Chương 29: Grand escape

Leah could hear the guards moving closer, as Alice finally released the cage bars.

"What's going on?" the guard questioned. It was a feminine voice. She sounded annoyed.

"I don't know," Alice said, panic flooding her tone.

"She just stopped moving. She needs help!" Leah forced herself to remain limp. Every instinct screamed at her to stay still. But her heart betrayed her. It pounded violently in her chest, so loud she wouldn't be surprised if the guard heard it. As she tried to calm herself, she heard the metal door begin to scrape open.

"Get back," the guard ordered, followed by the sound of flesh striking flesh echoed sharply through the cell. Alice whimpered. She could hear the guard moving closer. She remained as still as possible, hoping against hope the guard didn't notice. She felt the guard's touch as fingers pressed against her neck, looking for a pulse.

"What's the meaning—" Leah moved before it was too late. The weapon slid down from where she had tucked it along her forearm. She caught it cleanly in her hand. In one violent burst she snapped her head up to orient herself and drove the weapon forward. The guard was too slow to react. For a fleeting, detached second, Leah registered that her decision to put her spare point into agility had been the correct one. Then the weapon struck the woman's neck.

It sank in deeper than Leah expected, until her grip slid up toward the base. Warmth spilled instantly over her hand. She yanked it free. The guard staggered backward, eyes wide in disbelief, hand flying to her throat. Fuck. Was that not enough? Leah froze for half a second, horror and adrenaline colliding in her chest. The woman was still standing. Still breathing. Blood poured between her fingers but she had not dropped. The guard's free arm lifted, pointing toward Leah as her mouth parted slightly.

Alice appeared behind the guard and wrapped her arms around her, dragging her backward. The motion tore the forming shout into a wet choke. Leah felt wind rush past her ear as something sliced through the air, right beside her head. Something gouged the stone wall behind her.

"Quickly!" Alice shouted. Leah shook herself free of the shock and forced her body upright. Her limbs felt weak from dehydration and malnourishment. Her vision swam for a second, but she pushed through it. She stepped forward and stabbed again, and again. Anywhere she could reach. Collarbone. Shoulder. The side of the throat. Her weapon was slippery to the touch, forcing her to regain her grip after each strike. The guard tried to kick backward, tried to wrench free from Alice's grip.

Her heel struck Leah's shin and pain flared, but Leah was running on pure adrenaline. Alice tightened her hold, teeth gritted, arms straining to keep the woman pinned. Leah drove the blade forward once more, feeling it sink between ribs this time. Blood coated her hands, her forearms, warm and slick. It dripped down to her elbows. The metallic smell filled the tiny cell, making her want to vomit. The guard's movements slowed. She was staring at Leah, face a mix of agony and shock.

Her body went slack in Alice's arms. Leah watched the life leave her body. Alice released her, letting her crumple to the floor with a heavy, final thud. Silence rushed in, broken only by the distant howl of wind through the canyon and Leah's ragged breathing. Leah stumbled back and dropped to her knees. Blood smeared across her clothes as her hands fell uselessly to her sides. The weapon clattered to the stone and she dry heaved. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

Her breaths came in harsh, uneven gasps. Her heart hammered violently, her entire body shaking now that the moment had ended. She stared at the body in front of her. She had just killed someone. Felt the life leave her body. A sound escaped her throat as she tried to vomit. Her vision blurred. Through the haze she watched as Alice crouched in front of the body and search it. She then turned to Leah and grabbed her shoulders.

"Leah," she whispered urgently.

"Leah, look at me." Leah's eyes dragged upward.

"We don't have time for this," Alice said, though her own voice trembled.

"You did what you had to. We need to move. More guards will be on the way, and this one wasn't carrying a weapon." Leah swallowed hard and forced air into her lungs. She wiped her hands against her trousers, smearing blood across already ruined fabric. She reached for her fallen weapon and picked it up again.

"I'm alright, I'm alright. Let's go," she said quickly, trying to convince herself. Leah forced herself upright. Her legs trembled, but she followed as Alice shoved the cell door fully open, now carrying a dagger. The corridor beyond opened up to them. But Leah didn't bother to look around. Instead, they ran.

"Hey! Stop!" someone shouted behind them. Leah didn't even glance back. They rounded a bend at full speed and nearly collided with a guard walking the other way. He froze in surprise, hand halfway to his weapon. Leah veered sharply left, down a side passage, dragging Alice with her. The guard lunged, blade flashing, but they had already rounded the corner. More voices rose behind them as the guards gave chase. They passed rows of cells as they sprinted down the next corridor.

