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ENYDD

A look of panic overtook the girl’s face. “No, no, no,” she whimpered, her eyes staring into the distance.

“Is everything all right?” I asked gently.

“No! We must run. Now!” she yelled.

I whirled around, expecting to see some hideous monster looming over us. There was no monster aside from the dead beasts. What was wrong?

The cloaked man (Lorcan) and glowing girl (Isella) stared at her confused as well.

“Ku-” Abirami gasped. He was awake.

“It’s coming. We have to leave, or we’ll be killed.” the girl, Ku, said urgently.

“What’s coming?” I pressed. I needed more information. There was no time for mystery.

“Shut up and listen to me.” Ku growled. “If you stay here, you will die. Could care less what you think of me, but…Please help me get Abirami to safety. Please.”

The girl (Isella) stooped over Abirami and lifted him up. “Where should we take him?” she grunted.

I swooped to her side. “Excuse me,” I said to the cloaked man. “A little help?”

He glowered back. “I will not touch…him,” he answered distastefully.

“Unbelievable,” I snorted. “How could…” I stopped myself. Letting my emotions drive me was not going to do anyone good. I turned to the girl. “Here, put one of his arms around your shoulders.”

I draped one of Abirami’s arms over my shoulders. “You’re going to have to do your best to walk,” I told him. He nodded his head.

“We have to go up,” Ku said as the girl and I struggled to support Abirami.

“Up where?” I said.

“Just…follow me.” She marched towards one of the doors and swung it open. There was a staircase spiraling into darkness above.

I laughed grimly. “This is a relief. I was worried we’d have to go up a ladder.” I sighed. “Do you think that you’ll be able to get up there,” I asked both to Abirami and to the girl.

Both nodded.

“Come on,” Ku snapped impatiently. “We don’t have all day.”

Together we stumbled up the first few steps. Ku watched us, worried. At this pace we would not be able to escape whatever it was.

“You!” She pointed to the armored man. “Help them. It’ll make it faster.”

The armored man stepped forward and swiftly swept Abirami up. The man draped Abirami’s limp form over his back and followed Ku who was racing up the stairs.

I rolled my shoulders then gathered my skirts and began my ascent.