• My throat is burning. My knees are beccoming shakey. My head is pounding. Adrenaline is flowing through my veins like a river in Colorado. My heart tells me slow down, slow down! but my mind is practically screeching keep going! You're so close! I listen to my brain, and pump my arms harder, ignoring the protesting of my muscles.
    I, Evangeline Broadstone, am running for my life. Literally.
    I'm taking off through the castle's corridors like a bullet from a glock, and don't seem to be stopping any time soon. I am gasping for air as I sprint, gulping up as much as I possibly can, and keeping my head down. I hear the footsteps of my friends not far behind. Beneath my, the cobbled stones are even and arrayed. I count them as I run, trying to take my mind off of the situation I'm in.
    I hear a familiar cry, then a thud. I whip around and see Aspie Clark tumbling from her run and falling to the cold, harsh floor. Not far behind, the guards turn the corner and head straight toward us. I swallow hard and rush forward with my other subortinates and quickly help her up. She's a small girl, short and skinny, so she's easy to lift, and when she cries out as she is stood up, I give up and tell Kai Hatsugari and Ashtyn Lewis to put her on my back. They do so, and once I start running, I feel the burn of the extra weight. But I push forward, knowing if I stop Aspie will die, too. I can't have that, now, can I?
    I break out of the castle and into the pulsing sunlight, feeling the heat immediately attack my already fatigued body. Aspie puts her hands above my eyes like a visor, shielding them from the sun. Inside, greatfulness to her swells through me, and I almost smile. Almost.
    We race through the courtyard, decorated with many shrubs and apple trees. The stone cobbled walkway is still perfectly aligned.
    The drawbridge draws closer, and I grit my teeth. Kei and Ashtyn come up next to me, and we exchange serious glances that almost make me want to laugh. We're usually never this serious, but I suppose with our lives on the line, it's instinctive to be frightened. Who wouldn't be?
    The sound of chains being jostled rips me from my thoughts, and I stare -with horror, I might add- at the drawbridge. It's slowly lifting, higher and higher.
    "GO, GO, GO!" I cry helplessly. I suddenly dont care wether or not I make it. I can't let them be taken down. I refuse to let it happen.
    Kei and Ashtyn obey, pushing themselves to their limits. We run up the now angled drawbridge and Kei and Ashtyn throw themselves across the open space, landing on the other side clumsily. I call their names and gather Aspie in my arms, trying to keep balance as the drawbridge goes higher. I gather all my strength and toss Aspie across, and thankfully Kei catches her. They look at me, and I don't know what to do. It will be iffy wether or not I even have a chance to make it across.
    "Eva!" Aspie shrieks, reading my thoughts. "Jump!"
    "I..." I look back at the guards, who are standing at the bottom of the drawbridge, which is now about fourty five degrees. I clutch the edge to keep myself on it.
    "JUMP, GOD DAMMIT!"
    Aspie's command jerks me into action, and I fling myself across the drawbridge. My chest hits the edge of the other side, and I clutch it, trying to recover the air knocked out of me. Kei and Ashtyn haul me up, and we finally all slide down the drawbride, Aspie on my back, Kei and Ashtyn looking disbelieving, and I, thanking whatever God is up there for not letting me die.
    We head off, away from Heryle Castle, not nearly as scared as before.