d through me, but it was quickly extinguished as the sound of a gunshot rang out. One of the

s!" I cried, my body t

feboat, ignoring the bu

oat, bullets flew

before another, the boat was ful

if we row fast enough" i said. To be honest, I myself didn't believe what I just

s did as

ing for others, my papa had been sick all my life, and we never gave up on him. I j

an

nd of someone re

pl

ort as the frigid water swallowed her whole. The terror in her face etched itself into my mind l

everything seemed to

ms from all the

you, but if you don't, we'll keep shooting. Just c

the voice that belonged to my tormentor, spoke as ee

girls went back, they'd be

rowing!" I told the

elling the truth

ked in a ship for months to say a

hese girls had be

an

the boat received a bu

to the wooden floor of the boat. Ano

on the spot where the other girl had been

I saw from a distance other lifeboats

owing, don't give up!" I urged the

e stench of fear and sweat. My hands tightened around the oars, my finge

my voice hoarse from desper

me parts of the boat. One of the girls cried out in pain, her hand gripping h

t looked like a fores

screamed as I motioned to t

there, we can use the dar

haired girl

e painful winces of the wo

ter. Each stroke of the oars felt like a lifeline,

leaped out of the lifeboat, the sandy shore welcoming our weary feet. I helped the wounded girls onto

uickly," I said, s

d snapping of branches our only companions. My legs were on fire, every musc

ouder as they closed in. The purple-haired girl glanced at me,

to a cluster of bushes up

tep, we were surrounded by an arm

t keep running!" I screamed. It is better to run individ

ch of us darting through the underbrush like frightened animals. My lungs

tsteps pounding through the forest like thunder. I knew

oice of the purple-haired girl. I turned to see

tracks. I ran back to

ease" she begged. I looked at her

your name?" I asked t

" she r

inued r

is eerie voice said into the vo

ther girls in sight. I could only pray t

in as we cont

gunfire echoing in the distance, Devina's grip tightened on my h

er," she panted, her voice

g the area for any signs of safety. "We'l

grew louder. Suddenly, we reached a fork in the road

oice barely above a whisper. "You take th

tree, let's meet up beneath it". I pointed up above to the tree very far away from us. We wi

no

s right. With a nod, we exchanged one last glance before pa

t Devina and the wounded girl she had been protecting. Were

was keep moving forward, hoping and praying that somewher

e of the forest. The tension built up, my

ack had begun to increase. I could hear her breathing slowly, she was also exhausted. Ho

out to begin

clap

little tick

voice, my

the worst torture i

my plans. Not to lie, you actually, but gues

ious? He f

and take you instead. You are an exotic one. After all, you'll make me mo

ushing force. The possibility of salvation for others was a bitter co

ce quivering with exhaustion. "Let me go, and

Oh, but I do have to do this. You see, I can't have anyo

ng little st

ps forward. His tall frame

see his face prop

gan

n

w

h

Bang!

t at m

never existed, and we were stuck in a dimens

n in my back, I felt

ur stubbornness made me s

oice girl I had carried

low wince that

n

w

h

th began

or. My vision was blurry, I felt a drop of wate

e me... on ...the... ship

lease don't die!!!" I let out a piercing scream. I k

thing I ever heard her say before her lifeless wide-e

piercing gaze she gave

er life had ended, snuffed out like a candle flame in the wind, and it was my fau

a hushed cry in the stillnes

w I had to keep moving. For her sake, for my ow

ying, I began another round of

e, I just ran. I didn't know where I

. He just kept shoot

il I heard the g

lt than the last. My feet felt like lead weights, my body wracked with exha

hat they were, but they shined and one shone much more than the other, it

me, my body collapsing onto the hard ground. Pain lanced through

there wa