Matilda's boots thudded softly against the uneven ground as she moved swiftly away from the scene. Her pulse pounded in her ears, drowning out the distant hum of the siren. 'I can't wait for Cassandra,' she thought, glancing back toward the path she had come from.
The search parade had split, and another group was cutting across the corridor where she had been waiting. Her breath hitched. 'I'll only get cornered if I stay.'
Without another glance back, she slipped into a narrower alley, her sharp eyes scanning the area frantically. The harsh light of the sun glinted off metallic surfaces and the muted bustle of the market beyond.
She knew this place like the back of her hand but had rarely had to navigate it under such pressure.
