CH 140: Prison Break
Jasmine pulled at the arm of the closest boy, forcing him to his feet. The boy yelped, causing the others to recoil in fear. Jasmine’s heart skipped a beat. If that were any louder, the whole compound would be on them.
“Please,” she said sternly. “We don’t have a lot of time.”
The boy sagged, falling onto the filthy bedding. He looked up at her in terror as the others watched.
Jasmine knelt before the boy, a sad smile on her face. The boy was no older than 15, terrified of her. She took a deep breath and spoke again.
“Please. I’m here to rescue you, but we need to be fast.” Jasmine did her best to sound soothing. “My party and I will return you home.”
A flash of emotion crossed the boy’s face before he crawled away from her. “N-no. I’m not falling for that.”
Jasmine’s stomach tightened. His arms were littered with scars and wounds, his neck and face bruised. Signs of sexual abuse were evident. A fire burned within her as she took a deep breath.
“Look at me,” she ordered, her voice hard enough to make the boy’s head snap back toward her. “I’m getting you out. And I will kill every last bitch in this place.”
Her conviction terrified the boy. He gulped. His eyes were trembling before averting his gaze. He nodded his head weakly before standing.
“Wh-whatever…” He said barely above a whisper. “Just, l-leave the others alone.”
Jasmine shook her head. “No, I’m here for all of you. We need to hurry.”
The boy held his arms up in defiance, putting on a brave front as he stood before her. His voice trembled as he spoke. “Take me. P-please, leave them.”
Jasmine pinched her nose. This wasn’t where the plan should have failed. She took a deep breath, and upon exhaling, she did her best to imitate Claire. She clasped both her hands around one of the boy’s and knelt before him. She bowed her head and spoke.
“I promise you. I will not harm any of you and will die trying to get you out of here.”
She heard the boys gasp as adrenaline pumped within her. Or at least, that’s what it felt like. Her whole body was engulfed in her Goddess’s divine light. She didn’t even stop to think about what just happened.
“Now, come with me.”
This time, the boy nodded and turned to the others. In a silent wave, they rose and gathered close to her, eyes burning with fragile hope.
“Wait here,” Jasmine said. “When you hear the arrow, run like hell and to the first floor. We’ll meet there.”
With that, Jasmine disappeared. The energy that flowed within her was still surging, but her body no longer glowed. Her anger and sense of justice were ignited as she raced down the hall.
She readied her blade as she approached a lone guard. With deadly precision and speed, she struck the guard. She silenced the gurgling cries as she carved the woman’s throat. The guard’s elbows slammed weakly into her ribs, but her strength faded fast. Jasmine dragged the body into an adjoining room and kept moving.
The coast was clear now as she turned, knocked, and fired an arrow. With a dull thunk, it embedded in the wooden door.
The boys stared at the arrow in shock. Then the boy Jasmine had promised raced forward, followed by the rest of them.
Jasmine kept moving, ensuring the way was clear. She made it to the window she had entered and doubled back. She guided them to the window, pointing to the hole in the wall.
She shoved a nearby table beneath the window. “Get going the moment you see her turn her back. Stand clear of the wall.”
The boy nodded and swallowed hard. Before he could say anything, Jasmine disappeared. She had to have faith in her teammates to protect those boys. She was needed elsewhere.
The boy stared at the guard Jasmine pointed out, his throat dry. He felt the tugs of his fellow captives as they nervously waited. Then, she turned.
The boy rushed forward, climbing out of the window. He glanced at the wall, every fiber of his being begged for him to run. But he turned and offered his hand to the others. There were twenty-one boys, and they needed to be fast.
He ignored every instinct to run as he helped the younger boys out of the window. Several others quickly joined him as the younger boys nervously waited by them.
It took two minutes to get them all out. By then, the guard had noticed. The boys ran for the wall, expecting a signal to be rung at any moment. But they made it to the wall with no issue.
Elsie encased the guard within her ice wall, buying them precious time. She calmed her breath, readying to bring the wall down. She nodded to Claire, who then signaled to Firewater.
Firewater turned to tell Ursa, but she was already halfway across the field.
Ursa didn’t slow down when she approached the wall, she wound her axe up. With a chilling howl, she slammed her axe into the wall, the impact rumbling through the structure. Claire’s eyes widened at her feat of strength.
Elsie was supposed to bring the wall down with magic, but Ursa weakened the entire structure. Ursa’s red eyes locked onto Elsie, whose shock froze her. Ana tugged at her sister’s dress, snapping her out of it.
She channeled her mana into a stronger-than-normal firebolt, aiming for the crack Ursa created. The alarm bells clanged as her magic collided with the weakened wall. The bricks shuddered before the wall crumbled.
On the other side, the boys froze at the sight of Ursa. For a moment, her consciousness returned. Pity and sadness overcame her as she stared at the malnourished boys. She leaped over them with feral speed, her anger taking over once again.
The boys didn’t move as they watched her. Claire and Firewater rushed to the wall, calling for the boys. The boys turned and stayed in place.
“Come on, run for the trees!” Claire cried. But none of them moved.
“Fuck!” Firewater said bitterly. “They’re scared of me. Take them, I’ll follow your wolf.”
Firewater dashed to the side of the crowd as they cowered and moved away from him. Their legs trembled as Claire approached them.
“Come with me.” Claire commanded. “Jasmine must have filled you in.”
They all stared at her for a moment before scrambling. They ran towards the treeline, towards freedom. Claire lagged behind them, eyeing the stronghold. Panic filled her as a glint of metal caught her attention.
The archer was in her perch, an arrow knocked and ready.
“Archer!” Claire cried. “Everyone hit the ground!”
Claire rushed forward, not fast enough. Relief washed over her as nearly 15 arrows were embedded in Ana’s translucent ward in rapid succession.
“Go! Get to the trees!”
She turned to face the archer, the only one of her party to be exposed. She held her shield ready, expecting arrows to rain down upon her. But nothing came.
Tera, the archer, studied the trees, losing sight of the boys who disappeared within them. Anger swelled within her as several of her favorites managed to escape. Her anger built with her annoyance from being interrupted. She didn’t even have time to put her pants on.
She stared down at the lone warrior, her anger seething. She readied an arrow and aimed at the lone shieldwoman, but she knew better than to shoot at easy targets. That woman was a diversion. A diversion for that thing. And worst of all, the Ravian.
She lowered her bow and took stock of her arrows. She listened to the chaos below her. That woman was tearing through their ranks with that infernal axe. Tera recognized the axe immediately, causing fear to well within her.
The axe of punishment. An axe made to kill werewolves. A weapon meant for traitors and corrupt Ravians. She expected it to come for her someday, but not this soon.
She clenched her fist as her own anger took over. Her wolf begged to be let loose, but Tera needed to stay conscious. That was how she’d survive. By denying her instincts and blessing, not embracing it.
“If this bitch wants a fight, she’ll get one,” Tera said as she readied her arrows laced in Wolfsbane. “She’s not the only one used to fighting wolves.”