Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 28757 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 144(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28757 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 144(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
Audrey sat there motionless, not even breathing as she stared at Styx. His breathing hadn’t changed, and it was still even, easy. His body was so big that when she’d been lying down his form had blocked off everything else. Breathing out slowly, Audrey started to stand. Her side was still bandaged, of course, but she felt nothing in terms of pain aside from a slight pulling sensation. Whatever had been in that tea he’d made her drink really did help.
Are you sure this is the best option? Do you think running into the unknown, and up against things that know this land far better than you’ll ever know, is really the best course of action?
No, she couldn’t think that way, couldn’t even let herself be fooled into thinking that staying here, after what he’d told her, was the best option.
She stood there, not moving, just watching him. Ever so slowly, she stepped over him, her body tight, and her hands balled into fists at her sides. She wasn’t breathing again, not wanting to even cause the slightest ripple of air that might wake him. Once she was on the other side of him, she moved slowly toward the left, where she assumed the exit to the cave was. The fire crackled and popped in that instant, startling her and having a little gasp of inhalation come from her. She froze, looking over her shoulder at Styx. He still lay with his back to her, his chest rising and falling easily.
Just run.
And she did. Audrey took off down the long, cavernous corridor, a few torches placed on the stone wall beside her. She breathed fast and heavily, pumping her arms and pushing herself harder. But with each passing second, that slight pull in her side gave way to something more uncomfortable, something painful. She didn’t know how long she ran, but her side throbbed. Audrey gritted her teeth and placed her hand on her wound. She felt wetness but didn’t look down to verify she’d bled through the bandage.
Don’t stop. You can’t stop.
But the corridor seemed to go on forever, and she could barely see ten feet in front of her despite the torch sconces placed intermittently on either side. Audrey’s lungs burned, her legs and feet ached, and her side was hurting even more with every second that passed. And then she saw light up ahead, not bright sunlight, but the muted glow of the moon. It gave her strength, and she pumped her arms and legs harder, wanting to feel the cool, fresh air moving over her face. Freedom was so close, and she didn’t dare look behind her to see if Styx was following.
The opening to the cave came closer and closer, but all she could see was the vast expanse of sky. Audrey didn’t think on that too long, because the taste of freedom controlled too much of her. And then just as she was about to reach the opening she felt her eyes widen as she caught the first glimpse of the canopy.
Canopy?
Massive treetops greeted her view, and she stopped, but not before she realized the cave was high above everything else.
Oh. God.
She’d had too much momentum, and the threat of falling right over played through her mind. But she slid onto her ass, sliding on the unforgiving hard ground, dust flying up around her and blocking her vision. Reaching out on instinct, Audrey gripped the side of the cave, her palm being sliced open from the jagged rock.
A gasp of pain left her, but it was the shock of nearly falling right over the damn edge that filled her. Once her breathing was semi-normal, she crawled forward on her knees and looked over the edge.
So far up.
Pushing herself up until she stood, her knees threatened to buckle. The wind whipped by, blowing her hair around her face. She still held on to the side of the wall, her nails digging into the rock. Something high-pitched sounded, and she lifted her head and looked into the sky. At first she didn’t see anything, but then a massive shadow moved over her.
That was when she saw the creature flying above her. No, not flying above her … flying toward her. A startled cry left Audrey, and she turned, but tripped over her feet in her haste to run back to the man that was holding her captive. It was either jump to her death, let the creature barreling toward her devour every inch of her, or run toward Styx.
She went to stand, not wanting to die and realizing that going back into the cave was her only option. Her feet were torn up from the rough, rocky ground and running away, but she pushed past the pain. But before she could take one step, huge arms wrapped around her middle and pulled her back against a hard chest.