It felt like a miracle that we managed to traverse the woods at all. My legs had given out, and my mind felt on the brink of combustion from the excessive oxygen intake during our run. I should have been accustomed to running by now; it's innate for me.
I felt profoundly embarrassed that Shavi had witnessed the conditions of my previous life. I stood behind her, attempting to salvage my soaked clothes and relishing in the warmth of the hotel lobby. Throughout our stay at Devil's Pond, I had been tormented by the fear that they might separate Shavi from me forever. Fortunately, our escape had been relatively smooth, and we had managed to evade most obstacles. "Yes, we'll settle the payment upon departure," Shavi said, flashing the man a smile that seemed to melt him from the inside out. In
