I hesitated for only a second before gripping the cold metal and hauling myself up. The sharp edges of the fence cut into my palms, but I ignored the pain. When I landed on the other side, I turned back to her.
"Thank you," I whispered.
She smiled, but there was sadness in her eyes. "Run."
And I did.
The night swallowed me whole as I sprinted toward the dense forest behind the mansion. Twigs snapped under my feet, branches scraped my arms, but I kept going. The air smelled of damp earth and pine, the darkness pressing in from all sides.
Then I hit a dead end.
A steep cliff stretched out before me, its jagged rocks disappearing into the abyss below. My breath came in ragged gasps as I spun around, searching for another way out. But there was none.
Panic clawed at my throat.
I needed to hide.
Spotting a small cave nestled within the cliffside, I hurried inside. The space was tight, barely big enough to crouch in. The damp walls pressed against my back as I tried to steady my breathing.
Then I heard it.
A hiss.
My body stiffened as I turned my head slowly. My stomach twisted when I saw the dark, coiling figure beside me. A snake.