"Spread out!" The voice of the Arcadian knight echoed in the empty hallways. Judging from the tone he used, Newton could guess he was a captain.

They leaned on a thick column that was enough to hide the two of them. But since Isadora left the hell of a room, she had not spoken a single word. Newton could hear her labored breathing beside him. He ducked his head quickly before the captain could see him. All the knights spread out in different parts of the castle save for the captain. His heavy boots clicked on the floor, his prying eyes set to spot the duo.

Isadora’s chest heaved heavily as the captain drawed closer. The sound of his boots on the floor was becoming more audible. Newton held her arm to calm her down and only then did he feel her blood rush through her veins. She was that scared!

Newton’s grip tightened around the dagger he held as the captain drawed closer. He could already sense his presence a few feet away from where he leaned. He cursed the gods for once in his lifetime. But he had promised Alexander to take her safely to Crescia. He could not fail him, not today.

Yet, he feared. He only had a knife while his enemy had a cruel metal in his hand. And as if speaking of the devil, he heard the sound of metal unsheathing. A lump caught in his throat yet he maintained a brave face. He held the dagger out defensively and for a moment, no sign of the captain making a move was heard.

Newton braced himself to spring out of his hideout and kill the Crescian but he heard another knight approaching.

"Sir, the king is burning down the castle!" The knight reported. There was a slight tremor in his voice that spoke volumes. Only then did Isadora raise her eyes in apprehension.

"Alexander?" She called tugging Newton’s hand,"What has happened to him?"

Newton tried hushing her, and fortunately, the captain had left together with the knight.

"I don’t know. We should get out of here now that we have the chance. Alexander is trying to lure them into the castle so you can have the chance to escape," Newton said thoughtfully. "Let’s not waste it."

He dragged Isadora along though she seemed hesitant. She would glance back now and then. Newton led her through the garden which was empty by now. Most of the knights had been deployed to the castle. The path led to the Northern part of the castle where a river runs. There was a higher chance of eloping through the river than land. If the gods were merciful enough, they would get a boat and a chance to survive a rain of arrows!

Isadora had been running until her legs began to ache, yet she didn’t want to stop, and strangely, leave at the same time. She thought she was brave enough but she was mistaken. The horrific things she had witnessed in the dining room proved her wrong. Never had she seen so much blood, people she knew killed in a manner that would send a pig vomiting.

Oh Alexander! What had he done? She didn’t want him to die! No, not today. The thought alone was horrific yet possible! Poison had once brought him to the jaws of death, but now it was both poison and knives. She was certain Felista had added poison to Alexander’s drink. It would only be a matter of minutes before it worked its magic. And what would become of her beloved Alexander?

Before she could look again, Newton brought her through an open door that led to the dungeons. The path was a spiral staircase that welcomed a sea of darkness. The dungeons of Arcadia were as dark as in the books. She had heard that outcast creatures bred and lived in these dungeons. Still, it was the safest way to reach the river.

Another turn welcomed them into the vastness of the dark, the light fading away with the disappearing door. The only sounds she could make of now was their mixed breathing, and the foul smell of the dungeon. It smelled of dust and rotten flesh.

"Stay close," Newton whispered as he took a step of faith deeper. Isadora clutched his hand tightly afraid he’d vanish any moment. For a couple of minutes, they just followed the wall until they saw something flash across the darkness. It was dark yet the movement could not be mistaken.

"Don’t move," she heard Newton whisper, and she could already imagine his dagger in hand. She leaned on the wall closely behind him, her breathing coming out uncontrolled. What a damned day!

A soft roar, it started, then to a snarl. She could feel Newton tremble though she stood a few inches apart from him. The darkling bared it’s fangs, the only thing visible in the darkness, a pair of white pearls, yet it’s red eyes were unmistakable too.

"A wolf!" Newton lamented. "Run!" He shouted, and Isadora had already sprinted instinctively before the words had escaped his throat. She held the helm of her dress, cursing for once. Felista had dressed her like a lady on purpose. She hated the godamn dresses!

Newton sprinted closely behind her and strangely, they ran through the darkness without falling or hitting onto something. The wolf’s snarling grew louder as if rhyming with her heartbeat. She took another tunnel afraid to look back until the snarling stopped. When she thought she was safe enough, she leaned on the wall heaving heavily.

But Newton.... A pair of red eyes stared at her through the darkness and the thoughts were quick to flee at the back of her mind. The beast stood there, hungry she could tell from the way it stared at her, and ready to pounce on this ready made meal.

She wanted to run, but where to... The beast sprang before she could think of anything else, and when she closed her eyes tightly, the darkness engulfed her promising an eternal end.