Page 17

Her heart hammered in her chest, a mix of fear and exhilaration fueling her escape.

She didn't know where she was running to but anywhere was better than this prison.

She couldn't believe she made it. She was sure he'd appear suddenly in front of her and drag her back.

The branches of the trees clawing at her arms the further she went.

Each step was one step closer to freedom, to her daughter, and away from the monster who'd claimed her freedom and body.

Once she was sure she was far enough away she stopped running.

The forest so thick it almost blocked out the sun.

The forest was alive with nocturnal sounds.

A twig snapping almost made her jump out of her skin.

She hurried along navigating the treacherous terrain, her feet stumbling over roots and rocks.

The cold, damp earth was unforgiving, but she pushed on, driven by the hope that grew with every step.

Her heart pounded in her chest, a frantic rhythm that matched the thunderous beat of her escape. She could feel Vice's grip loosening with every step, the chains of her captivity falling away. The darkness of the woods was a welcome embrace.

The warm air kissed her flushed skin, her body alive with the thrill of freedom. The forest floor was slick with dew, but she didn't falter. The smell of the earth and the scent of rain-soaked foliage was a welcome change to the castle stale air.

Her heart was a wild drum in her chest as she pushed deeper into the woods.

The sound of her own breathing was the only companion she had, and she clung to it like a lifeline.

Each step was a silent prayer, each rustle in the underbrush a potential threat.

The forest was a labyrinth, and she had no map, no compass, just the burning desire to get as far from the castle as possible.

The sun barely peeked through the dense canopy. Creating shadows, long and twisted, reaching out to her like skeletal fingers. Yet, she didn't let fear overtake her.

There was no turning back now.

Her feet hurt from walking barefoot, but she didn't stop.

The farther she got from the castle, the more she felt alive.

Her mind was racing with thoughts of her daughter, of James, and the life she'd left behind.

She had to get back to them. If she kept walking straight, she had to run into a road or a town.

But the forest was vast, and she was just one tiny, insignificant being in its sprawling embrace.

She stumbled and fell, scraping her palms against the rough bark of a tree.

Pain shot through her, but she bit back a cry, pushing herself to keep moving.

She couldn't let him find her. Not now. Not after she'd gotten this far.

She knew that if he'd caught her, she'd never have another chance. He'd make sure of that.

Her eyes searched the ground for any hint of a path or a clearing, but there was nothing. Just endless trees and the suffocating darkness. But she refused to give up. She had to keep going. For Alice and James. For herself.

Ivy stumbled through the underbrush, her legs screaming for rest. Her breathing grew shallower, the cold air burning her lungs.

The forest was thick with silence, broken only by the occasional hoot of an owl or the distant call of a creature she couldn't identify.

Every noise made her heart skip a beat. Was he out there, hunting her?

The thought made her push herself harder, ignoring the stitch in her side and the throb of her bruised body.

Suddenly, a light pierced through the darkness, a beacon of hope in the sea of black.

She squinted, making out the shape of a small cabin nestled in a clearing.

Her pulse quickened. Could this be her salvation?

Or a trap? The risk was too great, but so was the alternative.

She staggered towards it, the light growing stronger with each step.

The cabin door creaked open, revealing a warm, cozy interior.

The scent of burning wood and a stew simmering on a stove filled the air.

A man, tall and burly with a red mustache and long wiry beard down to the middle of his chest that could hide a family of squirrels, looked up from his book, his eyes widening at the sight of the half-dressed, bruised woman stumbling in.

"What in the name o' blazes," he roared, jumping to his feet.

Ivy's voice was barely a whisper. "Please... help me." The burly man took a step back, his hand moving to the shotgun propped against the wall. "Who are you? What's happened to you?” His eyes scanned her from head to toe, taking in the bruises and the state of her torn clothing.

"I...I've escaped," she managed to get out between ragged breaths. "From the castle... Vice. He...he has me...my daughter...I have to get back to her."

The burly man's expression softened, his eyes full of a mixture of pity and fear. "From Vice's castle?" His voice was gruff, but there was a hint of concern. "You’re probably not the first one to try, lass. He said in a thick Scottish accent. But you're the first one to make it this far."

Ivy nodded, her teeth chattering. "Please, I have nowhere else to go. If he finds me, he'll...he'll..." She couldn't finish the sentence, the horror of her reality too much to articulate.

The burly man's expression shifted from fear to resignation.

He knew the risks of helping her, but the desperation in her eyes was too much to ignore.

"Alright," he gruffly agreed, setting down the shotgun.

"You can stay the night, but you have to leave at first light.

And not a word about this to anyone. Understood? "

Ivy nodded, tears of relief sliding down her cheeks. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice hoarse from the cold and fear. The man led her to a small, warm room with a bed piled high with blankets. She collapsed onto it, her body finally giving in to exhaustion.