Heart of a rogue

Chapter 34

I was just about to speak up when a massive, black claw erupted from the tangled shrubbery and clamped down on my leg. The sudden, vise-like grip took me completely by surprise. Before I could even scream, I was yanked down with an unrelenting force that made my stomach lurch.

The world around me spun as I was dragged violently toward the encroaching darkness. My hands flailed, grasping for anything to hold onto, but the claw's grip was too strong, pulling me further into the maze's depths.

Just as I was about to be swallowed by the wall of twisting vines, Leo's hand shot out and grasped mine with a fierce, vice-like grip. His strength anchored me in place, and for a moment, the force pulling me eased. I could see his face contorted with determination as he fought against the claw's pull.

"Hold on, Lucille!" Leo shouted over the roar of the maze. His voice was a lifeline amid the chaos.

Desperately, I clung to Leo's hand, feeling the sharp tug of the claw trying to drag me away. The vines writhed and twisted around us, their dark, sinewy forms closing in. Leo's muscles strained as he pulled against the claw's relentless force, his grip unwavering.

With a final, forceful heave, Leo managed to pull me back from the brink. The claw's grip slackened, and I was abruptly released, tumbling onto the ground as Leo yanked me free.

Gasping for breath, I scrambled to my feet, my heart pounding in my chest. Leo stood over me, his face etched with concern but his eyes still fierce with resolve.

"Are you alright?" he asked urgently, pulling me to my feet.

I nodded, trying to steady my racing pulse. "I—yeah, I'm okay," I managed to say, though my voice wavered.

The claw receded into the darkness, the vines returning to their shifting, serpentine dance. My companions were rushing toward us, their faces marked with worry and relief. The maze's eerie silence was momentarily broken by their frantic calls.

Declan reached us first, his eyes darting between me and Leo. "Are you hurt?" he asked, his voice tight with concern. Joshua's eyes widened as he looked down at my leg. A massive claw mark had gouged deeply into my skin, the dark red lines stark against my pale flesh. The wound was still fresh, and a thin line of blood trickled from it.

"Damn it, Lucille," Abel muttered, his voice tinged with concern as he crouched beside me. "You're hurt." 

I winced as Abel carefully inspected the claw mark, his expression shifting from worry to determination. "It's not too deep," he said, though his tone was grim. 

"I'm fine, guys," I insisted, though the pain in my leg was undeniable. I tried to sound reassuring, but the discomfort made it hard to mask my distress. "Really."

Alani crossed her arms and fixed me with a stern look. "You're not fine. Those vines scratched every surface of your skin. It's not just a scratch; it's a serious wound."

Her concern was evident, and despite my attempt to downplay it, I knew she was right. The claw mark was more than just a minor scrape. The pain was constant, a reminder of the danger we were facing.

"I appreciate the concern, but we really need to keep moving," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "The sooner we find Agatha, the sooner we can end this."

Leo reached into his pocket and retrieved a small vial filled with a glowing, greenish liquid. He held it up, letting the potion catch what little light there was in the maze. The potion shimmered with a faint, otherworldly glow, and the scent of herbs and magic filled the air.

"I've got a healing potion," Leo said, his voice firm. "This should help with the wound."

I shook my head, trying to appear resolute despite the throbbing pain. "No, we should save it. What if something worse happens later? This might be needed more then."