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Were they enjoying this?
A surge of adrenaline fueled my steps as I approached a bustling intersection. Without hesitation, I darted through the traffic, narrowly avoiding a collision with a bus. It brushed close enough for a gust of air to rush past my body and for my heart to nearly leap out of my throat.
Ahead, I spotted a narrow alley, and without second-guessing, I veered into its shadowy confines. The walls seemed to close in around me as I sprinted through, my breath echoing in the confined space. I took another turn, hoping the labyrinthine streets would confuse Murtagh and Caspian, but as I pressed onwards, I could still hear their steps pounding into the pavement behind me.
I didn’t know how much longer I could press on for. I wasn’t an Olympic sprinter. I hadn’t even run track in high school. My legs protested with every step, my lungs burned, and soon enough, my side cramped so hard that my steps faltered, but I kept going because I didn’t know what was going to happen if the two of them caught me.
Would they kill me? Clap me in irons and throw me in jail? Take me hostage and punish me themselves? Caspian had the kind of power that put people away permanently, or so the rumors said, and Murtagh, well, he handled things in his own way, and I very much remembered the effect those ways had on me.
My pussy pulsed and I almost tripped.
Fuck, Zazie. Keep your head in the game. Think on your feet, for Christ’s sake.
I wasn’t going to last that much longer. Gasping for breath, I veered around a corner into a concealed courtyard, the walls offering a temporary shield from their prying eyes. The distant sounds of footsteps told me they were closing in, and panic clawed at the edges of my exhaustion.
With a quick assessment of my surroundings, I spotted a wrought iron gate at the end of the courtyard. Without a second thought, I sprinted towards it, my body protesting with each stride. The gate creaked as I pushed it open, revealing a shadowed alley on the other side.
I pressed myself against the cool surface of a nearby building, desperately trying to quiet my ragged breath. The city’s ambient sounds surrounded me—the distant hum of traffic, the muffled sound of singing from a nearby pub—but my ears strained for any sign of Murtagh and Caspian.
I closed my eyes, attempting to steady my breathing, the erratic rhythm gradually slowing. The footsteps of the pursuers echoed in my memory, and every rustle of leaves or distant shuffle of feet sent a jolt of adrenaline through my veins.
Were they there? Had they found me?
I listened intently, my senses heightened. My heartbeat quieted to a more normal pace, and the blood rushing through my skull no longer sounded like white water rapids.
Time seemed to stretch on, each passing moment filled with anticipation and tension. My ears pricked, ready to detect the slightest hint of approaching danger.
With every passing second, the echoes of footsteps grew fainter, and a glimmer of hope flickered within my chest. Maybe I’d escaped. Maybe they’d given up and decided I wasn’t worth the chase.
Could I be that lucky?
Still pressed against the building, I cautiously opened my eyes and held my breath, scanning the darkness for any signs of movement, but I saw nothing. The courtyard remained shrouded in darkness, and I allowed myself a moment to collect myself. For several long seconds, I didn’t hear any signs of their footsteps and I finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Then, the faint, unmistakable sound of a boot scuffing against the pavement echoed in the air.
Immediately, all my senses went on high alert, and my heart skipped a beat. I pressed back against the building, my body tensing as I strained to figure out what direction it had come from. The darkness played tricks on my eyes, and for a moment, I held my breath, hoping that it was just my imagination. People hallucinated sometimes after exercise, right? Was I crazy?
Yet, as the seconds ticked by, the subtle scuffing grew louder. Dread knotted in my stomach, and I closed my eyes, trying to hold myself together when another scuff sounded only feet away from my right.
Mother fucking shit, this wasn’t good at fucking all.
“There you are, little thief,” a male voice breathed.
Murtagh had found me.
“I enjoyed the chase, little mouse, but I’m going to enjoy what comes next even more,” another voice echoed, seemingly everywhere at once.
Fuck.
Caspian was here too.
A fresh surge of panic raced through me, and I swallowed back a scream. Now was not the time to lose my head. My eyes searched the shadows, trying to figure out where they were, but I saw nothing. I couldn’t wait any longer. Now was the time to act.
I burst forward, meaning to escape the courtyard and return to the confusing trail of alleyways so I could disappear, but all of a sudden, their forms materialized out of the shadows. I’m not sure who, but one of them reached out and managed to grab my arm. Instinct took over and with a swift kick to his shin, I broke free and stumbled backwards.
I sprinted for everything I was worth. I’d just made it to the gate when a set of arms wrapped around my waist, immediately halting my escape. At once, I tried to pull away, but his grip tightened, and as much as I struggled, kicking and punching my way to freedom, nothing worked. I used every bit of energy I had left and then some, adrenaline racing through my veins with unrestrained fervor.
Nothing I did earned me even an inch.
