrolling outside, their laughter and shouts echoing through the corridors.

She reached the door and hesitated, her hand on the latch. She knew that once she opened it, there would be no going back. The elders would never let her return, and even if they did, she would never be able to go back to her old life. She took a deep breath and pushed the door open, slipping out into the night.

The village was shrouded in darkness, the only light coming from the moon overhead. Lyra knew that she had to move quickly, before the guards realized she was gone. She made her way through the narrow streets, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew every inch of Valtoria, every hidden corner and every secret passageway. She had spent years exploring, searching for a way out.

As she ran, she could feel the weight of her past bearing down on her. She had been a slave in Valtoria for as long as she could remember, forced to work in the fields and serve the cruel whims of the village elders. They had taken her from her family when she was just a child, and she had never known a life outside these walls. But she had always known that she was meant for something more.

She thought about her mother, who had been taken from her when she was just a baby. She thought about her too who she knew not, or probably had been killed in a failed escape attempt when she was just a child. She thought about her siblings, who had been sold off to other villages when she was just a teenager. She thought about all the people she had loved and lost in Valtoria.

Finally, she saw it - the edge of the forest, looming dark and mysterious in the distance. Lyra knew that if she could just make it there, she would be safe. She pushed herself harder, her legs aching as she sprinted towards the trees. She could hear the guards shouting behind her now, their footsteps getting closer and closer.

And then, just as she thought she had made it, she felt a hand grab her arm, pulling her back. Lyra spun around, her heart racing, and saw one of the guards standing behind her. He was grinning, his eyes gleaming with malice.

"You think you can escape us, Lyra?"

He sneered.

"You think you can just leave?"

Lyra tried to pull away, but he held her fast. She knew that she had to think fast, or she would be dragged back to the village and punished severely. She looked around, desperate for a way out, and that was when she saw it - a large rock lying on the ground, half-hidden in the shadows. She grabbed it, her fingers closing around it tightly, and swung it at the guard with all her might.

The rock hit him squarely on the head, and he crumpled to the ground, releasing his grip on her arm. Lyra didn't hesitate - she took off running, the forest looming ahead of her like a sanctuary. She plunged into the trees, the darkness enveloping her like a shroud.

She ran for what felt like hours, her heart pounding in her chest, her legs aching with exhaustion. Every breath was a struggle, but she didn't dare stop. The guards were closing in, their shouts and footsteps getting closer and closer.

But she refused to give up. She kept her eyes fixed on the horizon, her mind focused on escape. The sun beat down on her, relentless in its intensity, but she didn't falter.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she saw it - a glimmer of light in the distance. Hope surged through her veins, giving her the strength to keep going. She ran towards the light, her legs trembling with fatigue.