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Finally free

I stilled momentarily as I heard a babble of voices Sharp co, the echoes of safety catches clicked; heavy boots stomped closer and closer

They were too close

I alap under the fence did not look big enough to fitI did not have a choice I had to try I could not live one more day in this hell

Headfirst, chest grazing the newly-excavated ground, I slipped through the tiny gap under the fence The flesh of ed metal of the mesh wire but I did not care—as one more scar?

Using ed my body forward I heard clear voices, the crystal tis, consumed by bloodlust, as they hoith deliberately induced hunger

“She’ll be searching for gaps or weak links Secure the second teaate We’ll head for the south, and nothe wrath of the Alhty on us all if she is lost!”

Quelling an anxious cry, I pushed and scra in desperation Deep scratches covered own ripped and tore into shreds on spikes of jagged barbed wire, and I watched helplessly as round

No! I almost screamed out in frustration The hounds would smell my blood They were trained to scent blood

With one final push, o I shuffled ontofor freedom

A feeling, no, a flood of elation at the realization I was all but free quickly evaporated at the sight of a black hound skirting round a nearby bush Focusing on a tree outside the fence—a goal to crawl to—I tried to pullRazor-sharp teeth sliced intoheldits head, tearing into fragile skin and muscle

Paling with the severity of the pain, I fought back a growing sense of nausea I slapped e stone Choking back a screaedtried to force its large head under the fence, tightening its grip onwith a stick

With the last of ed ’s skull over and over and over, its bared fangs dripping hite-red foaer The disciple guards starved their hounds to ht each other to uards reasoned that the hungrier their dogs were, thedown deserters