Faces appeared between iron bars; they called out, begging for help. Leah's stomach twisted. The sight of it made her feel sick. Dozens of prisoners crammed into narrow cages, stripped of dignity and forced into doing whatever these crazy bastards were operating. Leah had no idea why they were all here, or what the purpose of this was. But it went a lot further than a couple of missing Valkyries. It was inhumane.

"We can't," Leah started, slowing for half a step.

"We can't help them," Alice snapped, not breaking stride.

"If we stop, we die. Then no one gets out. We'll come back for them." Leah clenched her jaw and forced her gaze forward. She knew the other woman was right. But leaving them felt like she was condemning them to death. They rounded another corner at speed and then both of them skidded to a halt. The stone opened up, wind blowing into the corridor behind them. There was a massive opening, looking directly at the opposite cliff side. Leah looked around in desperation. They needed to get down. To get out of here.

But the distance to the other side was massive. Fifty yards, maybe more, and the bottom was at least twenty yards below. A violent updraft surged from the chasm, wind whipping her hair backward.

"How do we get down?" Alice breathed. Leah scanned quickly. She was out of breath and couldn't find any route for escape.

"Well," a guard called out, voice almost amused now, "looks like you took a wrong turn." Leah turned slowly. Three guards advanced toward them. Weapons drawn. Spreading out just enough to block their only escape. Alice stepped up beside her, breathing hard.

"Well," she muttered under her breath, "this is unfortunate." Leah didn't respond. Her mind raced. There was no way she could fight and beat them. She was too weak and more guards were likely on the way. Jumping the gap was also impossible. The guards closed in another step.

"No more running," one of them ordered.

"Drop the weapon and I'll take it easy on you." Leah looked at Alice. They held each other's gaze for a moment. A look of understanding passed between the two of them. There was no escape. They were cornered, with no way out.

"Fuck it," Leah muttered, her grip tightening on the weapon. Alice stepped forward.

"Go fuck yourselves." It seemed the two had definitely come to an understanding.

"Don't blame me then," the lead guard said as he advanced. Leah prepared herself, but couldn't help the shock from showing as someone materialized behind the backmost guard. Her eyes widened as a figure appeared from the shadow cast against the canyon wall. It wasn't dramatic. There was no flash of light or surge of wind. One moment there was nothing, the next there was a person standing behind the rearmost guard. Before Leah could process it, the newcomer moved.

A hand clamped over the guard's mouth, yanking his head backward. Steel flashed once. The blade slid cleanly across his throat. The man jerked violently. A wet choking sound bubbled from him as blood spurted out of the gaping wound. He collapsed before the others even understood what had happened. The second guard spun around, eyes wide.

"What—" The woman was already in motion. A second dagger appeared in her other hand as if it had always been there. She stepped inside his reach. Leah could hardly keep up with the movement. The dagger punched upward beneath his ribcage. He gasped, body arching. She twisted the blade and ripped it free before he could react, stabbing another three times before pushing him aside. The last guard had noticed. He turned, sword cutting down in a vicious arc meant to cleave her in half.

But against all odds, the woman disappeared. Leah blinked, not understanding what was going on. The guard looked around in shock, holding his sword defensively. Leah took a step forward, committed to taking the man off guard. But before she had the opportunity, the woman reappeared behind him. With a dagger in each hand, she attacked. One buried itself deep at the base of his neck. The other slid into his side. The guard staggered forward, sword slipping from his grasp. He tried to turn, to see what had happened.

But he never got the chance. The woman stepped aside as he collapsed to his knees, then forward onto his face. Silence fell over the canyon edge, broken only by the ragged breathing of Leah and Alice and the howl of wind. Leah stared, and she would admit she was scared. The figure stood over the bodies, shoulders rising and falling in an unsteady rhythm. She wore dark wrapped clothing that blended almost perfectly with the canyon shadows.

Jet black hair failed to reach her shoulders, and her two daggers rested easily in her hands, edges dripping with blood. She glanced down at the guard one last time, nudging him with the toe of her boot to ensure he wasn't getting back up. Satisfied, she lifted her gaze. Hazel eyes met Leah's. The woman tilted her head slightly.

"Hello."