Page 94 of Blood Caged

As he traces our path on a rough sketch of the facility, I commit every turn and corridor to memory. This is it. Our one chance at freedom. For me, for Rowan, for all the witches trapped here. Because there’s no doubt in my mind that as soon as I can get help, I’m coming back here to save the others.

I glance at the clock. Our window is approaching. It’s now or never.

I look up at Soren, my heart pounding. These could be our last moments alone together.

“Soren, I…” I whisper, reaching for his hand. He takes it, his cool fingers entwining with mine. The sensation is strange…like static electricity.

“I know. You don’t have to say anything,” he says softly, his blue eyes meeting mine. There’s so much left unsaid between us.

I step closer, closing the distance. “No, I need to. I… I don’t know how to thank you. For everything.”

He shakes his head. “You don’t need to thank me. I’m doing what’s right. Finally.”

I swallow hard, fighting back tears. “Still, I want you to know…whatever happens out there, I’m grateful. For you.”

Soren’s hand comes up to cup my cheek. His touch is gentle, almost reverent. “Mia, I—”

He pauses, seeming to struggle with his words. I wait, holding my breath.

“I never expected this,” he finally says. “You’ve changed everything for me.”

I lean into his touch, savoring the moment. “You’ve changed everything for me too.”

We stand there for a heartbeat, just looking at each other. Then, slowly, Soren leans in. His lips meet mine in a soft, tender kiss. It’s not passionate or urgent like last night. This is a goodbye kiss, filled with all the things we can’t say out loud.

When we part, I see a fierce determination in his eyes. “Let’s get you out of here,” he says.

I nod, squaring my shoulders. “Let’s do this.”

With one last lingering look, I take a deep breath as Soren opens the door to his quarters. This is it. The moment we’ve been planning for, dreaming of.

We step into the corridor, and I’m immediately struck by how different everything looks. The stark white walls and fluorescent lights that have become so familiar over the months now seem alien and menacing. Every shadow could be hiding a guard, every corner a potential ambush.

Soren leads the way, his movements fluid and silent. I try to mimic his stealth, but my witch-born clumsiness betrays me. My footsteps echo softly in the empty hallway.

“Easy,” Soren whispers. “Remember to breathe.”

I nod, forcing myself to take slow, measured breaths. We pass by doors I’ve seen a hundred times, but now they loom ominously. Behind any one of them could be someone who might raise the alarm.

As we round a corner, I catch sight of a security camera. My breath hitches, but Soren squeezes my hand reassuringly. Right. The fifteen-minute window. We’re invisible, for now.

The air feels charged with possibility. Freedom is so close I can almost taste it. But with that hope comes fear. What if we fail? What if this is all for nothing?

I push the doubts aside, focusing on Soren’s back as he guides us through the labyrinth of corridors. I’ve never seen this part of the facility before. It’s colder here, the air heavy with the scent of damp concrete.

We’re getting closer to the basement. Closer to escape. With each step, the reality of what we’re doing sinks in deeper. There’s no turning back now.

I hold my breath as Soren suddenly tenses, his hand tightening around mine. Again, I feel that strange electric tingle. Nerves? Adrenaline? Probably both. He pulls me to a stop, his eyes darting to the corridor ahead. Before I can ask what’s wrong, I hear it too – the echo of footsteps approaching.

“Patrol,” Soren mouths silently. My heart leaps into my throat. In one fluid motion, Soren pulls me into a shadowy alcove I hadn’t even noticed. It’s barely big enough for one person, let alone two. We press ourselves against the wall, my back to Soren’s chest. I can feel the solid planes of his body, the rise and fall of his breathing.

The footsteps grow louder. I squeeze my eyes shut, willing us to become invisible. Soren’s arms tighten around me protectively, and I lean into him, seeking comfort in his strength.

The patrol passes by agonizingly slowly. I swear I can hear the swish of their uniforms, the crackle of their radios. Any moment now, they’ll spot us. Any moment, our escape will be over before it’s truly begun.

But they don’t stop. The footsteps continue on, growing fainter until they disappear entirely.

I let out a shaky sigh. Soren’s cool breath tickles my ear as he whispers, “It’s clear.”

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