Zara's breaths came in sharp, ragged gasps as she limped down the cracked street, Leo clutched tightly in her arms. Every step sent a jolt of agony shooting up from her swollen ankle, but she gritted her teeth and pressed on.
It seemed she had twisted it as she jumped out of the window. It was already a miracle she hadn't broken anything or knocked herself unconscious.
The faint cries of hostile humans faded behind her, but the sound of their curses still echoed in her ears.
The street stretched before her, an empty wasteland of broken-down cars, weeds bursting through the cracks in the asphalt, and shattered glass glinting in the fading sunlight. Somewhere in the distance, a guttural groan cut through the stillness, raising the fine hairs on the back of her neck. Her arms tightened around Leo, who buried his tear-streaked face into her shoulder as he hiccuped.
