Brittany woke. How was it still night? Did night normally last this long? She tried to get to her feet, but pain flooded her system, emanating from her foot. Her ankle was broken. She dragged her way out of the trees.

She didn’t remember much. Running out of the tower, the wolf hitting her, the wild roll down the hill…and Peter dying. Even if she made it back home, what would make life worth living? She didn’t have friends at school.

Mom, she thought, and Dad. She had to live. For them. They would be shattered. She pulled herself further downhill. Would she be the same again? No-one would believe her story. She would be an outcast from society, people whispering that she should be in a mental institute.

Snap

Brandon came rushing out of the overgrowth at her. But it wasn’t Brandon.

His skin was pale, as white as the moon. His eyes were glassy, and it looked like the pupils had swallowed up the irises and whites. His clothes were torn, and he held out his fingernails like claws.

She shouted and screamed for help. But it was useless. No-one was coming.

Shots sounded out. Brandon was thrown off her. Gunfire. Howling. She closed her eyes and let her saviors take her back.

Finally, it was over.

***

Brittany sped away from Ayyergsoun on The Wonderful Barrage, looking at the ominous tower in the distance. No-one was looking for Peter’s body. Brandon had been buried on the grounds of the asylum. Her father put his arms around her. Her parents wouldn’t have believed her but for one thing-the deaths of Peter and Brandon.

She bit her lip and tears filled her eyes as she sailed away from the island.

***

Gdalicanu von Horn watched the boat sail away and, for once, a smile graced his features.

“Yes, run.” he said. “Those children hold the record for escaping unscathed.”

He turned and walked slowly through the air into the clouds, following the boat.

In the distance, a storm was brewing.