24

Princess Yeri.

I run through the shadows of the castle, breathing in ragged gasps. My heart pounds in my chest as I find myself being pursued by an invincible hand—my footsteps are loud in the silence and it causes me to be afraid that someone might catch up to me. Sweat trickles down my brow, stinging my eyes as I dart between the statues and trees, seeking the safety of darkness.

I scan for any sign of guards. At different towers, they are flickering torches that brighten the shadows. I am already close; I just need to keep hiding in the shadows until I map out the path. I get to a central fountain where I crouch low behind a statue, peering around the stone figure. I can see and hear guards patrolling nearby, their conversation are low murmurs—the end up standing in the space, obstructing my flee. I wait and I can feel every second pass. My muscles tenses as I wait for them to move past. Finally, they move on and I head to the next obstacle.

I duck into the shadow of a large oak; i