Just as I rush out of the alleyway, there's a tug at my leg. I trip, catching my body with my arms to save my face, only to feel claws digging into the back of my neck. I shriek.
Shit!
“I'm not letting you get away this time!” Vasilisa hisses.
My body trembles as I bite my tongue, making it bleed. This is it. She's going to kill me. She's going to-
No. Amias is still out there. He needsme.
Just as I feel her breath on my neck, I swing my body on my back and punch her in the jaw. Agony from her claws raking off my back, but it doesn't bother me after. My priority is Amias.
Vasilisa stumbles, making it easier to kick her off with my feet and get out from under her.
Going live at morning ten…
Nine minutes. Eight minutes.
I rush down the streets. I know I need to take the opportunity while Vasilisa is behind. Where is the goddamn castle?
I attempt to come up with ideas to get there, with my heart lurched in my throat. I need a plan to get there!
Up ahead, there's a black shadow in front of me. The shadow is a silhouette of a woman, with it’s long hair waving behind it and it's skinny body as she weaves between people, taking pauses to look back at me.
Is this Godusa trying to show me the way?
I don't hesitate to start chasing after the figure, hoping that she's my way out towards Amias. No one else reacts to her and her shape are just like the embroideries of Godusa at home. It has to be her. It just has to.
Five minutes. Four.
Turning over my shoulder, I can see a dusty purple figure racing up from down the street, people yelling and jumping out of the way.
She's going to catch up. She's going to catch me.
Amias. He needs me.
Three minutes.
Fuck! It's impossible to get there in time. Even still, I'll try. I have to fight to get there.
Buildings start to seem familiar as they get shorter and into the woods. My heart jerks, trying to hold onto hope that I'll make it to the ceremony, even if there's no sign of the castle ahead of me.
Two minutes.
I race through, hearing Vasilisa's cackle from afar. My breath falters as I keep my focus on Godusa’s running silhouette.
Amias will get cleansed any moment now. He’ll be stuck under Amara’s abuse and possible death.
Going live at morning ten…
One minute.
There's a hill ahead of us and I run up it. In front of me, down the hill and across many acres, I can see the magnificent white castle. Though in view, it's still too far. Estimating about another ten minutes to be close enough.
It's too late. It's definitely too late, but I still have to try. I must exhaust everything until there's all certainty I can't make it.
Amias needs me.
I need him.
