Episode 6

Panicked, I took a few steps back, turned and kept walking, even though my legs and knees felt like they were made of concrete. I didn't know where I was, so I had to get to safety quickly. The streets were already dangerous during the day, and at night it bordered on suicide to venture out.

The old man from just now probably wouldn't have hurt me and just wanted to beg, but I couldn't allow myself to stay in one place too long. You had to keep moving if you didn't want to get into serious trouble. And this time I didn't have a bottle of alcohol on hand to defend myself.

Baris' pained face appeared before my inner eye. It almost felt like I could smell the coppery smell of blood.

With an effort I pushed these images aside and concentrated on the surroundings. I was in the middle of the city, or rather: in the middle of the ruins that once represented a city a very, very long time ago. In the meantime the houses had completely crumbled, heaps of rubbish and rubble were piled up everywhere, it was dirty and cold and those who still lived here had to be really tough. Or just about to end, like the old man in the alley.

When I had no strength left to run, I pushed myself into a doorway and took a deep breath to slow my heartbeat down to normal. Suddenly I heard screams and then gunshots. Startled, I put a hand over my mouth so as not to make any loud noises. Away from here! was my only thought.

As dangerous as the night was, it also gave me protection. Like a shadow, I slipped out of the doorway and ran in the opposite direction from which the screams and shots had come. The ruins and barracks around me looked even more ominous in the dark; In the windows, which in the stone walls looked like the dark eyes of a skull, I thought I could make out dark figures watching me. If I wasn't so adrenaline, I would have been paralyzed with fear and panic.

I reached the edge of the forest and slipped between the trees. I realized too late that it was not a good idea to choose this escape route, because I promptly got caught in a root protruding from the ground and fell down lengthways. I instinctively wrapped my arms around my head to protect it from the impact, but doing so affected my elbows and also my right ankle.

The pain went to my shin as I got up again. "Damn it," I hissed, clenching my teeth tightly. I hobbled to the nearest tree trunk and propped myself up with one hand while I felt over my injured foot with the other. "It's all just your fault!" I pointed in a vague direction and, in addition to the helplessness and despair, also felt anger at Baris. If he hadn't pestered me and scared me as hell, I would be home now and everything would be fine. Instead, I had to deal with a sprained ankle in a dark forest and had no idea where I was. Not to forget the fear of the figures that hovered around in the darkness and to whom I was exposed like a feast on a plate.

After thinking for a moment, I took off my blood-splattered blouse, the black pattern of which looked grotesque in the dark, and tied my right foot with the damp fabric. It didn't really help, but just the will and the effort made me move forward again.

Where? I wondered as I hobbled from tree to tree. I was cold and shivering, not only because of the cold, but also because of the terrifying noises around me. The forest and its inhabitants. Here I was the intruder; a troublemaker you didn't want there. Which one had to destroy if necessary.

"I don't want to be here either," I muttered to myself and stopped short when I heard a growl behind me. The fear crept to my core at this sound. Wild dogs. A bark confirmed my suspicion.

I screamed and started running; I had completely hidden my sprained ankle at that moment. But my foot remembered its misery well and promptly buckled away again. I fell, scraped my knees, and felt the ground for something to defend myself with.

Armed with a relatively sturdy branch, I spun around and lashed out to drive off the attackers, whose sleek shadows darted around me. "Leave me alone!" I shouted, trying hard to make my voice sound threatening. "Get out of here! Cush! Away with you! "

A sharp pain shot through my shoulder as sharp teeth burrowed into it. I screamed again, struggled, shouted, and finally passed out.

As if through a thick fog, I noticed gunshots again, followed by hasty steps and low voices. Strong arms went under my body and picked me up from the floor.

"She is injured. Boss, we have to get you to the base. "

I blinked with the last of my strength and saw three tall figures, one of whom was holding me in her arms. A rough hand came around my chin and turned my head to one side.

"She is conscious," said another voice and a pair of dark eyes fixed my face. "Do you understand me, girl?"

I nodded and said a barely audible "yes."

“We're taking you with us now. You are safe. "

I leaned against the chest of whoever was holding me, relieved, and felt cool leather on my cheek.

Hunter leather was my last thought before I closed my eyes and indulged in exhaustion.