The sounds of battle were still fading behind me, but in my mind, they were louder than the beating of my own heart. He'd given his life to get me out. With every step forward, I felt as though I was running away from Avalor itself and the guilt that gnawed at me with every breath. But leaving Russell was hateful, and staying behind meant both of our deaths. His arguing had turned desperate, his voice urgent to run, so here I was, running for my life.
The forest was a maze of shadows and twisted branches that seemed to go on and on. My feet throbbed on the uneven ground, but I kept on. The night air slapped against my face with its icy chill, sharp as knives. My lungs burned, and I didn't dare stop. Avalor was out there, hunting me. That cold face came to my mind: the blue eyes that had so often seemed dark beyond knowing, and the once charming smile now twisted into a snarl of darkness. How could I have ever believed in him? How could I have ignored the warnings?
