Fated Lies (Lies 3)

22

Liesel

You shouldn’t have saved me.

Those words ring truer than any I’ve ever spoken. My head rests against his chest for a split second, but I’m terrified that Rowan or one of the guards is going to come back and kill Langston on the spot.

“We have to go,” Langston says, ignoring my comment.

“Is there anything I can do about the chains?”

“No.”

“Do you have a gun or weapon for me?”

“No, and even if I did, you wouldn’t aim to kill.”

He’s right, but I could still do some damage.

He stares at me like something’s wrong with me. “Do you want me to carry you?”

“Could you?” I raise an eyebrow.

“Yes,” he growls.

“No, I don’t need you to carry me.”

He starts to walk toward the door he entered through, but I grab his hand, stopping him.

“This way,” I nod in the direction of the other door. “It leads straight outside the castle.”

He walks in front of me. “Stay behind me, Liesel. Do not jump in front of me, understand? Don’t you dare try to take a bullet for me.”

“Lead the way,” is all I say. I won’t make any promises.

He sighs and then pushes the door open as I grab onto his hips and duck down as we walk through the door, short hallway, and then out the front door.

“Where are all the guards?” I whisper.

“I killed a couple of them, but I’m not going to wait around to find the rest. Want to run through the forest or steal a car?”

Before I can answer, we hear voices approaching.

“Woods,” I mouth at him.

He nods, and he backs me into the brush while he keeps his gun aimed in the direction of the castle, until we get to the thick of the forest where we can no longer be seen. Then, we start running.

Langston isn’t as fast as me, I realize, which makes me try to study him as we run.

“Are you hurt?” I ask.

“Drugged.”

I frown. “Are you going to pass out on me?”

“No, I only got a partial dose. I’ll be fine soon, but it’s best to keep my adrenaline up to help get the drug out of my system faster.”

I nod, and we keep running. It’s a bit freeing to be running through the woods with my childhood friend. Even though I’m barefoot and pantless, and we are running for our lives, it’s still enjoyable. This is what I missed the most about Langston, being together like this.