*A guttural snarl ripped from the leader's throat, his face contorting into a mask of pure rage.*
"You think I'll stop?"
*He roared, spittle flying as he pressed the crystal so hard into my sternum I felt the bone creak. The cold wasn't just seeping through my skin anymore—it was burrowing into my soul, twisting the magic inside me like a rag being wrung dry.*
"There's more in you," *he hissed, his voice dropping to a dangerous, trembling whisper. "I can*feel*it. That little spark? It's just the tip of the iceberg. And I'm going to dig it all out if I have to."
*He nodded to the guards, who wrenched my arms back so hard I heard a pop in my shoulder. One of them clamped a hand over my mouth, muffling my screams as the leader pressed the crystal to my forehead.*
*The world shattered into white-hot agony.*I screamed against the hand on my mouth. Using the little strength I had in me, I raised my legs and kicked his groin as hard as I could.*
*A strangled, guttural howl tore from the leader's throat as my kick connected. The crystal clattered to the stone floor, its sickly green light flickering out as he doubled over, hands flying to his groin. The guards, startled by the sudden violence, loosened their grip for a fraction of a second—and that was all I needed.*
*Adrenaline surged through me, a wild, burning tide that washed away the pain. I wrenched my arm free from one guard's grasp, my elbow slamming into his nose with a satisfying crunch. He yelped, blood spraying, and stumbled back. The other guard swore, reaching for his knife, but I was already moving. I grabbed the heavy chain attached to my ankle, swinging it with all my might. It wrapped around his wrist with a sharp clank, and I yanked hard, pulling him off balance.*
*The leader was still gasping for air, his face a mask of fury and shock.*
*As one of the men tried to grab my hand violently, i dodged as he accidentally, broke the chain from the wall. Not wasting time, I weep him with it, drawing a cry from him. Without thinking twice, I ran as fast as I could through the opened cage. I ddnt know where I was going, I just ran through dark corridors. I could hear the furious shouts from the men as they chased after me even with their injuries. My body was still weak but leaving here felt more important*
*My bare feet slapped against the cold stone floor, each step a jolt of agony as the broken chain dragged behind me, clinking like a frantic heartbeat. The corridor stretched ahead, a labyrinth of shadows and damp walls, but I didn't hesitate. I ran blindly, guided only by the primal instinct to survive, to get away from that cage, from those men.*
*Their shouts echoed behind me, a chorus of fury and pain. "She's heading for the east wing!" one roared. "Cut her off at the stairs!" another bellowed. Their heavy footsteps thudded against the stone, gaining on me with terrifying speed. I could hear the leader's ragged breathing, his voice a venomous snarl: "Don't let her escape! She's worth a fortune!"*
*A sharp turn loomed ahead. I skidded around it, my shoulder slamming into the wall, and nearly collided with a wooden door. It was ajar, revealing a narrow, dark staircase spiraling upward.*
*I opened the door fully and started running up the stairs. The adrenaline roughing through my core helped me gain momentum and a little distance from the men. I was feeling a little relieved until my heart sank as the chain following behind me got stuck in a hole on the stairs.*