The place was dark and damp; smelling of mould and fish that was rotted from being out in the sun for a week or more. The creak of rusted doors hanging open screeched loudly when a burst of wind pushed at them.

“It’s got be here somewhere! Find it and you’ll be greatly rewarded. Hasn’t had one of them in a long while…Pelt’s a pretty penny.” A rough voice angrily muttered loudly to the group of unwashed men that shuffled their feet and kicked the cages making the animals create more of a racket while the stench of their fear rose and mingled with the rest of the foul smells.

Malisa’s heart beat faster and harder as she blinked slowly; watching the men move from side to side; searching for her. After a minute she began to see a pattern within their movements. Two men to the left and one man to the right; searching one row before moving to another in a minute interval.

The door that was left open was about half a foot away from her current position. She had to time this right; or she wouldn’t be able to escape. The men moved a row closer to her hiding spot. Two rows left and she’d have lost her one chance at freedom.

The men moved quickly to the third row and as they reach the end of the crates and cages she bolted like a pale streak of lightning across the dirt covered floor. She leapt over stray pipes and around opened but empty cages. Animals began mewling and crying as she sped past while the men grunted and scrambled after her fleeing form.

“After it before it escapes!” Screeched the man, who began stomping his feet and kicking at his men that got in his way. Malisa panted as she reached the stairs and scurried up the thin metal. She was almost free, she could almost taste the fresh air and feel the sun on her face; warming her.

The last step was just above her and as she crested the top; her hope plummeted. Another door stood in her way, closed and bolted shut and the sound of the unruly men grew louder behind her; the metal staircase creaking and groaning under their combined weight. Quickly Malisa bolted to the left and hid behind a stack of wooden crates, under a barred window.

‘Damn, are all the windows barred?’ She scanned the dimly lit room and saw another window; with one of the bars missing and another pushed to the side. She ignored the stitch in her side as she drew in a breath and stealthily hid behind crate after crate, circling the room and trying to avoid the eyes of the men searching for her.

Silently she crept, inching closer and closer to the window of escape only to find that it was too high to jump too. She suppressed a groan and leapt onto one of the crates nearby.

“There it is! Get it!”

Malisa didn’t dare look behind her as she leapt from the crate to the window’s ledge and squeezing herself through the bars; only to fall into a pile of hay underneath the window. She heard the men shouting inside and blindly bolted away from the place, a twang sound should have alerted her to more danger.

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However, she was free once more, a feeling she revered above all else. A piercing pain tore through her hip but she kept running; her desire for freedom driving her past her limits. Her lungs felt on fire and her hearing began to fade. Her eyes blurred from the tears so she couldn’t see the edge in front of her. Without even slowing down; she raced over the ledge. Her screams of terror and defiance laced with the screech of the wind as she tumbled down the ravine into the cold icy waters waiting below.

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She woke with a gasp and threw off the blankets to look down at herself. She was dry, unharmed and alive. ‘How can this be? I was…It felt so real… so very real…’ A knock sounded on her door before it opened to reveal Delmar; dressed in what looked to be a travelling robe that was nearly too fancy for his tastes.

The robe was simple enough; long sleeves that flared at the wrist and fit his lanky body tightly. The robe itself was black and had gold embroidery swirling down the sleeves and sides. A long thin cap was held in his hand and a dark brown bag holding his spare robe. His hair was wet and standing up haphazardly as if he was stressing out.

“Finally!” He exclaimed with a relieved expression on his face. “I thought we would have to…” He halted mid-sentence before rushing to Malisa’s side and dropping to his knees in front of her. He cupped her face gently and wiped away at the tears she didn’t realize were falling. He looked at her with a worried expression. She smiled at him and ran a hand tiredly through her tangled curls.

“I guess I need to get ready since you’re already ready to leave. Sorry for waking so late.” She avoided the question in his eyes and she gently pushed him away so she could get up from the bed.

“Mali… Are you sure you want me to leave? I can call this all off until you get into one of the Academies…” He trailed off as Malisa ignored him and started pushing him out of her room.

“Malisa something upset you didn’t it?” He paused but she shut the door in his face and breathed a sigh of frustration. He hammered on the door until she heard the muffled voice of her father.

“Delmar! What’s going on here? Are you two fighting?” He asked quietly.

“She refuses to speak to me when I found her awake and crying. She says she’s getting ready to leave with us, however.” Delmar replied to his father before walking away from Malisa’s room. He childishly stomped down the stairs and each thud made Malisa flinch. Quickly, without wasting more time Malisa showered, brushed her teeth and hair while she ignored her father's raps on her locked door.

She barely looked at what she picked out for her clothing as she pulled the soft garments over her damp skin. Lastly she grabbed her dull worn out travel bag that she kept hidden the the bottom of her wardrobe. After checking to make sure extra provisions were neatly tucked inside, she slung it over her shoulder and opened the door; only to find her father about to knock once more.

"Malisa Neoma Mancini! What explanation do you have for yourself for your behavior this morning?" Her father's low rumbling voice was steeled with disappointment.

He stood tall; his lean frame seemed taunt as he crossed his arms. Malisa felt her skin prickle as she made her face blank, stiffened her spine and with a dull monotone voice replied.

"He does not need to worry about me. He's leaving for BMA today and if we do not hurry the recruiters will be gone by the time we reach the nearest town." He softened a little as he watched her, saying nothing. He turned towards the stairs and beckoned them both to follow. She closed her eyes and took a small careful breath. Her chest felt tight, her breathing was strained but she dutifully followed her father.