Adrian stared at Elena, his heart pounding with a whirlwind of emotions—shock, confusion, and a strange, gnawing ache he couldn’t place. He hadn’t expected her here, with her face red and swollen from tears, her gaze cutting through him with a mix of pain and something else he thought he could decipher.

He opened his mouth to speak, to say something, anything, but the words caught in his throat, tangled and useless. How could he explain everything he felt, everything he had done, when he barely understood it himself?

But before he could find the words, Elena raised a trembling hand. “Don’t,” she whispered, her voice sharper than he’d ever heard it. She stepped forward, her fingers reaching for the restraints around his wrists. Her touch was quick, methodical, as she unlocked the bindings, letting them fall to the floor with a dull clink.

Adrian rubbed his sore wrists, the sudden freedom feeling strange and disorienting. He wanted to say something—to thank her, to ask why—but Elena had already turned away, her posture tense, as though bracing herself against a thousand unspoken words.

“That’s all I can do for you,” she murmured, her voice tight, edged with barely concealed bitterness. Without another look, she stepped out of the cell, leaving the door ajar. Her footsteps echoed down the stone corridor, each step pulling her further from him, until the sound faded into silence.

Adrian stood there, staring at the door left open in her wake. For a moment, he felt a strange impulse to go after her, to fix whatever invisible thing had shattered between them. But with a shake of his head, he turned back to Zara.

Adrian saw that she had seen that lingering gaze of his, but how could he explain to the love of his life that he had broken the heart of his best friend in the whole world. But whatever that was, it passed. From his mind, and her eyes. He thought.

She looked at him, her eyes steady, calm even, and in them, he saw no hesitation. They had little time, and this was the chance they never thought they’d have. Adrian gave her a brief nod, his expression resolute, and she returned it with a slight, encouraging smile.

They didn’t need to speak. One look at Zara’s stomach, and the decision was clear.

Without a word, they took each other’s hands, and together, they stepped out into the corridor.

As Adrian and Zara slipped out of the cell, the dim corridor stretched before them, eerie in its silence. They moved cautiously, keeping to the shadows, only to find a surprising sight: every guard stationed along their path lay slumped against the walls or sprawled across the stone floor, breathing but entirely unconscious.

Adrian’s eyes widened as he took in the scene. He could only think of one explanation: Elena. For all her bitterness and hurt, she had gone to great lengths to ensure their escape. Her stealth and skill in poison or sedative work had always been unparalleled, even as a child. It appeared that she had used her talents once more, weaving through the prison undetected and leaving a trail of sleeping guards behind her.

Zara placed a steadying hand on his arm, bringing him back to the urgency of the moment. They had no time to dwell on the strange ache that Elena’s actions stirred in him. With a shared glance, they crept forward, slipping past the unconscious guards and keeping close to the walls, their footsteps soft as whispers on the stone.

The corridors twisted and turned, every passage seeming to look the same in the prison’s dim lighting. Adrian’s heart pounded as they moved, his pulse loud in his ears, each step filled with tense anticipation. They took cover in dark alcoves when the occasional guard patrol passed in the distance, but every corridor they turned down seemed deserted, as though fate itself had cleared the way for them.

Finally, as they rounded another corner, Adrian caught sight of something ahead—an open corridor leading outside, bordered only by a wrought-iron fence. Through the open archways, he could see the night sky stretching beyond the stone walls, clear and vast, a glimpse of freedom that made his heart leap. The cold air drifted in, brushing against their faces, and they could smell the world beyond the prison—earth, dew, the faint scent of pine on the wind.

He turned to Zara, a glimmer of hope lighting his eyes, and she nodded, her face softening with a small, almost relieved smile at the sight of the open sky. They had to be close to the exit. Together, they moved forward, creeping along the shadows of the corridor, hugging the walls and keeping low as they advanced.

Adrian led the way, his movements swift yet careful, his senses tuned to every distant noise. Zara followed close behind, mirroring his steps as they pressed on, feeling the cool night air wrap around them with each step they took toward the fence.

The exit couldn’t be far now; they just needed to make it past this open space without drawing attention.

