Touch Of Eternity - The mortal trails Book 1

Trouble by the river

Xiaoyan's breath came in ragged gasps as her feet pounded against the uneven earth, her legs burning with every desperate step. She didn't dare look back. The sound of hooves thundered behind her, getting louder, closing in. She could feel the tremors of the ground beneath her, the soldiers chasing her on horseback, relentless. The trees ahead blurred as her vision narrowed, but she kept running, pushing her body beyond exhaustion. There was no other choice; stopping meant death. She was a murderer now.

The cold air stung her lungs, and her muscles screamed for relief, but she didn't slow down. Her mind raced as fast as her heart, replaying the events of just moments before. The young girl, the soldier, the crack of the stick hitting his skull, it had all happened so fast. Too fast. But there was no time to think now. She needed to escape, to disappear into the wild before the manhunt caught up to her.

She darted to the left, into a thicket of tall grass, hoping the cover would hide her as she zigzagged through the narrow paths. The overgrowth tugged at her clothes, slashing at her arms, but she ignored the pain, forcing her way through. Every step felt like a battle as the ground turned more uneven, the rocks beneath her feet shifting, threatening to trip her up. She stumbled but quickly regained her balance, pushing herself forward. The sound of the river grew louder, her only chance.

Her mind raced as she sprinted toward the water's edge. She could feel the soldiers' eyes on her, the heat of their gaze burning into her back as they gained on her. The rustle of leaves and the snap of branches signaled the relentless pursuit, and panic began to rise in her throat, choking her.

The river came into view, glistening in the fading light of the day. With a last burst of speed, she reached the riverbank, the water rushing violently before her. Without hesitation, Xiaoyan leaped in, the cold hitting her like a wall. It stole her breath, the shock momentarily paralyzing her, but she forced herself to keep moving, kicking against the current as it tugged at her legs. Her arms flailed, splashing in a frantic attempt to reach the other side.

Behind her, the soldiers dismounted, their boots crunching against the gravel as they followed her into the water. Xiaoyan's heart sank. She could hear them, closer now. She pushed harder, her arms aching from the effort, but the current was too strong, the water too deep. She couldn't fight it for much longer.

Her hand brushed against something solid, a branch, half submerged in the river. She grabbed it with both hands, her fingers numb and trembling as she pulled herself onto it. Her body ached, every muscle screaming for rest, but she couldn't stop. She couldn't let them catch her.

Clinging to the branch, Xiaoyan dragged herself out of the water, her wet clothes weighing her down as she scrambled onto the opposite bank. She looked back just once, her chest heaving as she saw the soldiers still in pursuit, their eyes locked on her with deadly intent.

"Go! Don't let her get away!"

Xiaoyan's heart raced faster, fear gripping her so tightly she thought she might choke on it, her legs wobbling as she broke into another run. Her surroundings blurred, trees, rocks, the ever, darkening sky above, but all that mattered was the distance between her and them.

The forest thickened ahead, its shadows growing deeper as the sun dipped lower. Xiaoyan plunged into it without a second thought, the branches slapping at her face, the thorns tearing at her skin. Her breath came in short, painful gasps, but she kept running, her vision hazy with exhaustion. She knew these woods better than they did. She had to use that to her advantage.

Every sound echoed around her, the snap of twigs underfoot, the pounding of her heart. Her mind raced, searching for a way out. She couldn't keep this up forever.

Suddenly, her foot caught on something, a root hidden beneath the leaves, and she went sprawling forward, her body slamming into the ground with a painful thud. She gasped, the wind knocked out of her as she lay there for a moment, dazed. The forest spun around her, and she forced herself to move, to get back up.