Page 30 of A Broken Promise

I glanced back; the crystal bridge was still in my view, though now smaller and less distinctive. Blurred vision or not, I could still see his large black cape wavering on the edge of the bridge. Soldiers and Royal Guards ran down the side of the river.

I felt his haunting eyes on me. It didn’t make any sense how, but I could feel it. My heart confirmed it by racing against my chest faster.

Something was off, but I didn’t have the time to think about it as I took a big breath and jumped back into the water.

I knew it was coming, yet fear roared inside of me as the river pulled me to the cliff. The waterfall. Loud and murderous. I wasn’t going to go back, but even if I changed my mind, there was no going back now. I took another large breath and dove.

Nothing could’ve prepared me for it, as I free-fell alongside the large body of water, my body awkwardly trying to grasp onto something. In the last seconds, I managed to fight the gravity with enough strength to have my legs hit the water first. My body slammed against the water like concrete and plummeted deep below. Legs first might have been a great idea if it wasn’t for the long dress I was in.

Wrapped around my upper body, heavy fabric disoriented me completely, dragging me further down into the deep. Flopping with my arms tangled up in the skirts, I swam to the surface.

I gasped for air, finally breaking out of the cold water. This part of the river was much wider than the top, expanding out like a wide lake. The current was now more of steady flow than a rancid stream. The large, rocky cliffs on both sides of the waterfall served as a reassurance—unless they jumped straight into the water right after me, it would take them a while to hike down to find me. Still, I wasn’t going to stay and wait for them to find me.

Deep in Lord Inadios’s territory, it wasn’t safe to wander in the forest, but the growing dull ache in my ribs reminded me I couldn’t run far. Wincing, I kicked my legs faster, pushing my body through the water. My teeth chattered nonstop; it was only a matter of time before the frigid cold completely stopped my heart.

I had no belongings, no food, or shelter, and while the sun was still shining brightly, it was just mere hours away from hiding behind the horizon. That dreadful reality pulled me down just as much as my heavy dress. I incinerated those thoughts with each stroke, pushed and fought the brooding gloom.

I made it.

For the first time in well over a year, I was free.

I let that thought ground me.

Free.

Away from Destroyers, away from the Quarries. I wasfree. That was all that mattered. It was now up to me to make the rest.

My body was shaking, but I disregarded it. Doubt tried to creep up in my mind, but I did not yield. I wouldn’t let it take this victory away from me.

I had been completely alone before. I had gone hungry before. I lived against all odds in the Rock Quarries. Gods, I bit a ruthless Destroyer General and fought a Royal Guard.

I will make it. I will survive.

Sometimes I just had to remind myself of that.

I swam through the river until the current became almost nonexistent. Maybe it was hypothermia, but the water was feeling warm, welcoming. My legs painfully cramped, and I went under, choking on gulps of water.

I had to get out right now.

My muscles were leaden. Each stroke requiring tremendous concentration as I made my way to the opposite bank of the river from where I jumped. Tears mixed with fresh water clung to my lashes when my feet finally touched the slippery, rocky bottom of the river.

Alive and free.

I smiled at the fluorescent sky.

Free.

I dropped to my knees, crouching between the large green shrubs surrounding the riverbank. Now that I was splattered against the hard, warm earth, overtiredness tugged on my body, demanding to be addressed.

I just needed a minute to lay still, to feel the sun on my skin, to feel my limbs again.

After fighting with the buttons, I finally clawed myself out of the soaked fabric. Splattered in a small grassy spot, I let the warm afternoon sun wash over me, thawing my frozen body.

I had to keep moving, had to go as far as I could, but after swimming for over an hour, my body refused to move.

Just ten minutes in this warmth and I will venture…My eyes closed shut before I could even finish that thought.

PART II

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