Caged Body, Free Mind

The Secret Passage

Midnight and Ester were running through the tunnel, linked together by their hands. They couldn't see a thing ahead of them, which made them a little skeptical.

"We've been running for nearly a half hour, do you know how far this goes?" Ester shouted.

"I am afraid I do not. Have faith we will find light soon. Hold onto my hand tight, I will not leave you behind." he said, fragments of his voice echoing across the cavern.

Glancing in astonishment at his outstretched hand, Ester took it, helping herself to the reassurance it had to offer. She secretly reveled in his touch, for it gave her the strength to overcome her fears and slay her demons that lay in the deepest caverns of her mind. His hand to her was like a lifeline she could hold onto. In total darkness, when even her own shadow left her, he was there. Midnight was the first person she met beside Will, yet she knew she could trust him with her life- a feeling of which was almost impossible to harness- especially after being betrayed and almost killed like she was.

Ester had hoped, with all her heart, that perhaps beneath his seldom-changing face and lack of emotion, that Midnight cared for her touch as well. However, she reluctantly came to the conclusion that she did not mean all that much to him, that there were other people whom he held a greater desire for. Her opinion might have changed quite a bit, had Ester seen Midnight's face; though covered by darkness, was flustered by her comply to give him her hand.

Some time later, a speck of daylight was ahead. They had slowed down their pace, relieved to have made it. As they were about to exit the tunnel, Midnight gestured for Ester to stay behind him, for he was to check for any hostilities.

The snapping of twigs could be heard some ten meters away. Deep voices were chatting away in vile tones. It became clear that the Black Knights were upon them.

He turned to Ester with a grim face. Her own darkened as well. He spoke in a hushed whisper. "The Black Knights have followed us. With them this close, our best option is to fly. They won't be able to keep up."

"A-Are you sure we have to f-fly? S-Some are on horseback, they can still get to us." she said nervously.

Hastily, he said, "If we're fast enough we can beat them. I know you're hesitant to fly, but we don't have a choice. I cannot easily fight them. They outnumber me 15 or so to 1. Those aren't good odds. If you fall I will catch you, Ester. To take off you're going to run as fast as you can and flap your wings in great, fast strides. Come now, let's go."

He pulled her hand into a vice-like grip and started running. They were on flat ground surrounded by trees on all sides, which was not necessarily an easy place to fly for the second time. Midnight's wings started rising up and down, spreading wind everywhere. Nearby dirt and leaves were lifted off the ground in response to the strength of his large wings. Ester mirrored his actions, and managed flapped her wings in hard, short strokes. They did not trigger nearly as much wind as Midnight's. Panting heavily, her body grew weary, and her lungs felt like they were on fire. Sweat cascaded down her damp skin. Just as she thought that she would fail, she felt her feet slowly lifting off the ground just as the hollering of the men drew closer.

"Harder, Ester, you need to gain movement." Midnight said as he was already higher than her.

"I'm trying!" she said, her voice raised in frustration. She took up all her strength to get as high as Midnight, and after 30 seconds more, they were just above the treeline, increasing their speed. With a nod exchanged between the two, they began to fly forward. Spears were hurdled at them and shouts of irritated soldiers soon filled the tense air.

They began flying faster but Ester could not fly nearly as fast as Midnight, so he stayed behind with her. She grew nervous as arrows flew around her. Her eyes widened in fear. A sharp pain struck the edge of her left wing as an arrow grazed it. Ester let out a groan but continued to fly through the pain. Specs of bright red blood dripped from her small but throbbing wound. Midnight quickly flew behind Ester to cover her and blocked the arrows with his enormous wings and armed wrists. He grunted each time an arrow attempted to pierce through his thick wings.