Chapter Seven: The Escape
1049 Words
Lyra POV
I knew something was wrong before the door opened.
Not the normal kind of wrong.
Not the quiet, heavy feeling the dungeon always had.
This one felt… rushed.
Like the air itself was moving too fast.
I sat up on the small bed, my eyes fixed on the door.
Footsteps.
Not slow.
Not steady.
Fast.
Then—
The door burst open.
I jumped back, my heart slamming against my chest so hard it hurt.
It wasn’t the woman knight.
It wasn’t the scary man.
It was someone else.
A man.
Tall.
Covered in dark clothes that looked almost like they swallowed the light around him.
His face… I couldn’t really see it properly. It was like he stayed just out of reach of the light.
For a second, we just stared at each other.
I didn’t speak.
I didn’t move.
Because I didn’t know what he was.
Friend?
Enemy?
Something worse?
He stepped inside quickly and shut the door behind him.
I flinched.
“Come,” he said.
His voice was low.
Not soft.
Not kind.
Just… certain.
I didn’t move.
My fingers tightened around the edge of the bed.
“Come,” he repeated, sharper this time.
My chest tightened.
“I… I don’t know you,” I said.
My voice came out smaller than I wanted.
“I know,” he replied.
Then he walked toward me.
Fast.
I shrank back immediately.
But he stopped just before reaching me.
He crouched down slightly, bringing himself closer to my level.
“Do you want to stay here?”
The question hit me hard.
Images flashed in my head.
The scary man.
The way he looked at me.
The way he said he would be gentle.
My stomach twisted.
“No,” I whispered.
“Then move,” he said.
No comfort.
No smile.
Just truth.
My legs felt shaky as I stood up.
He didn’t touch me.
He just turned and opened the door again.
“Stay behind me.”
I nodded quickly, even though he didn’t look back.
We stepped out into the hallway.
It felt different.
Louder.
Somewhere far away, I could hear shouting.
Metal clashing.
Running footsteps.
Something was happening.
Something big.
The man moved quickly through the dungeon halls, and I struggled to keep up.
My legs were shorter.
My breathing was louder.
I almost tripped twice.
He didn’t slow down.
But every time I stumbled, he paused just enough for me to catch up.
We reached a turn.
He stopped suddenly.
I bumped into his back lightly.
Before I could apologize, he lifted a hand.
Quiet.
I froze.
Voices.
Close.
“…check the lower cells—”
“…orders from above—”
My heart jumped into my throat.
The man glanced around quickly.
Then he grabbed my wrist.
Not gently.
But not painfully either.
Just firm.
We moved.
Fast.
Down another passage.
Up a narrow set of stairs.
My legs burned.
My chest hurt.
But I didn’t stop.
Because I knew—
If I stopped, I might never leave.
We reached a door.
He pushed it open.
Fresh air hit my face.
I gasped.
The night sky stretched above us.
Dark.
Wide.
Endless.
For a moment, I forgot everything.
Then he pulled me forward again.
We were outside.
Behind the mansion.
I could see trees.
So many trees.
More than I had ever seen before.
The ground felt different under my feet.
Softer.
Alive.
He didn’t stop moving.
We ran through the trees.
Branches scratched my arms.
Leaves brushed against my face.
I stumbled again.
This time harder.
I almost fell.
But he caught me.
Just for a second.
Then let go.
“Keep moving,” he said.
I nodded, even though I was already moving.
We ran for what felt like forever.
My legs felt like they were going to give out.
My chest burned.
“I can’t…” I gasped.
He stopped suddenly.
Turned.
Looked at me.
Really looked at me for the first time.
I couldn’t see his face clearly.
But I felt his eyes.
Sharp.
Measuring.
Then he crouched down.
“Get on.”
I blinked.
“What?”
“Now.”
I didn’t argue.
I climbed onto his back clumsily.
He stood up easily, like I weighed nothing.
Then he ran.
Faster this time.
So fast the wind rushed past my ears.
I held onto him tightly, my fingers gripping his clothes.
I didn’t even know why I trusted him.
I didn’t know anything anymore.
I just knew I didn’t want to go back.
After a while, the trees started to thin.
Lights appeared ahead.
Faint at first.
Then brighter.
Voices.
Many voices.
We slowed down.
Then stopped completely.
He lowered me to the ground.
I stumbled slightly but stayed standing.
I looked around.
People.
Stalls.
Lanterns.
A market.
I had never seen anything like it.
It was loud.
Busy.
Alive.
I turned back to him.
“What is this place?”
“A market,” he said.
I nodded slowly.
Then I looked at him again.
“Are you coming with me?”
He didn’t answer immediately.
Then—
“No.”
My chest dropped.
“Why?”
He didn’t respond.
He just looked at me for a moment.
Then he reached into his cloak and dropped something into my hand.
Coins.
A few.
Not many.
“Stay alive,” he said.
That was it.
No explanation.
No goodbye.
He turned and walked away.
Just like that.
“Wait—!” I called out.
He didn’t stop.
Didn’t turn.
Didn’t even slow down.
Within seconds, he disappeared into the darkness.
Like he was never there.
I stood there, frozen.
The coins felt heavy in my small hand.
The noise of the market surrounded me.
Strangers walked past.
No one looked at me.
No one cared.
I swallowed slowly.
“I’m alone,” I whispered.
The words felt real.
Too real.
My stomach growled.
Loud.
Painfully.
I looked down at the coins.
Then around at the people.
“I… I just have to survive,” I said quietly.
My voice shook.
But I meant it.
Even if I didn’t know how yet.
I took a small step forward into the crowd.
Then another.
And just like that—
I disappeared into the world.
Alone.
- Writer
