It was utterly silent. There was an absence of life for miles in every direction she travelled. Molly was uncertain of the direction to pursue, unaware of which path would lead her to Jayce, yet she felt compelled to attempt. Her only knowledge was that she needed to traverse the trees, but she would perish if she did not acquire a horse beforehand.
Molly ascended the walls and gazed over the precipice of the corner. Two guards were engaged in an intense discussion with their backs turned to her near the stables where Jayce had absconded with the horses. Molly swiftly retreated and concealed herself from their sight once more. Her breathing intensified in her auditory perception. Her attempts to mitigate the noise only intensified her perception of its volume.
This situation was absurd—how would she extricate herself without a horse? She would walk throughout the night and arrive to them with frostbitten toes from the frigid air.
Molly observed the trees and discerned an aperture amidst the shadows. She maintained a brisk pace as she approached it. It was significantly colder than she had anticipated. Upon exiting with Joseph, she experienced a sensation of heat, as if the cold air were entirely absent; however, now it felt as though she were enveloped in her own layer of ice. She received what was warranted for exploiting his benevolence for her personal gain.
A distant howl resonated, causing her skin to prickle with goosebumps. What if they pursued her like a beast upon discovering her absence? She recognised the necessity to persist and make an attempt to escape. She would never absolve herself if she remained passive while her future was determined by others. Particularly if they desired to eliminate her solely to antagonise Jayce.
She navigated cautiously among the trees. No evidence of another guard was present for miles, and she hoped this indicated she had left them all behind. Each crunch in the snow elicited a wince and accelerated her heartbeat, as if it were attempting to escape her chest. What was the distance from here to the camp? She recalled it being lengthy by carriage yet swift by horse. It is conceivable that if she ran, she would arrive more swiftly, despite the absurdity of the notion.
Molly surveyed her surroundings and observed only additional trees. She inhaled deeply before departing into the darkness, distancing herself from Life Pharmacy. The forest appeared unfamiliar, yet she recognised that Jayce had traversed this path while they were on horseback.
Molly berated the guards for encircling the area and forcing her to retreat to the camp instead of riding. They must have recognised that Jayce absconded with several of their horses on the night of their escape before being discovered, and now ensured constant surveillance.
Her breath quickly became laboured with minimal distance traversed due to the dense snow. Unaccustomed to such exertion, she collapsed to the ground and rested her head against her knees. She was compelled to persist.
She permitted herself a brief respite before rising once more and proceeding. Life Pharmacy had become a remote spectre in her past, yet she recognised it remained uncomfortably proximate. The sun began to rise above the horizon, and she contemplated the duration since her departure from confinement. Has Joseph observed her absence yet? Or would he postpone checking her consciousness for a few additional hours?
She was reluctant to envision the betrayal reflected on his face upon discovering what transpired and the whereabouts of his keys. She warranted his ire and anguish, yet she was unwilling to confront it. He needed to comprehend that she was unworthy of being a pawn; he had to acknowledge that. What other reason could there be for his kindness towards her?
Whenever a small branch snapped or an object shifted behind her, she halted to ensure that nothing was following her. She adhered to the trees and refrained from remaining exposed for an extended duration. It was merely a death wish, and she had no justification for being apprehended so promptly. Although she was proceeding in the incorrect direction, it was preferable to remaining idle. Any circumstance was preferable to imprisonment; they were misguided to underestimate her.
Resounding howls reverberated through the trees; she was uncertain of their proximity, yet it caused the hair on the nape of her neck to bristle. Molly swiftly concealed herself behind a substantial boulder and sought a weapon to wield.
She grasped a jagged stone and attuned her ears to the shift in the wind. Paws struck the ground, and she instinctively realised that they had discovered her absence. It occurred much sooner than she desired, leaving her with no option but to-
“Run, child!” A booming voice shattered the tranquilly. A man laughed so boisterously that it caused her to flinch. “We have already apprehended you!”
Molly rose and traversed through the trees. She sprinted with all her might, unable to discern whether anything pursued her or if she was on the verge of being attacked fatally. Continue progressing, continue advancing. Her respiration was pronounced in her ears as she exerted herself more intensely. Do not look back; continue forward.
A rope encircled her torso and pulled her into the shadows. An unfamiliar man ensnared her and pulled her through the frigid snow until she was at his feet. He inhaled deeply from the cigar in his mouth before exhaling the smoke and smirking at her.
“That was quite enjoyable. You nearly succeeded, young one.”
“Permit me to introduce myself,” the large man stated, his smile resembling a vivid blend of yellow and black. He wiped his soiled hand across his ample abdomen as though removing dirt and proceeded to extend his hand for a handshake. She declined to make eye contact with him.
Rather than feeling insulted, he responded with increased laughter. The sound was repugnant, leading her to believe he had filth entrenched deep within his throat, with no prospect of expulsion. “I am Marcus, employed at Life Pharmacy. Typically, I maintain the premises and attend to the dogs; however, I was informed that a charming creature had escaped, prompting me to seek you out before you succumbed to the cold.”
Molly endeavoured to free herself from the rope, but Marcus merely pulled tighter, constricting her breath. He continued to pull until she reclined against the snow in utter defeat.
“Now, you should reconsider. You are already in significant trouble; I would not wish to exacerbate your consequences.” He smiled once more. The vision would plague her dreams for numerous nights; she pondered whether he was aware of its terror.
A couple of sizable dogs approached to sniff her face, emitting a low growl from their throats. She recoiled from their damp noses and longed to dissolve into the earth. Provided they did not bite her face, she was content. She harboured aspirations. At least it was not a pack of wolves seeking her demise.
Marcus compelled her to stand. “Unless you prefer that I forcibly escort you back, I suggest you walk. However, I would not object to either option, as I find the sound of girls pleading for their lives rather enjoyable,” he stated through clenched teeth. Molly promptly straightened and followed him, the rope still degradingly encircling her body as though she were merely another dog. He pulled on her periodically to assert his dominance and to convey the pain associated with any attempt to escape.
“You were close to your desired location,” Marcus remarked abruptly. She was uncertain as to why he conveyed that to her, possibly to exacerbate her discomfort regarding their proximity. He could not have known her destination unless they informed him where to search. “Just a few more miles ahead, and you would arrive at Colton’s camp.” He emitted his unpleasant laughter once more. Molly glowered at the back of his head, regretting her decision to drop the rock when he seized her.
