Accidental Surrogate

Ella

I turn on my heel and run away as fast as my feet will carry me.

My would-be kidnappers curse and soon their footsteps are pounding into the pavement behind me. I fly through the sleeping city, careful to make sure I travel in the opposite direction Cora ran. I hadn’t been sure they’d both follow me when another target was still within reach, but it seems their outrage over being duped by a little girl was strong enough to make them focus on me.

I know I need to find some place to hide, or some way to lose them. I’m small and fast, but my pursuers have longer legs and are probably in much better shape than I am. I can’t remember the last time I ate, let alone the last time I exercised for any reason other than survival. I turn towards the park in the center of the valley – the trees are dense and there’s little to no light, plus I’ve always had a talent for seeing in the darkness… at least I used to.

My adrenaline pushes me to sprint away from the men, even though my head is telling me to pace myself. I don’t risk looking over my shoulder, I simply run until my lungs are burning and my sides are splitting with cramps. Still, I don’t let myself slow down. I push through the pain and exhaustion, forcing myself to take longer strides, to move faster still.

I feel a slight flash of relief, when I reach the forest, bounding into the cover of the trees and veering away from the path. I leap over fallen logs and plow through the thick undergrowth, wondering if I should keep running or attempt to climb a tree.

An angry shout sounds behind me, and I realize my pursuers are closer than I knew. My heart stutters with raw panic, but I keep going, panting with the effort of drawing air.

Blood rushes in my ears, and though I can feel b.ranches and thorns scraping my legs, I don’t feel any pain. My frantic brain hallucinates the sound of a wolf howling in the distance, then two more join the cry and my eyes flit around the woods, searching for unseen predators. We’re deep in the forest now, and all at once I realize this was the worst possible place I could have chosen to flee.

I’ve always felt safe in the forest, but it seems my eyesight is not as sharp as I remember amidst this pitch blackness, and I’ve led my attackers away from the bustling city – from any witnesses or bystanders that might step in to help me.

I’m slowing down, no matter how hard I try to carry on. I was running on fumes to begin with, and my adrenaline can only do so much. No! I think frantically, keep going! If they catch you it’s all over. They’ll sell you to a brothel or to some monster like the Doctor. Nọ one will be left to protect Cora. You have to fight!

my surroundings. My foot catches on a protruding rock, and I tumble

bleeding, and I feel as if I’ve been punched in the stomach, my lungs temporarily frozen

sickening smiles. “Now look at what you’ve done, you stupid girl.”

to auction, so there’s really no reason to be delicate with her. We might as

is still pure anyw ay.

declares, reaching for his belt. “Don’t worry slut, we’ll make this good

eyes. I know what happens

I can survive it, but I don’t want to. I don’t want to be hurt that way again, and their cruel words fill me with a well of humiliation deeper than I can fathom. It’s not my fault I’m not pure, it’s not my fault I look

choke back a sob, I don’t know what to do. if I fight them they’ll hurt me worse, and if I don’t they’ll insist that I like it. I look around the

strangely familiar. They stand there motionless, their hands clasped as they watch the scene with my kidnappers unfold. Their wrinkled faces are drawn in frowns, but they don’t make a sound. They don’t move to help me, or acknowledge

she looking at?” The first man grumbles, sounding

staring at the pair with

I hear myself cry out, even though I hate giving them the satisfaction. My vision goes black for a moment, then fills with stars as I blink up at the men in confusion. Any hope I’d kept alive dies as I accept the fact that no rescue is in store for me. They’re going to

of that future slams into me, and suddenly my stomach is rising into my throat. I vomit onto the ground beside me, and the men leap

here, I don’t want to get

I’m being wrenched across the cold, hard earth

leave my body, to be knocked unconscious so that if I must be violated, I won’t have to remember it. Then something glints in my periphery, like silver and starlight. It’s just a flash,