Zafron's heart pounded in his chest as he slipped out the back door, his movements as silent as a shadow. The cool night air hit his skin, sending a shiver down his spine that had nothing to do with the temperature. As he crept along the side of the house, he caught sight of an unfamiliar cart parked out front.
'Blackthorn,' he thought, his stomach twisting with a mixture of fear and anger.
Without hesitation, he darted towards a nearby bush, diving into its concealing foliage. His breath came in short, controlled gasps as he tried to calm his racing pulse.
'How did he find us?' Zafron wondered, his mind whirling with questions. 'What's really going on here?'
The image of Matilda's panicked face as she urged him to flee replayed in his mind. He had never seen her so frightened, and it tore at his heart to leave her behind. But she had been insistent, practically shoving him out the door.
