In the distance, a man dressed entirely in black walked toward them.
He moved casually—too casually—at one point even skipping, as though this were nothing more than a stroll. His face was hidden beneath the brim of a dark hat, his features swallowed by shadow.
Yet Merlin felt a chill crawl up his spine.
The man was familiar.
Just looking at him made everything else fade into background noise.
"No… it can't be," Merlin murmured, too softly for Riya to hear. "It's too early."
He swallowed.
"He found us."
Riya turned.
It took her a few seconds to spot him. When she did, shivers ran down her spine. Her gaze locked onto the man in black, unable to look away.
She knew exactly where this led.
She had seen it too many times.
It was always done openly. First, the traitor was announced. Then he was sent. He always arrived within three minutes. No delays. No failures.
A familiar cycle.
But never—not once—had Riya imagined standing on this side of it.
Not with Merlin.
Her stomach twisted as the reality settled in. The anxious waiting. The crowd watching. Everyone expecting his return.
Their little escape had just become something far bigger.
"No…" Riya whispered. "This can't be happening."
Merlin didn't hesitate.
He grabbed her wrist and broke into a run.
Riya followed without resistance.
Whatever fragile freedom they had was already slipping away. For most children, this was how it ended. For Merlin, the punishment might be lighter.
For Riya, it wouldn't be.
Either way, they were finished—unless they vanished before they were noticed.
The odds are low, Merlin thought. Very low.
His original plan had been the route to the main gate. But it was only used at sunset. Waiting wasn't an option—they'd be caught long before then.
That left only one place.
The most forbidden ground in the city.
Even high-ranking officials weren't allowed there—save for a handful of handpicked officers.
With no other choice, it became the only one.
A sharp whistle tore through the air.
Both of them looked back instinctively.
Bruce was sprinting toward them.
"We've been spotted!" Riya cried.
Merlin's eyes widened as he looked ahead.
No…
Guards at the main gate were already moving.
Both directions were compromised.
The path ahead and the path behind led to the same place—captivity.
They were as good as caught.
Except Merlin wasn't heading for the gate.
He veered sharply, the sudden turn catching everyone off guard.
They plunged toward forbidden ground.
The air grew heavy. Breathing became harder. The weight of their choice pressed down on them.
This was something most people never experienced.
Adrenaline rushed through their veins.
Freedom was close.
And just as close to being taken away.
It was a breathtaking experience—but not one people would ever ask for.
A fence loomed ahead.
Not electrified—but tall, dense, and unforgiving. There were no doors nearby and no way over it.
Merlin slowed only long enough to pull something from his coat.
A dagger.
Oddly shaped. Messy and beautiful at the same time, as though its flaws were intentional. A hooked curve was carved into the wide blade.
He had made it himself.
The hook caught the metal wire.
Grab. Twist. Cut.
Riya watched, heart pounding, as Merlin worked with speed and precision. The pursuers were closing in. He was fast—but not fast enough.
Still, he didn't stop.
He ignored the shouting. The whistles. Everything. He focused only on executing the task.
He's done this before, Riya realized.
The final wire snapped.
Merlin bent the net inward and shoved Riya through first.
Her uniform snagged on a stray strand.
Merlin cut it instantly.
She slipped free.
A heartbeat later, Merlin was beside her.
Just in time.
The guards arrived—but none crossed the fence.
Not because they couldn't.
Because crossing it would be treachery.
They weren't among the few permitted to enter.
Neither was Bruce.
Merlin and Riya ran again, never looking back.
Bruce slowed, then laughed.
"Round and round the wheel goes," he said lightly. "But the hamster never goes anywhere."
The guards stared at him, uneasy.
One finally asked, "What do we do now?"
Bruce turned, irritation flashing beneath his smile.
"We go around, you idiot," he snapped. "Don't you understand?"
Merlin and Riya moved through the forbidden territory. It looked abandoned—creepy, with strange pathways. Merlin could only tell where to go by remembering where they came from. The roads were uneven; some had collapsed, while others were buried beneath hills or fallen buildings. It was clear this place was very old.
Ahead stood a large building that seemed out of place. It, too, was old, but far better kept than the others. The sight of it loomed with mystery. The building sent chills down their spines.
Merlin swallowed.
Going through it was the quickest—if not the only—way to the other side.
Merlin broke the lock using a larger hook on his strange dagger. He pushed the door with all his strength. It was stiff—maybe from years of rust, he thought.
As it opened halfway, Merlin heard a sharp crack from the hinges.
Immediately after, he felt his right arm scream in pain.
Warm blood spilled as a blade came down from the top of the doorway.
Merlin clutched his bicep and fell to the ground.
Riya froze, unable to understand what had just happened.
Then she saw the blood.
She panicked.
She tore off the sleeve of her shirt and wrapped it tightly around his bleeding arm. Merlin gritted his teeth. She tied it off with a handkerchief, pulling hard.
The bleeding slowed.
Riya helped Merlin sit up.
As he did, he glanced to his left and saw the blade that had cut him so badly. He looked up, noticing how it had been set.
He cursed silently.
If he had been any taller, it would have taken his head off.
He had been saved by his own height.
"We have to keep going," he said, barely catching his breath.
"No," Riya said, pulling him back down. "We have enough time."
"We can still escape," Merlin insisted through clenched teeth.
"Don't stress yourself more than you already have," Riya said. "Let's find a place where you can rest."
She helped him to his feet.
Merlin kept his head down.
I'm so pitiful, he thought.
Riya guided him deeper into the hall.