"Damn, it looks like they plan on killing us for their own amusent!" Xylas Shepherd said, staring speechlessly at the sealed stone door.
Annabelle Linton placidly scanned her surroundings, her eyes narrowing slightly.
It was a large, circular hall with torches lit all around. Though not very bright, they provided enough light to see the general situation.
A massive guillotine stood at the far end of the hall, blocking the path forward.
It was the kind of guillotine used to execute criminals in ancient tis.
A chain descended from the ceiling, attached to the blade.
Annabelle Linton walked over and pulled on the chain. It was incredibly heavy, and she had to use all her strength to raise it.
RATTLE—
The blade was raised, and the other three imdiately turned to look.
"Whoa, that’s aweso," Xylas Shepherd said with genuine admiration, looking up at the coldly gleaming blade.
But the mont he spoke, he was t with flat stares from Leona Grant and Nathaniel Locke.
He gave a couple of awkward laughs and pantomid zipping his lips shut.
Annabelle Linton released the chain, and the blade slamd shut with a loud CLANG.
If anyone had been standing there, they would have been sliced in two.
The four of them stood before the guillotine, their expressions grave.
They couldn’t pass unless soone held the chain, which ant leaving one person behind.
In other words, only three of the four of them could proceed.
After a mont of thought, Nathaniel Locke said calmly, "Leona’s injured, so Annabelle, you stay with him. Xylas and I will go check the passage ahead. If we find an exit, we’ll figure out a way to co back and get you."
It was, admittedly, a good plan.
They couldn’t stay here long, but who knew what dangers lay ahead?
It was true that neither Annabelle Linton nor Leona Grant were fit to go on.
Leona Grant’s back was still bleeding, and it seed the tiger’s claws had been poisoned. His face was already growing pale from the blood loss.
Leona Grant slid down against the wall, slowly sitting.
Annabelle Linton glanced at Leona Grant, then nodded to Nathaniel Locke. "Alright. But don’t go too far. If you don’t make any progress, co back imdiately."
’Who knew if another stone door would slam shut ahead of them, just like this one had?’
If that happened, Annabelle and Leona wouldn’t be able to get out, and they’d be unable to help if Xylas and Nathaniel ran into trouble.
Nathaniel Locke nodded. "Alright."
Annabelle Linton then raised the blade again, and the other two n passed through into the tunnel.
CLANG—
Annabelle Linton released the chain, and the sound echoed once more.
The blade was incredibly heavy; Annabelle Linton’s palms were already scraped raw from holding the chain.
Annabelle Linton pressed her lips together as she looked at Leona Grant. Though he tried not to show it, the slight furrow of his brow revealed he was in great pain.
’This is the second ti he’s saved ...’
’I kept saying I didn’t want to owe him anything, yet he keeps saving .’
Annabelle Linton sighed and crouched down in front of him.
"Take off your shirt. I need to look at the wound."
Hearing this, Leona Grant opened his weary eyes, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. "What’s this? As soon as they’re gone, you’re already trying to get my clothes off?"
Annabelle Linton rolled her eyes speechlessly. "You’re ridiculous."
Her expression made Leona Grant laugh.
’That expression looks really good on her. It’s so amusing.’
Annabelle Linton took so anti-inflammatory herbs from her bag and said coolly, "I’m going to treat this. You might be poisoned..."
"No need for that," Leona Grant said, pulling Annabelle Linton into his arms. His voice was soft and intimate. "This is much better. Don’t move."
Annabelle Linton struggled for a mont, but when Leona Grant let out a few muffled grunts of pain, she instantly froze.
’It wasn’t that her heart ached for him.’
’If he passed out here, she would be the one stuck figuring out a solution, wouldn’t she?’
User Comments
0 comments from readers