The silver sliver of moonlight that sliced through the window was a cruel reminder of the freedom she had lost. Sera stared at it blankly, her heart a leaden weight in her chest. The Council had separated her from Delena, her precious daughter, and locked her away in this isolated house. Pleading had been useless, her words tossed aside like scraps to a starving animal.
Without Resi and her daughter, Sera felt utterly alone, adrift in a sea of despair.
A sudden movement across the moonlit floor startled her. She rose with a jolt, clutching the bars of the window.
"I'm here to take you out," a muffled voice whispered. A figure stood just beyond the window's reach, their presence tangible but invisible in the night.
"Who are you?" Sera demanded, suspicion tightening her throat.
"That doesn't matter," the figure replied. "Your daughter is safe with me."
Hope flickered within Sera, but doubt held her back. "I don't believe you."
Before she could question further, a familiar face appeared at the window. It was Delena, her eyes wide and frightened. A strong hand clamped over her mouth before she could cry out, pulling her back into the shadows.
"Don't you dare touch her!" Sera roared, fear and fury blending in her voice.
"Silence," the figure hissed. "Do you want to be caught again?"
The word "escape" echoed in Sera's mind, igniting a spark of hope. "Why are you helping us?" she asked, her voice a tight whisper.
The figure remained silent.
She heard hushed words exchanged between the figure and Delena, followed by the sound of retreating footsteps. Hope blossomed in Sera's chest. He was leaving them.
Then, a click resonated through the room. Sera whirled around to see the door slowly opening, revealing a masked figure silhouetted against the night.
"Follow me," the figure beckoned, their voice low and urgent. "We don't have much time."
Sera stepped out, her heart pounding against her ribs. She found the guards slumped against the wall, unconscious, tiny darts protruding from their necks. Trusting the mysterious figure, she followed him into the night.
A moment later, she knelt beside Delena, tears streaming down her face. "Did they hurt you?" she asked, her voice thick with worry.
"We need to go," the figure urged. "Now."
Sera knew he was right. Sooner or later, the guards would be discovered. She had no choice but to trust this stranger who had offered them a lifeline.
With her daughter safely in her arms, Sera followed him into the shadows. They moved swiftly, the thick mist and darkness cloaking their escape.
As they reached the village wall, a dead end loomed before them. Despair threatened to engulf her once more.
But the figure surprised her again. He cupped his hands around his mouth and let out a haunting owl's hoot. A head popped up from the other side of the wall, and Sera froze, her heart pounding in her ears. They had been spotted.
The guard, however, did not sound the alarm. Instead, he threw down a rope ladder.
"Up," the figure instructed, gesturing towards the ladder.
One by one, they climbed the rough rope, their hearts echoing the rhythm of their hurried breaths. Reaching the top, they saw another ladder leading down to the other side. Without hesitation, Sera helped Delena down, then followed after her.
Once they were safely on the ground, the veiled figure led them away, taking advantage of the thick mist and the moonless night.
**********************
Perched high on the mountainside, a solitary figure watched their escape. From the farmer who had returned to the village earlier, he knew that Sera and her daughter were to be executed for a crime they didn't commit. The figure had a hunch, a strong one. One of the escaping figures was Sera. And he was glad she was free.
"This is going to be easier than I thought," he murmured to himself, a chilling smile twisting his lips.