onal trauma, parental

ad clicked shut. The sound still rang in her ears. She

ls dug into her skin. Her face pressed into her thighs. Her breath shallow an

t. Just a gasp. A small, aching little hiccup from the back of her throat. Then anot

gentle. They weren't soft. They were ugly. Loud. Raw. She

ough it all, she kept shaking her head, whispering the

mmed her hand against the tile. "I didn't do anything wrong." She was sh

one else could see. "I trained. I listened. I kept my mouth shut when they hurt me. I smiled when they laughed. I was good. I was obe

he moon was out. A pale silver sliver in the dark sky. H

her tears and stared at the sky. "Are

n't curse you when I was weaker. I thought maybe... maybe I was just different. Maybe I nee

." She let out a sound. Somewhere between a laugh and

u. When I couldn't sleep. When Sylvana hurt me. When

r head slowly. "But you didn't." She wiped her face wi

isper now. "They're sending me to him. I don't even kno

closed her eyes tight. "I'm just a girl." And then- Her voice changed. Softer.

do." She crawled toward the window, slow and weak, her hands dragging across t

mber you said I was born under a quiet moon. That it meant I'd grow slow but shine bright."

But I know this isn't right. I know I'm not meant to d

She sat back. Took a breath. Then another. And then s

er legs wobbled, but she stayed upright. She looked around her

e only place that had ever belonge

get out of here." She turned toward her bed and opened the drawer. Pulled

r and something warm she couldn't name. She tied it

n. Her heart was still broken. Her eyes still red. Her chest still tig

cape." She nodded once. "It's for my own good." Her

n do t

packed. Her boots were not yet laced. Her hands were trem

she whispered to herself. "Now. Before they wake up." She stepped toward the door, every

fingers reached for the bag she had already packed. It waited by the bed, small and wo

ot yet. Not until she was past the sto

teps. She opened her bedroom door. Just

hen moved. She crept past Sylvana's door. Then Thorne's. Her father'

creaked once. She froze. Waited. No footsteps above.

. Hidden laughter. Whispered stories over burnt toast. She l

er. She crossed to the pantry. Her fingers found the latch

her face was cold as the wind kissed h

and closed the door behind her. Then ran. She didn't know where she was g

her back. Every breath came hard. Her lungs ached. Her legs burned. But she kep

rough the branches like it knew her name. Her feet found a familiar path towar

. "Just get past it and don't look back.

tell her stories of wolves made of starlight and girls

ne's anything." Her boot caught a rock. She stumbled, caught her

der. Faster. "Moon Goddess, please," she whispered. "Please let

reath caught. Her body went still. She turned, eyes wide,

d. Closer this time. She panicked as she gulped but she couldn't wa

d. Her lungs burned. But she didn't stop. Don't lo

see the ridge now. She could see the gap in the trees where th

Then. A snap. A breath. A shadow behind her. Then a ha

body was yanked backward with force. She hit the ground. Hard. Her bac

"Let go of me!!!" She barely had time to breathe bef

ck do you thin