A Broken Fairy Tale

Prologue

My face slams into a low hanging branch, I feel blood drip from my forehead as I fall to the ground. I can feel my head throbbing and a headache surfacing. I have no time to waste sitting, burdening over my wounds.

 I scramble quickly to my feet and continue running at full speed. Not far behind me, I can hear the dull roar and the heavy steps in pursuit. I mentally calculate the distance to the safe house. I won't be able to reach it in time. I can feel my cheeks getting wet.

 I think of all the people back at the base. I hope they made it out alive. If I did my job right, they should be gone by now. The further I travel the closer the roar behind me is. Tears keep rolling down my face, blurring my vision of the dimly lit forest. I know I can't keep at this speed for very long.

I never really thought about the idea of death. I can only hope it will be painless. I have seen close family die before my eyes but never thought about being dead myself. I slowly examine the item I hold in my hand.

 A book, the cover engraved with a quill. The title in an old language I have yet to translate. I still have so much to figure out, I can't die yet. Mysteries of this book need to be solved. I come to terms with myself that I cannot accomplish this anymore.

I see no point in running anymore. If fate has brought me to this exact moment, it must mean that it is my time. I come to a complete and sudden stop, the thundering steps are only a few meters away from me.

 I look at my prized possession one last time. I have never been a religious person, I have seen the world in pieces and people losing hope. If there was a powerful force somewhere, wouldn't they have done something by now? But, even now, in my last moments, I pray to whoever might be out there.

With that, I face the approaching steps. The thundering footsteps have stopped and I know that this is the moment. I drop the book to the ground, it lands with a heavy thud and dirt goes flying. I tear my eyes away from it and meet the green glowing eyes in front of me. I close my eyes until all I see is darkness and wait for death the envelope me. 

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