But just as they reached the midpoint of the corridor, the piercing sound of an alarm shattered the silence, blaring through everywhere with a thunderous resonance. Adrian felt his chest tighten as the noise rang out, echoing against the walls, probably alerting every guard within the building.

They froze, glancing at each other, their breaths quickening.

The blaring alarm grew louder as Adrian and Zara pressed themselves against the stone, their breaths shallow. They exchanged an urgent look, both instinctively understanding the threat they were under. Every guard in the prison would be on high alert now, and time was slipping away.

“What do we do?” Zara whispered, her voice barely audible above the noise. Her eyes darted around the corridor, searching for any way to hide or an alternate path, but there was no cover here—only the open corridor bordered by a wrought-iron fence that allowed a full view of the prison yard outside.

Adrian’s mind raced as he took in their surroundings. The corridor stretched straight ahead, unbroken until it opened into a wider space where he could see an arched stone exit, only twenty yards away, leading into the outer courtyard and beyond, toward the freedom of the open field. They couldn’t risk staying here; they were fully exposed, and hiding was no longer an option. The only way out was forward.

“We run,” he whispered back, his tone decisive, leaving no room for hesitation. “Stay behind me. I’ll shield you.”

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Zara hesitated, her gaze dropping to the ground before she looked back at him, defiance sparking in her eyes. “Adrian, no. You’re already hurt. I’m not going to let you put yourself at risk like this—not when you’re injured and—” her hand brushed her stomach instinctively. “And I’m not helpless.”

Adrian’s eyes softened, but his voice remained firm. “Zara, please. This isn’t just about protecting you. It’s about protecting our child.” He took a quick, steadying breath, gripping her hands tightly. “Let me do this. For both of you.”

She glanced away, her jaw clenched, torn between her pride and the quiet fear she hadn’t spoken of. But Adrian could see the flicker of worry in her eyes, and he pressed gently. “I can’t risk you or the baby. I’ll take the lead, but we need to move—now.”

A moment passed before she gave a reluctant nod, her resolve softening. “Fine. But if anything happens to you, I will kill everybody.”

Adrian smiled and nodded. With a final glance to each other, they steeled themselves, and Adrian took off down the corridor, Zara close on his heels. His strides were quick and sure, his instincts pushing him forward as the sound of approaching guards grew closer.

They dashed down the open passageway, the cool night air whipping around them, each step leading them closer to the exit. The world seemed to blur around them, and Adrian kept his focus on the archway ahead, determined to reach it no matter the cost.

Just as they were only a few steps from the arch, a sharp pain seared through Adrian’s leg, an arrow lodging deep into his calf.

“Adrian!”

“Shut up and follow me.”

He stumbled, the pain blinding, but he gritted his teeth and forced himself onward, his grip on Zara’s hand tightening as he pushed her forward, shielding her with his body as they broke through the arch and into the open courtyard.

His vision blurred with pain, but he didn’t stop, didn’t slow, his resolve keeping him upright as they crossed the last stretch of the courtyard toward the perimeter wall that bordered the field.

Adrian’s vision swam with pain, but he forced himself to push through, the instinct to survive stronger than the ache in his leg. He and Zara bolted across the courtyard, moving as swiftly as possible. The perimeter wall loomed ahead. They just needed to make it past the final rows of guards patrolling the outer grounds.

Ducking behind a low stone ledge, they paused to catch their breath, Adrian’s leg throbbing from the arrow still lodged in his calf. Zara looked at him, worry etched across her face, but Adrian shook his head, signaling that he could go on. This was no time to hesitate.

They crept along the ledge, keeping low, avoiding the torchlight that occasionally swept over the grounds as guards made their rounds. As they neared a narrow path winding up toward the outer wall, they spotted two guards stationed at the exit gate—a final obstacle between them and the trees beyond.

Zara gripped his arm, her voice barely a whisper. “There’s no way past them unless we create a distraction.”

Adrian thought quickly, eyeing the small, loose stones along the base of the wall. He picked one up and motioned to Zara to stay put. Carefully, he hurled the stone toward the opposite end of the courtyard, where it hit a nearby fence with a sharp clang. The guards whipped around, leaving the path momentarily open.

