The complete and utter silence was broken by a soft tingling sound above my head. I slowly opened my eyes and saw that Abrus too was searching for the source of the sound. He had the sword still pointed at my chest, which is why I didn't dare move away from him. It was difficult to see, but it was the chandelier that was slowly swinging, despite the fact that there was no wind or movement in the room. The bright crystals moved back and forth. Abrus was standing right under it and I saw him exchange a worried look with one of the guards.
He returned his attention to me, grinning. He was clearly enjoying this moment.
Suddenly, I heard a loud crack. The entire chandelier came falling down, taking big pieces of the ceiling with it. I jumped back, stumbling over my own feet and falling backwards. Glass and crystal shards scattered over the floor. The flames of the candles caught on to the wooden floor and I heard multiple guards yelling and saw them running in all directions. I had been lucky. I had not been straight under the chandelier. Abrus, on the other hand, was lying right under the colossal, motionless.
I barely had time to think. Pieces of rock fell down from the ceiling and more and more hot flames filled the room. I stood up, trying to find a way out. I felt a stinging pain in my shoulder, but I didn't have time to look. A strong hand grabbed my arm. It was one of the guards. I kicked his leg without thinking and he fell on the ground. I covered my head and tried to get away from the flames and glass.
I ran towards the closest door and tried to pull it open, but it was locked. I ran towards the next, but halfway I slipped on a puddle of blood and fell in the glass shards with my hands. The pain was excruciating and I felt tears filling up my eyes. I was ready to give up and stay there. I was ready to let the guards or the fire kill me.
"Makatza, here!" I heard a familiar voice yell. I looked up. I saw no one.
"Makatza, on your right."
I looked to the right. A long, thick rope hung down from the opening in the ceiling. I stood up and stumbled towards it. I felt a hand on my shoulder, but I slapped it away. I ran straight through the flames and the smoke and over the glass. I felt my heart pounding in my chest. My shoulder screamed for attention and my hands were covered in warm, red blood. The smoke made it difficult for me to breath and slowly, everything around me seemed to be consumed by darkness.
I finally reached the rope. I ignored the pain in my hands as I tied it around my waist with a double knot. The last thing I felt was the weightlessness caused by the rope lifting me off the floor, away from the chaos. Away from the pain.