The air was thick with the sharp scent of pine and damp earth as the forest came alive with the sound of desperate footsteps. Nine girls darted through the towering trees, their breathing labored and panicked as they pushed forward in the dark. Chu Xiaoran was at the front, her eyes scanning the path ahead with a mixture of focus and determination. She gripped a small, jagged rock in her hand, her other hand brushing against the bark of trees to keep her balance. Feng Ruyi's words echoed in her mind: Follow the markings. Don't stop for anything. Head toward the river if you can—it will lead you out.
"This way!" Chu Xiaoran hissed over her shoulder, her voice low but commanding. Her heart pounded in her chest, not just from exertion but from the weight of responsibility. She had taken on the role of leader, and failure was not an option.
She glanced down at the base of a tree, her sharp eyes catching a faint mark she had scratched earlier—a quick X etched into the bark. Relief coursed through her. The bandits hadn't erased her trail. Yet. She pressed forward, urging the others to keep up.
Behind her, Yang Mingyuan was doing her best to stay close, her usually pristine dress torn and dirtied. She held a makeshift staff she had picked up along the way, using it to steady herself on uneven terrain. Her face was pale, her breaths shallow, but her resolve was unwavering.
"Stay close to me," Yang Mingyuan said, grabbing the arm of a trembling girl next to her. The girl stumbled but nodded, clinging to her like a lifeline.
The group's collective fear was palpable, but it was Chu Xiaoran's speed and focus that kept them moving. Her lithe frame darted through the trees like a shadow, and she glanced back only briefly to ensure the others were following.
"Don't stop!" she urged. Her voice was sharper now, desperate. Some of the girls were falling behind, their delicate shoes unsuitable for the rough forest floor. The uneven terrain took its toll, and soon, cries of pain broke through the night as one girl—then another—tripped and fell.
"Xiaoran, wait!" one of the girls shouted, her voice choked with exhaustion. But Chu Xiaoran didn't stop. She couldn't.
"We can't slow down!" she called back, her voice strained. She hated leaving anyone behind, but survival demanded ruthlessness. She clenched her fists, guilt clawing at her even as she pushed forward.
A sharp scream pierced the air behind them. Chu Xiaoran froze, her heart skipping a beat. She turned just in time to see a group of bandits closing in on the stragglers. One of the girls tried to fight back, flailing her arms wildly, but the men overpowered her with ease. The remaining girls screamed, their cries echoing in the forest.
"Keep moving," Yang Mingyuan urged, her voice trembling but firm. "We can't help them."
Chu Xiaoran bit her lip until she tasted blood, her hands shaking with frustration. She wanted to help, to turn back and fight, but she knew it would be suicide. With a ragged breath, she forced herself to move forward, leading the remaining six girls deeper into the forest.
They ran until their lungs burned and their legs threatened to give out. The darkness of the forest seemed endless, and the sound of the bandits' pursuit grew fainter but never entirely disappeared. Finally, Chu Xiaoran spotted a large rock formation jutting out from the side of a hill. The underside of the rock created a shallow overhang, just large enough to hide under.
"Here," she whispered, motioning for the others to follow her.
One by one, the girls crawled under the rock, their bodies trembling with exhaustion and fear. The space was cramped, forcing them to huddle together. Chu Xiaoran pressed a finger to her lips, signaling for silence.
The forest fell eerily quiet, save for the distant sound of footsteps and muffled voices. The bandits were close, too close. The girls held their breaths, their hearts pounding in unison as they strained to hear. Suddenly, a scream cut through the night—a high, keening wail that made the girls flinch. It was one of the captured girls.
Yang Mingyuan's hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with horror. Tears streamed down her face, but she made no sound. Beside her, another girl clutched her arm tightly, her nails digging into her skin.
Chu Xiaoran stared at the ground, her jaw clenched so tightly it hurt. She felt sick, her stomach twisting with a mixture of fear and guilt. She closed her eyes, willing herself to stay calm. There was nothing they could do. Not now.
The minutes dragged on like hours as the bandits' voices gradually faded. Then, a voice broke through the tension. "Let's look over there," one of the bandits said, his tone impatient.
Chu Xiaoran's breath hitched. The direction the bandits pointed to was away from their hiding spot, but the moment stretched unbearably long. She waited, her muscles tense, until the sound of their footsteps receded entirely.
The forest grew quiet once more, the only sounds were the rustling of leaves and the girls' shaky breaths. They waited for what felt like an eternity.
"I think they're gone," Yang Mingyuan whispered, her voice barely audible.
Chu Xiaoran nodded, though her muscles remained tense. "We need to move. Staying here is too risky."
The girls crawled out from under the rock, their movements slow and hesitant. Their limbs were stiff, their bodies weak from exhaustion, but they forced themselves to stand. Chu Xiaoran glanced at each of them, her eyes lingering on their tear-streaked faces.
"We're almost there," she said, though she wasn't entirely sure where "there" was. "Just a little further."
They pressed on, their steps faltering but determined. The forest seemed to stretch on endlessly, its shadows closing in around them. Every snap of a twig, every rustle of leaves made them flinch. Anxiety hung over the group like a heavy shroud, but they didn't dare stop.
Finally, the sound of rushing water broke through the oppressive silence. Chu Xiaoran's heart leaped. A river. The river Feng Ruyi had mentioned before. Her words returned with striking clarity: If you reach the river, follow it downstream. It'll lead to safety.
"This way!" she said, her voice hoarse but urgent. She broke into a run, the others following close behind. The sight of the river brought a glimmer of hope to their weary faces. The water sparkled faintly under the moonlight, its current strong but not impossible to cross.
Chu Xiaoran crouched by the riverbank, her eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger. Satisfied that they were alone, she turned to the others. "We'll cross here. The water's shallow enough."
The girls hesitated, their fear of the unknown warring with their desperation to escape. One of them stepped forward, dipping her foot into the water. The cold made her shiver, but she nodded.
"Let's go," Chu Xiaoran said, her voice steady despite the chaos in her mind. She stepped into the river, the icy water biting at her skin. Behind her, the others followed, their movements slow and cautious.
The river's cold was a shock to the girls' already fragile systems. The frigid water seeped into their shoes, their skirts, and the hems of their dresses, clinging to their skin like ice. Each step was a struggle, the current pushing against their legs and threatening to unsteady them. The once elegant silks they wore were now drenched and clinging, their vibrant colors muted by dirt and water. Hair clung to their faces, matted and tangled, and their lips trembled from both cold and fear. But appearances were the last thing on their minds.
Chu Xiaoran grit her teeth as the icy chill numbed her legs. Her focus was unyielding, her gaze fixed on the opposite bank. She pushed forward, every muscle in her body protesting against the relentless cold. Behind her, the others stumbled, their breaths coming in sharp gasps.
"Don't stop," she urged, her voice hoarse. "We're almost there."
When they finally reached the other side, she let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. But her relief was short-lived. The forest on this side of the river was just as dark, just as foreboding. And the bandits were still out there, somewhere.
"We'll rest here for a moment," Chu Xiaoran said, her voice firm. "But stay alert. We're not safe yet."
The girls collapsed onto the ground, their bodies trembling with exhaustion. Chu Xiaoran stood guard, her eyes scanning the forest for any signs of movement. She couldn't afford to let her guard down, not now.
As the moonlight filtered through the trees, casting eerie shadows on the forest floor, she couldn't help but wonder: Would they make it out alive? And if they did, what kind of world would they return to?
The night stretched on, the weight of their situation pressing down on them. But in the back of her mind, Chu Xiaoran clung to a single thought: We will survive. We have to.