Olivia’s POV
Branches ran against my face and I ran, bare, and breathless. My breathing killed me, my limbs started piercing, yet still I could not avoid it. The shouts of the palace followers were heard behind me like starving wolves in the wood.
"Spread out!" one of them shouted. "She couldn't have gone far!"
I could faintly hear the voice of Ana in my head. They're closing in, Olivia.
“I know,” I roughly pressed a hand on my belly.
“You cannot keep running in this state.”
"I don't have a choice."
We had none but moonlight, white and frosty and flashing in the trees. My dress was tearing, my feet were sore, but that was of no consequence. Any sound, a crack of a branch, a rustle of leaves doubled my heart.
I squaved behind a log which had fallen, and was breathing out my exhaust