They didn’t waste a second. Adrian and Zara darted forward, keeping to the shadows along the wall, slipping past as the guards inspected the noise on the other side. But just as they were halfway to the gate, one of the guards turned, his eyes narrowing as he caught sight of movement in his periphery.

“Hey! Over there!”

The guard’s shout rang out, and Adrian’s pulse spiked. He and Zara broke into a full sprint, racing the final stretch as the gate loomed ahead. Adrian felt his injured leg start to give, but he forced himself forward, the pain searing through him like fire.

Just as they reached the gate, a set of guards appeared from around the corner, closing in on them. Adrian felt Zara’s grip on his arm tighten as they dodged right, slipping past the guards with only inches to spare. He could hear their shouts and footsteps close behind, but the gate was within reach.

Summoning every ounce of strength, Adrian shoved open the heavy wooden gate, pulling Zara through as they stumbled into the open field just beyond the castle grounds. They didn’t stop, each step forward a struggle against the pain and fatigue that clung to them both. The wide, open field stretched before them, with nowhere to hide as guards swept the area with torches, their lights dancing like restless fireflies in the night.

They ducked low, moving in a crouched run, sticking to the shadows as they weaved their way across the field, keeping clear of the beams of torchlight. Every time a guard’s light neared, they stilled, holding their breath as the guards passed by, only moving again when it was safe.

Finally, the field opened up into the city outskirts, where narrow, cobbled streets wound through the dim glow of flickering street lanterns. Alarms still blared in the distance, a harsh reminder that they were far from safe. The noise had already stirred people from their sleep, faces appearing in windows and doorways, eyes squinting through the night, trying to understand the commotion.

Adrian scanned the streets, heart pounding, knowing that every moment exposed was a risk. Then his eyes landed on a nearby alley with a large, grimy dumpster sitting at the end. An idea struck him—disgusting but necessary.

“Zara,” he whispered, his voice tinged with urgency as he nodded toward the dumpster. “I know it’s awful, but if we get in there, we might avoid the guards long enough to figure out our next move.”

Zara grimaced but gave a quick nod, understanding the desperation in his eyes. They dashed into the alley and opened the lid, a foul stench hitting them immediately. Adrian didn’t hesitate, gripping the edge and climbing in, making space as he extended a hand to help her in. Zara climbed in after him, closing the lid as quietly as possible.

Inside, the smell was overpowering, but they both did their best to stay silent, listening to the muffled sounds of guards passing by outside. They huddled close in the cramped, dark space, hidden beneath layers of discarded refuse, barely daring to breathe as footsteps and torchlight swept past the alley.

The blaring alarms and shouts grew louder, filling the streets as the guards searched every corner. They held their breath, hoping that the foul disguise would be enough to keep them hidden as the kingdom stirred awake around them.

Hours passed, each one stretching endlessly as Adrian and Zara remained huddled inside the cramped dumpster. The foul stench that had initially overwhelmed him had dulled to a faint background haze—he’d lost his sense of smell entirely, his mind now focused solely on the muffled chaos outside. The alarms felt as if they would never end, blaring relentlessly, echoing through the cobbled streets. Every distant shout, every approaching footstep set his nerves on edge.

Finally, as the first hints of dawn approached, the alarms ceased. But the city was still stirring with commotion. Guards shouted orders and organized search parties, and Adrian could feel Zara shift beside him, the silence between them charged with nerves. She leaned close, her voice barely a whisper. “Do you think—”

“Shh,” he whispered, cutting her off. He wasn’t sure if any guards were lingering close by, but he wasn’t willing to risk it. Instead, they waited, surrounded by the grimy remains of the night’s trash, as the sounds outside gradually faded.

The city slowly returned to calm, the shouts growing softer as search parties dispersed further out. The alley fell into silence, with only the occasional murmur or clatter echoing in the distance. Adrian’s muscles were cramped and stiff, but he remained frozen, unsure if they’d truly waited out the danger. He exchanged a glance with Zara, her face etched with tension, and he debated whether it was finally safe to emerge.

But before he could make a decision, the lid of the dumpster creaked open. Harsh light flooded in, and Adrian’s heart sank, a wave of dread crashing over him.

He’d been found.