Linewalkers

17 | Chase and Place

Not Edited 

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She waited, her breath stolen. 

Several minutes had passed since Kreve had left her in the closet. She really didn't think the small space would save her from the Fallarks, surely they were smarter than that, but she didn't dare to move. She had no other choice but to trust Kreve and his judgement. She was in his world and she was dependent on him for survival, she was beginning to realize just how vital that was. 

She couldn't see anything, it was so dark she couldn't see her own hand in front of her face. She kept her breathing shallow and noiseless though her heart raced a million miles an hour. She feared the organ would pound too hard and crack her ribs in its attempt to escape. 

Suddenly, she almost jumped out of her skin when she heard a crash sound from the other side of the door. Her body stilled after the startle and her eyes glued in the direction of the noise. Surely it wasn't Kreve. Why would he cause a ruckus? It was a Fallark, or many of them. They were close. She was so close to death, it was frightening. 

Her body knew she was in danger. The hairs along her arm stood in icy acclamation, pin-prickles followed in a ghost of warning. She felt the desire to run, she knew she couldn't fight. Another crash followed outside the door, closer this time. She could faintly hear the footsteps, a whispered word that she couldn't understand, and then silence. 

Then, the next thing she knew, something hit the door securing her in the dark. She jumped back, trying to stop the panicked breaths escaping her, and then another impact hit the door. She heard wood splintering and then with another hit, she was blinded with light. She squinted for only a moment, hands raised to protect herself and then harsh hands were secured around her arms. 

She cried out, pain streaking up her arms, as the Fallark drug her from her shelter. He threw her onto the floor and then he unsheathed his sword. She didn't think, her pure instinct kicked in. First, she kicked her leg back and nailed the front of his knee. When he grunted and fell onto one knee, she kicked again and struck his face. She heard his nose break and while he was disoriented for a few seconds, she snatched a dagger from his belt and cut across his cheek. 

There was no way she could kill him, she couldn't stand the sight of blood, and she wasn't a murderer. Nor would she ever be, or so she thought. In another quick motion, she brought the handle of the knife against the Fallarks head, striking his temple hard. His eyes fluttered, his face fell, and then he dropped unconscious. 

She stood in horror. She had just attacked someone and knocked them out. The dagger slipped from her fingertips, falling by the Fallarks head. She never knew she had it in her to take anyone down. She wasn't aggressive. She didn't believe she had a mean bone in her body. 

Her head whipped around when she heard shouting from downstairs. Not long after, several footsteps thundered on the staircase. She followed her instinct for the second time, quickly assessing the room for an escape. She dove for the window, prying the pane of glass from its resting place, and then she slipped through. She set her feet on the rain gutter and before she could gauge the drop, the gutter collapsed underneath her weight. 

She hit the ground harder than she was prepared for and all the air left her lungs. Spots danced in her vision and she rolled onto her side, heaving and coughing. Out of her peripheal vision, she saw several men sticking their heads out the window. She didn't have time, she struggled to her feet. Her mind was blurry. 

A sharp noise caught her attention and she saw four horses tied to the trees a few feet away. She had never ridden a horse before but she wasn't given a chance to think about it. She approached the horses with her hands raised, they snorted and pawed. 

"Its okay, its okay," She said, nervously. One of them eyed her warily but he seemed calmer so she approached him. His ears swiveled, his nostrils flared and she grabbed his reins. She heard more shouting behind her, something whizzed by her head, and she quickly, and awkwardly, pulled herself into the saddle upon the horse's back. 

The horse seemed to understand her urgency to get out of there and he took off without her command. She clutched to the saddle, the reins dangling across the animal's neck but she didn't have to heart to grab them. After a few strides, she managed to balance her weight upon the galloping animal. She matched his stride and slowly let her body sway with the movement. She gathered the reins in her hands and she began to guide him from the road he followed. They entered the trees and she weaved them through. 

Something else whizzed over her and she glanced over her shoulder. The Fallarks were in pursuit and they were pissed. She tried urging her horse faster but even he had his limits. She felt his breathing grow heavier with every stride. He covered a lot of ground with his strides but he was growing tired, she was going to get caught. 

She wiped the tears from her eyes and tried to take in the surroundings around her. Her horse descended into a small valley and then he grunted to rise out of the other side. She saw a low hanging limb quickly approaching and before she could consider her incredibly stupid idea, she shook her feet from the stirrups. 

She pulled the reins and the horse slowed a little, she hoped the impact wouldn't be too bad. At the last moment, she let go of the reins and raised her arms. All of the air left her lungs for the second time today and the rough bark of the limb bit into her ribs but she grasped the limb as if her life depended on it. In all reality, it really did. 

She struggled for only a moment before she managed to pull herself onto the limb. Thick branches and broad leaves almost completely concealed her. She heard the hoofbeats of her horse continue to gallops and the thunder of the Fallarks in hot pursuit. She stayed still despite wanting to get closer to the trunk of the tree and in the next minute, she watched three horses with Fallarks perched atop them race below the limb she stood upon. 

It was a pure miracle that they didn't notice her short escape. They assumed she was still trying to outrun them on the horse. She wondered how much time she had before they realized the horse was alone and looped back to check the woods. She had to think fast. 

.    .    .    .    .    .

Its 1am and I'm staying in a dorm. 

Getting the best experience of college life. (It sucks). 

What do you guys think so far?