My dad helped me sneak out the back of Miss May's house, a blanket wrapped around me like a cloak. The alley was blissfully quiet, not a soul in sight. I ran through the streets, stopping if anyone approached, hiding as best I could from anyone who might see me.
Cinder would be furious. I wasn't sure I cared anymore. This wasn't about him, or the gangs, not even about the Outskirts as a whole. I refused to go willingly into that fortress, never to be seen again. No one, not even an Alpha, had the right to make me do this.
I snuck into the back door of my shop as the sun fell. The door whined on its hinges, making me wince. I paused, listening for a long time, but the only sounds were the wind and the distant hum of voices.
Inside, I grabbed my pack, slinging it onto the counter. I looked around at the comforting space that had been my only home, a lump forming in my throat. I swallowed it away uncomfortably. I had no time to dwell on emotions.
I ran from room to room, grabbing anything of use I could find: blankets from the beds, my brother's boots that would be way too big, a water skin, some dried herbs, and a fire starter. There was no food in the house, nor were there any coats or winter gear. I would have to make do with what I had. There was no time to try and get anything better.
Cinder probably knew I was gone by now. If he wasn't already on his way here to stop me, I would be surprised. I had just finished loading my backpack and tying the blankets around me in a way where they wouldn't fall off when the front door opened.
It was too late for me to duck around something to hide. So I held my head high, then frowned. Mira stood there looking up at me, tears streaking down her little cheeks.
"You are running away, aren't you?" she asked, slowly walking towards me.
I knelt, holding my arms out for her. She buried herself against my neck, clinging to me, tiny fist twisted in the blankets.
"Not from any of you. I just don't want anyone to get hurt. If I stay, bad men will make me go, and they will hurt the people we love," I told her the truth, wishing I could have found a comforting lie.
She pulled away, looking into my eyes. "Momma is mad that you got your gift so late. Daddy beat me up when I told him you tried your best."
Tears trickled down my cheeks as I thought of her getting hurt for trying to defend me. I pulled her in tighter against me, rocking her gently.
"Adults who are hurting are not very smart sometimes. They say and do things because they don't know how to deal with the pain, but that doesn't make it ok. Promise me to let them say whatever they want. You don't have to defend me. Don't get hurt on my account."
We stayed like that for several long minutes before she pulled away.
"Lils, I don't want you to go. It is too cold, you will get sick."
"Look, I got on boots and three blankets! I will be fine, I promise. Can you make it home?" I asked her, wiping her face with the corner of the blanket.
She frowned at me, biting her lip. Then shouted at the top of her lungs, startling me, "Hux! She is in here."
I gasped and fell back, trying to get to my feet. She clung to me, a determined look on her face as Hux burst through the door, panting.
"Lilliah! There you are! The boss is looking everywhere for you. Come on, let's go see him before he burns down the town," he suggested, eyes wide. He kept licking his lips nervously, like he knew what I planned.
I tugged with all my might. One of the blankets pulled free, sending Mira sprawling to the floor, unhurt but startled. I ran with all my might, hearing him shouting and crashing through the shop behind me.
The door slamming against the wall a second later made me glance back. Hux put something to his lips and blew with all his might. A shrill, high-pitched shriek filled the air, making me cry out and press my hands to my ears.
Howls erupted in answer, and I knew I had to move faster or I would be caught. I didn't know if it was just the Ashclaws or if the rest of the gangs were chasing me down as well, but I knew if they caught me, they would never let me go willingly.
I ran harder, heart slamming against my ribs as I reached the line of trees. Snow started to fall. It would be too slow to cover my tracks. I couldn't stop and try to hide it either; they were close.
I bounced off trees, their branches clawing at my hair and clothes, slowing me down. A cliff rose above me, and I slammed into it, climbing as fast as I could. The stones were slick from the snow, and several times, I nearly lost my grip, but I managed to pull myself upright.
To my surprise, no one was there when I looked down. Why had they stopped chasing? I frowned in confusion, but shook off the unease and started moving again—running faster than I ever had before.
Darkness felt like it was closing around me. The trees loomed over me like specters ready to grab me if I let them. Fear was a choking feeling in my chest that stole my breath more than running every could. I had never felt so alone in my life.
To make matters worse, my gift took that moment to flare into a burn that felt like my skin was peeling off my body. It was beyond uncomfortable. I stumbled, pain making me whimper. It was still burning too hot, and the physical exertion was making it worse. If I didn't slow down, I would be in real trouble.
I walked slowly, dragging myself forward, jumping at every sound. There was only the wind and the soft, hushed sound of snow falling. I shivered and leaned against a tree, unable to make my legs move.
