The Calling: A Slow Burn YA Dystopian Fantasy Novel by L.C. Pye

Author:L.C. Pye [Pye, L.C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: LiftedLines Press
Published: 2023-05-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Jules

Days and nights had bled together. If I had tracked accurately, the Harvest Festival would be today. This meant it had been eight days since I was taken. The kidnappers had thrown one more girl into our cramped prison, making it eleven of us. But since then, we hadn’t moved from our location.

I could feel my body weakening from the lack of food and exercise, and I wasn’t the only one. All the women, especially Suz, were becoming weakened by the harsh conditions. If I wanted to free us, I needed to do it before we lost more of our strength. Who knew how far the next village was.

During the few moments when they did let us out and removed our blindfolds, I studied our kidnappers, speculating on why we hadn't moved. Were they waiting for someone to join them? Were they planning an attack of some kind? It was hard to discern what they were up to because they kept their distance from us, making it nearly impossible to overhear anything. I needed to get out of this cage if I was going to find out any useful information. I had a plan. But I needed to wait until they let us out again.

When darkness took over, they released us from the locked wagon. They must have been feeling generous because they gave us a ration of bread each. We were in a denser part of the forest with thick foliage hiding our location. It would benefit us greatly in staying covered when trying to flee. There must be a stream nearby since they had been following one the entire journey. We would need to follow it back when we escaped and hopefully find the nearest village.

Adrenaline pumped through my body as I waited for the opportune time.

“Get up!” the woman who led us to wash up shouted.

We pushed through thick bushes and after about a hundred steps came to a small stream. I positioned myself farthest away from our guard. I looked around, searching for a distraction big enough to give me the opportunity I needed to steal the dagger strapped to the guard’s thigh. The other women were quietly going through the routine of washing their hands and faces. I had already decided I wasn’t going to involve any of them in case things went wrong. I grabbed a few stones in the stream as I pretended to wash up. Sucking in a breath, I prepared myself.

I waited until the guard wasn’t looking in my direction before shrinking back into the tree line. Hidden from view, I paused and forced myself to slow my accelerated breathing. I was being sloppy, practically forgetting my training. When I felt calmer, I took slow, quiet steps like I was on a hunt. I did move marginally faster than normal, knowing I didn’t have long before she would notice my absence.

Through the extensive shrubbery, I could barely see her in front of me. I clutched the small stones I had taken and threw one against the tree to my right.

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