Chapter 37 Last Time

• Two days before the celebration, one year older, I stood at my window afraid. Afraid I’d never see Shane again. Afraid that something happened to him and that I would be forced to leave with Ethan. I waited with bated breath as the sun slowly lowered below the horizon. When the moon was high in the sky, I steeled my resolve and threw my leg over the window. Shane had climbed up and down from here time and time again. It was my turn to figure it out. I ignored the warning in my head screaming that I would plummet to my death. Slowly but surely, I somehow managed to climb down the walls. My feet touched soft grass and I let out a breath of relief when I was on solid ground. It was dark out, with nothing but the moon shining above me. I didn’t waste any time and ran through the fields. There had been times when I woke up after he’d left but not long after. I’d run to the window and watched as he walked back. I knew nothing of where he was from or where he lived but I’d watched him walk back enough times to be able to remember where he went. He always ran through the fields and on the other side he never made it to the large eating area for the servants. Meaning, he lived somewhere after the field.
• There was a snapping noise and I froze in my tracks. Someone was here, someone was out here with me. My heart rate picked up and I fought the urge to start heaving. I tried to steady my breathing and lower my head. I looked around but couldn’t see a thing. I couldn’t see anyone. And with all the noise I made, they had to know that I was here. They might even know where I was or worse, who I was. Then the bushes and dried grass started to move. Goddess, they were moving but where? How close were they? I couldn’t be sure. Out of the corner of my eye, someone lunged for me and I cried out as I was tackled to the ground. I fought tooth and nail to hurt the person on top of me. I pounded my fists into their chest and tried to knee them where it hurt but they were too strong, too big.
• “Damn it, it’s me,” the voice hissed. “What are you doing out here?”