Chapter 1 The Escape

Rachel's breath caught in her throat as she examined the scholarship papers in Ymir's possession. The door to freedom was wide open, and she never thought she would get the chance. But it cost a lot. She'd spent years locked behind the cult's oppressive confines, knowing nothing else. She hesitated for a while, then rushed.

"Rachel!" Ymir's yell came from behind her, but she didn't turn around. As she ran down the tiny hallway, her pulse raced and the world around her blurred.

The cult was always on the lookout and waiting. She needed to go. Now.

The footsteps behind her got louder and closer. She pushed herself harder, even though the rough pavement hurt her bare feet. There was no way to go back. She couldn't let them catch her or stop her.

As she turned the corner, the sound of boots was obvious in her ears. They were getting closer to her. She pushed past the ache in her lungs and only thought about the door at the end of the alley. The wind touched her skin; it was the only thing that could help her in her dash for freedom.

Then, a piercing, recognisable voice from behind stopped her in her tracks. "Rachel, stop. "You can't get away."

The cult was getting closer and closer to her. She took a big breath and ran forward, but something told her the chase was only starting.

Rachel's pulse raced as she ran down the streets that were slick with rain. The smell of wet concrete was strong in the air. She had never been so vibrant or so scared. Freedom tasted better than anything she could have imagined, but the fear-oh, the fear-was still there.

The world sped by her, and every stride took her farther away from the life she had known. But the shadows at every turn made her nervous and kept her on edge.

As her feet hit the cobblestones, she gasped for air. The sound of someone yelling, which was far away but getting closer, made her stomach knot.

Then, the figure emerged, veiled and quiet, right in front of her, blocking her way out.

"Rachel, go back." They won't let you leave.

Rachel wouldn't stop, even though the voice was low and a warning. She pressed on, her heart racing. She wasn't going back.

"Get out of the way!" she shouted, her voice breaking from the stress.

The apparition didn't move; he stood tall in the shadows, making the air feel cold. Rachel tripped and her legs shook under her. As she was ready to jump over him, a cold hand grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the dark.

The voice said, "I'm not here to stop you." "But speed alone won't help you get away."

The alley was narrow, and with each step she took, it got closer. Rachel's breathing was uneven, and her thoughts was racing. She had to hide, so she ducked into the darkness and prayed they wouldn't find her.

But the cult didn't give up. They always knew.

She stopped moving when she heard something rustling in the distance. She bent down low to try to calm her breathing. A voice in a low tone disturbed the silence. "She's here somewhere." Look for her.

Rachel's heart skipped a beat. They were getting closer, and she couldn't get away.

She ran into a corner, thinking that the shadows would hide her from view. The individuals walked by, their steps heavy and slow. Every move felt like an eternity, and each second brought her closer to being caught.

A loud howl suddenly rang out in the air. A wolf's howl. It pierced through the night like a demand or a warning. The figures paused and looked at each other nervously.

Rachel didn't wait. She pushed forward, desperate to get away. The wolf's call had taken her mind off of things.

A shadow shifted in front of her as she pushed through the alley's entrance, obstructing her way.

"Are you going somewhere?" The voice was icy and knew what it was talking about.

Rachel's stomach sank. This was it.

Rachel's feet hit the ground hard, and with each step, she had to fight the tiredness in her legs. She couldn't stop even when the air hurt her lungs. She ran down the alley, her pulse thumping.

Footsteps sounded behind her, and a cultist's palm touched her shoulder, almost hitting her. She turned her body away and took a sharp gasp. They were getting closer, but Rachel knew the streets like the back of her hand. She had to escape away from them.

The neon signs above her made her head race. She was too swift for them. But they weren't going to give up lightly.

She heard a voice she knew, and it made her quiver all over.

"Rachel," Gideon's voice cut through the night air, steady and cold. "You can run, but I'll always find you."

Her heart skipped a beat. She tripped a little, but she got back on her feet and kept going with all her might.

"Not!" "Not this time," she said to herself, not letting his words stop her.

A door slammed open, and the cultists chased after them, their voices getting louder. She couldn't let them get her. She was almost there, almost free.

But the sound of Gideon's voice, cold and quiet, stayed with her. She could hear him behind her, always watching and waiting.

She pushed harder and ran faster. Her body wanted to slumber, but her mind stayed concentrated. She wasn't going to quit. Not right now.

As Rachel ran, the streets became a blur. Her feet barely touched the ground. The wind hit her cheeks hard, but she could almost taste the freedom she wanted so badly. She was close to the Blue Solstice Pack's land. Safety. Security. A spot where the cult couldn't get to her.

As she crossed the queue, she felt like she was entering something holy and protected, which made her stop. Her heart raced in her chest, and she felt a sense of relief, but it didn't last long.

Finally, her legs gave out and she fell. She needed to rest, but she couldn't stop. She gulped for oxygen. Not right now. Not when she had gotten this far.

As her palm brushed over the cold grass, she heard a voice she knew.

"Luna, your fate is already sealed."

Rachel froze, and fear crept up her back. It seemed like Gideon's words were a prophecy that sealed her fate. She looked up, her eyes darting quickly about the room, but she didn't see anything. She felt sure he wasn't far behind.

She was breathing in short, sharp bursts and her body hurt, but she knew she couldn't relax yet. It was simply the start of her adventure. She was secure for now, but what would happen when the cult found out she was gone?