Page 152 of Soulmateless
"Amias!" Erasmus yells out. I keep going through the hall and up the stairs, passing guards, and past people in the nearby streets.
Thank Cosmo for Amias.
I run until I find a small space behind some shady bushes and trees. It helps that they like to use nature for decor.
I crouch behind them when there's rustling the bushes around me. My body tightens and I unsheathe my claws.
"It's okay!" a familiar calming voice chirps.
My body relaxes as Amias walks through the dense bushes, carrying an oversized backpack and wearing a gray tee and matching cargo shorts. “I figured I'd check here.” He pants a little before glancing around. "I have everything for you in this bag: coins worth ten thousand, a sleeping bag, three changes of clothes, two full water bottles, and some food. I hope it's enough to last a week until you make it there. I'll keep it on until we're far enough. I don't want it to slow you down."
I nod. "Okay. That should be plenty."
“We have to get to the forest past the city, which isn't too far from this area. Then you’ll be safe. It will be too dense for them to follow, even in Amarian territory. Ready?"
"Yeah. Let's do it."
???
It seems to take forever to get to the forest while running under the police's radar. We get far enough avoiding people, with me in my human form. We hide occasionally to catch our breaths when people seem to notice, only to run off again.
“We're so close!” Amias yells.
I only run faster as the buildings get shorter and there's an increase of greenery as we follow the edge of the road. Forest is right ahead. We’ll make it!
“Hey!”
My body stiffens as I look over my shoulder to see one of those bright red uniformed men, chasing us as many of their clone-like peers follow.
They draw their guns.
Shit!
“Just run!” Amias yells.
I bolt, zig-zagging with each run .
My heart drums as fast as my feet. My ears ring with every bang I hear from behind.
“Back away from the dreamscreecher!” one shouts.
“Never!” Amias growls as we race beside a road. A car nearby swerves in front of me, but I leap over the hood and onto the cement again.
“It's a monster!” Someone gasps.
I brush away the comments as I dash up the forest hill beside me.
“You just need to pass that hill,” Amias calls. “Just keep going!”
Energy is draining from me, but I keep pushing. It's now or death.
I hear his pitter patters behind me, the stuff in the backpack jittering. I nearly trip over some bushes and vines but I keep my balance to make it to the top of the hill.
Once we're at the top, Amias takes the backpack off and hands it over. I swing it around me as I look down at the land before me.
It's a dense, shady forest. No one will find me.
"Just keep going forward," Amias says. "And use the map in the backpack once you’re far enough. You should be out to Caelestia in two days."
