3. Escape

The building we were held in was falling apart.

The fire was spreading, the walls shaking, and the escape plan was already in motion.

The other noble children, led by Cassian and Vascor, had already crossed the fragile tree bridge that stretched out from the window.

They were all out—safe for now—but I could hear the building creaking, the smoke clouding my lungs.

The castle was crumbling.

But there was one more thing I needed to do.

Liam.

The little prince—the youngest and most immature among us—had been left behind.

He was crying, hurt, trapped under a large beam in the corner of the room.

He was so small, so fragile.

I couldn’t leave him behind.

And I knew—if I didn’t do something now, we’d both be lost forever.

I stared at the scene in front of me, my heart pounding, my breath coming out in ragged gasps.

The fire was eating the room, curling its orange fingers around everything, and the floor beneath me felt like it could give way at any moment.

But none of that mattered when I saw Liam crying, pinned under a huge wooden beam, tears mixing with the soot on his cheeks.

He was so helpless, so terrified.

My legs shook, but I didn’t hesitate.

I ran toward him, pushing through the thickening smoke, my mind only focused on him—on saving him.

He was the last one left inside, the others already outside, making their way to safety.

But I couldn’t leave Liam behind.

He needed me.

And it was my fault he was still in there.

'If only I had kept holding his hand.'

“Liam, hang on!” I cried, crouching beside him.

He looked at me with those huge, tear-filled eyes, and my heart nearly broke.

I could barely see through the smoke, but I had to act quickly.

I placed my hands on the beam, trying to move it, but it was heavy—way too heavy.

He whimpered beneath it, his small body trapped, unable to escape.

“Don’t cry,” I said, trying to comfort him as I shifted the weight.

But it wasn’t enough.

I could feel the walls vibrating, the sounds of the building falling apart all around us.

Time was running out.

"Help me!" Liam sobbed, his voice breaking.

He was too weak to free himself.

Too scared.

I gritted my teeth.

I couldn’t afford to think, only to act.

I pulled with everything I had, the strain in my muscles nearly unbearable, but I wouldn’t stop until he was free.

Finally, with one final push, the beam shifted just enough for Liam to scramble out from underneath.

He was breathing hard, but he was free.

For a moment, I just looked at him, my heart racing, relief flooding through me.

But we didn’t have time to rest.

I quickly pulled him to his feet, gripping his hand tightly.

“We need to go. Now!” I shouted, my voice desperate.

Liam nodded, his tears still streaking down his cheeks.

He was shaking, but we couldn’t waste any more time.

The others were already on the tree, already halfway to safety.

But now it was our turn.

I guided Liam to the wall of the building that was ripped open by the fire.

Below, the water was running with a dangerous speed running deep into the depot of a place that was not seeable yet, as we stood to far above.

But, it was the only way out.

I stepped up to the edge, pulling Liam along with me, ready to leap out into the night. But as I glanced down at the treacherous drop below, my heart skipped a beat.

If I didn’t move now, we’d be trapped here forever.

I glanced back at the inside of the building.

The flames were dangerously close.

There was no more time.

It was either this or nothing.

But then, as I pulled the little prince toward the edge of the open wall, a sickening sound echoed through the night—the tree snapped.

The tree in front of the door snapped.

'Now!'

My heart sank, but there was no time to think.

The others were already save.

Cassian was save.

It was only the two of us left now.

We had to jump. We had to go now.

I grabbed the prince in my arms and, with one last glance at the burning building, I leapt.

The world spun wildly.

The force of the fall shocked my body, the cold water swallowing me whole as we hit the river below.

I held the little prince tightly, refusing to let him go.

The impact was brutal, the water like ice against my skin.

But I didn’t stop swimming.

I couldn’t.

I swam hard, trying to find the shore, my arms aching with exhaustion, the prince barely conscious in my arms. Water was running through my lungs.

But we were carried by the current, dragged further away from the safety I had once thought was guaranteed.

And then

everything went black.

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