Caution!
Contains depictions of violence and blood.
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Chapter Six
Horror and shock froze on Arissa’s face, as she gazed down at the bleeding man who had just helped her escape and then been shot for it. Without even bothering to think about who or how many other soldiers were beside her, she shoved the door open as far as it would go, hoping to block the soldier’s view of them.
Karson attempted to help drag himself through the door, but the weight of his body kept collapsing against his useless shoulder. Arissa summoned as much strength and adrenaline as she could and within a moment, she had Karson through the door. She didn’t hesitate to slam the door behind them, without even knowing where they were.
Blood gushed in dark red streams through his clothing and between his fingers that was pressed hard against the open wound. His eyes were closed, focusing on keeping his breathing calm and steady. Hysteria would only accelerate the blood loss.
“Karson,” Arissa gasped, not able to think for a moment. The shot had obviously been meant for her, but the marksman had been a few inches off.
She fell to her knees, immediately peeling away the soaked layers of clothing. The wound looked horrid and sickening, but she knew that he would live if it was taken care of immediately.
“You can’t let them find you,” he gasped out.
“Karson, you got shot because of me. They were aiming for me, not you. I have to leave you. That way, they will find you and be able to help you. They won’t know you were helping me. Tell them exactly what happened, that I escaped from you and the other guard.” Her words rambled so fast, she hoped that he could actually understand her.
“You needed…help. What is it you need?” Karson pulled himself into a sitting position, his face strained with pain.
“I’m trying to find where they have him hidden. I know he was here.”
She didn’t need to say anything more. He understood. Nodding, he replied, his words rushed as well, “You’re right. He was here. They moved him less than two days ago. He was alive, but that’s all I know.”
Running footsteps suddenly echoed through the tunnel, approaching them. Her voice spoke even faster. “Do you have any idea where they went?”
Shaking his head, he struggled to stand, Arissa still clutching his arm to help support him. “I know they have already brought him to Ravl, Tragen and Jasvil. They are not going to repeat their own tracks. That only leaves one place left that they would trust.”
“Varkland. But that’s going into the mountains!”
“That’s the only reasonable place left for them to go. Even they are running out of places to run to. Nobody expected you to survive this long on your own.”
“This isn’t my fault and I have others to worry about besides myself. This will all be over soon.”
The running footsteps had slowed nearly to a walk outside the door. Arissa gripped Karson’s blood soaked hand once, already getting up to move. He called after her, quietly as possible, “There’s an exit on your left. You can double back and find the nearest gate. I made sure it isn’t being watched.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, but she had already turned the corner in the dark hall, suddenly running faster than she thought she was able.
Before she even had time to process the situation, Arissa came upon a still body at her feet, right in an open door. Karson was right, he had made sure it wasn’t being guarded.
Arissa was nearly out the door when she stopped, thinking quickly. The reason she had come here was to find out where they would be taking him to next, but now that she knew the information, she suddenly felt a strange draw back to the reformatories. Perhaps there was something else here that she needed to know. Everybody guarding the city would be in a mad hurry to conceal the walls and if she didn’t leave now, she might never get the chance to.
Surely the General and every other guard in the area already knew of her capture, but it didn’t make sense for them to try to kill her, when they had accidently hit Karson instead. If she was under arrest, they needed her for the trials that would be held. The only ones who would be trying to kill her were the endless number of troops that were no doubt trailing her all over the land, but even then, they would stop at the blockades of the cities.
She didn’t have time to think about it any longer. If there was something she should be finding out about the reformatories, it would have to wait. Right now, she needed to find the camp within the Varkland mountains. After they were reunited, then she could come back if necessary.
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