"Run. Run fast. And never look back!" The old man's whisper was a rasping command, his breath carrying the foul stench of decay.
I had spent months preparing for this moment—training through relentless days of scorching heat and frigid nights. My body was honed to survive this very trial. I had to survive! I had to see the daylight on the other side.
With trembling hands, I unshackled the chains that had tightly bound my gaunt wrists and ankles. The clattering metal fell onto the cold, damp concrete floor. I flinched as the sharp pain of my abrasions flared up, while my stomach growled with hunger.
I grabbed the hem of my tattered shirt and braced myself. The jagged terrain and the harsh weather bit at my bare feet; nevertheless, the pain was a mere inconvenience compared to the drive that was building up in me.
"Ready?" he hissed, urgency dripping from his voice.
The click of a pistol being cocked was unmistakable.
"Run!"
The command was like a gunshot, propelling me into action. I sprinted with every ounce of speed I could muster.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
I zigzagged through the darkness, weaving to evade the bullets that whizzed past. Each shot was a thunderclap, each explosion a cruel reminder of the danger closing in. A deafening explosion from a landmine shattered the night, sending a shockwave of terror to my system. My adrenaline surged, propelling me faster through the dense forest.
The dark woods swallowed me in, the cold night pressed from all sides. I rubbed my eyes, struggling to see through the black void as my breath came in ragged, desperate gasps.
From my earlier theft of a guard's watch, I fumbled it out of its hiding place. The faint glow of the dial showed 12 a.m.—four hours until sunrise. I had no time to lose.
I forced myself to remember the trail—those subtle marks I'd left in secret during my captivity. I stumbled through the darkness, every fall only strengthening my resolve as I picked myself up and continued.
Then came the sounds of pursuit—the thudding of footsteps and the distant murmur of voices, their flashlights slicing through the darkness with eerie precision.
"God help me," I whispered to the void, my silent prayer a feeble plea against the looming threat.
I squeezed into a concealed crevice, camouflaged by dense bushes and ferns. Lying flat, I felt the creeping touch of a centipede on my leg. Its sharp legs sent icy shivers through my skin. I bit my lip to stifle a scream, the taste of my own blood mingling with my fear.
"Don't lose her or you'll lose your heads," a gruff voice ordered.
"How much is her virginity?" another voice inquired.
"Nine zeros! She's already marked by a billionaire in the West," came the reply.
"Holy shit!" another man exclaimed, his astonishment clear.
I held my breath, my heart pounding as the footsteps drew closer. Their flashlights probed every shadow, their voices growing more distant until they finally moved on.
Listening intently, I caught the distant rush of water from a stream. A glimmer of hope sparked within me.
If I followed the stream, it might lead me to safety.
I crept toward the water, moving as quietly as possible. Sweat streamed down my face, mixing with the salt and dirt on my lips. I was almost there.
When my feet finally touched the icy water, a shiver ran through me. I had no choice but to submerge myself, the current my only ally in escaping my pursuers.
The water was frigid, but it carried me along. I glanced at my watch: 2 a.m. Time was slipping away, and I had to keep moving.
I paddled with my feet, struggling against the water's resistance. My right leg began to cramp, a sharp, stabbing pain that quickly escalated. Panic set in, and I fought to keep my screams muffled beneath the surface. My mouth quivered, my jaw locking in agony.
No!
The cramping pain intensified, spreading up my thigh. Each movement increased my suffering. I took deep, shaky breaths, trying to calm myself.
Desperate, I grabbed at anything within reach. The sharp edges of the grass cut into my palms, but I had no choice. My body slammed against a submerged rock, jolting me with intense pain.
Oh no!
The other leg began to cramp, the familiar agony spreading. I cried out silently, the flicker of hope beginning to wane.
Unable to move, I couldn't evade the boulder ahead.
Pakkk!!!!
The current hurled me against the boulder, my head striking first. The impact sent a wave of dizziness crashing over me. My legs screamed in pain, my vision blurred, and my eyes grew heavy. I began to sink, my breaths coming in shallow, ragged gasps.
No!
I. Must. Not. Die.
I was so close. The sun would rise soon, and I had to make it.
But then, exhaustion overwhelmed me. My eyes refused to stay open, my body growing limp in the water. I felt the cold embrace tightening around my chest, bubbles escaping from my mouth as darkness closed in. Each second felt like an eternity, the world narrowing to a pinpoint of light before being swallowed by the encroaching abyss.
My struggle grew weaker, my hope fading with each passing moment. The cold water seeped into every crevice of my being, sapping my strength. I tried to fight it, tried to force my body to move, but my limbs were leaden and unresponsive.
I could see the faintest glimmer of dawn on the horizon, a cruel reminder of how close I was to freedom. The stream carried me along, but my strength was fading too quickly. My thoughts grew disjointed, each breath becoming a struggle, each heartbeat a laborious task.
The last remnants of my consciousness fought against the overwhelming darkness. I clung to the thought of freedom, of survival, but the icy grip of despair began to pull me under.
As the water closed over my head, my vision darkened, and the world dissolved into a cold, suffocating void.