I glanced back the way I had come, trying to think of a way to hide my tracks. It was pointless. Cinder would just follow my scent. I hoped he would have a change of heart. That maybe he would realize I was right, and let me run.
That was just wishful thinking, cause no sooner had I thought it than I heard a distant voice calling my name. An all too familiar and irritating voice, Cinder was hunting me.
I pulled myself to my feet and quietly weaved through the trees. I could hear a river bubbling ahead of me, too large to freeze.
I followed it, my boots sinking into the bank a few inches into the water. If I could find a place to cross it, I would be able to gain some distance. The water was so cold that just a few seconds in it would be a death sentence.
If the water itself didn't kill me, the temperature alone would be enough to end me. So I followed it, weaving around its banks, moving as quickly as I could without losing my footing.
After what felt like hours, I came across a long trunk of a tree balanced over the water. I frowned at it, testing how sturdy it was with my hands. Not very, the wood was rotten, and ready to give at any moment. One wrong move and it would be over. I would be gone.
I hesitated, trying to decide if it was worth the risk, when another call, closer this time, made up my mind for me. I tugged off my boots, stuffing them quickly into my pack, and tied the blankets around it, so I would have my hands free.
I shivered and climbed up, balancing on the log precariously, arms outstretched. Heart slamming against my ribs, I took a few careful steps, digging my toes into the moss on the wood.
The log creaked and groaned beneath my weight, but held. I prayed as I took another step, away from the safety of the bank.
"Goddess, please, please don't let me die like this," I begged, taking another step.
I was fine until I was halfway across, a patch of ice caught me off guard, and I slipped, falling into the log, my knee slammed against the wood. Sharp pain radiated up my leg. I clung to the log, breathing through the pain, trying to hold on.
After a few minutes, I got back to my feet and half ran the rest of the way, falling into the mud on the other side with a groan. I made it. I was alive. I got to my feet panting and shoved at the log, pushing with all my might, trying to push it off balance.
Its rotten branches gave way and fell into the water with a huge splash. Cinder cried out from the other side, and I ran, hoping he didn't do anything stupid. I didn't wait to see what he would do. If he thought I was the one who had fallen in the water, would he try to go in after me? I hoped not.
I ran into the trees, stuffing my frozen feet into the boots, and wrapped the blankets around me. They weren't going to be enough to keep me warm. Already, I could feel my body slowing. I was exhausted, half frozen, and in pain. My knee throbbed with every step I took, threatening to give out. My gift burned, trying to push its way out of me. My head pounded, and I could no longer feel most of my body. I wasn't going to make it long like this.
By the time the sun had started to rise, I was barely shuffling along, my feet leaving deep trails in the snow. I had managed to stay on my feet through sheer determination and stubbornness, but I knew my energy was fading.
I collapsed in the snow, my pack slung out at my side, arms spread as I stared up at the light spreading across the sky. My eyes fluttered shut of their own accord. I didn't even feel cold anymore…
"Lilliah, sweetheart, you need to wake up," a soft, sweet voice said, warmth spreading across my body.
I whimpered, trying to open my eyes, and failed. Soft fingers trailed down my cheek, a tender touch I would know anywhere. I turned into it, trying to press my cheek to her palm.
"It isn't time yet. You have so much left to do. People who need you, things to see. Wake up, sweetheart," the voice called again.
The pain in my knee lessened to a dull ache. My eyes fluttered, consciousness slowly seeping back, and with it came the cold.
"But, I am so tired," I argued, voice cracking. An arm wrapped around me, forcing me to sit up.
"I know, baby, but you have to get up."
My eyes flew open, but there was nothing there. Just the wind, snow, and the faintest hint of roses. Tears spilled down my cheeks as I looked around, a sob pulling from my chest.
"Mom?" I called, my voice echoing in the silence, but no one answered.
I was hallucinating. This was bad. If I had kept sleeping, I would have died. That was certain. I slapped my cheeks trying to make myself alert. I had to think.
A fire would be a dead giveaway; the smoke would be seen for miles. A cave was dangerous, bears used them for hibernation, and I knew I wasn't wolf enough to take one on. There was no shelter out here, and I had no food and limited water. The snow would lower my body temperature too much if I drank it.
An irritating itch distracted me from my thoughts. I glanced down and gasped. I was freaking glowing. Power poured down my limbs, its heat bringing back feeling.
Like before, I felt weirdly energized. I frowned, remembering how it started to burn so hot that it nearly killed me before. I wondered if it would do the same now, a last-ditch effort to keep me alive before it burned me from the inside out.
I sighed and picked up my pack, taking a small sip of water, before I started forward once more. Death by magic didn't sound like a pleasant way to go out. I would just have to find a way to control it before it destroyed me.
No pressure.