Mine to Tarnish by Janeal Falor Page A

coming to deliver me back to Nigel, and they will capture anyone caught with me. My heart feels as if it’s going to break through my ribs.
    Mary, Charles, Mavis, Sherry, even Helen, and all the other tarnished. I’ve put them all in danger. I should have done more, or at least something different.
    Mary is already gone, though I can hear a faint sound of feet moving and worried voices. Too many worried voices. I caused this, caused them to have to run from their home. I need to leave here, to get away from them as fast and as far as I can. Perhaps there’s still enough time to at least not give away their hideout. To save them from my fate.
    “Over here,” Charles pulls me down a passage we hadn’t used before, leading me to a narrow hall.
    I keep my focus on him as we hurry down the dark passage. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for everyone to be in danger because I didn’t bring everything I should have with me. I should never have stayed.”
    “And I should have made sure they weren't coming for you before bringing you here.”
    Seems I’m not alone in feeling guilty.
    “We’re going to have to move fast,” he says. His breathing becomes rougher from our hurried journey. “They have magic to help. We only have ourselves.”
    “ I’ve never outrun magic.”
    “ Getting caught is highly probable.”
    “ Help save the others then.” I pull him to a stop, thinking of the hug Mary gave him before running off. “Tell me where to go and you escape with the others.”
    “ I’m not leaving you to face them alone, not after I brought you here.” He continues hurrying away. When I don’t follow, he hastens back, grabs my hand, and takes me with him. “You don’t want to be owned by him. You shouldn’t have to be.”
    I should fight Charles, find some reason to make him see my way. To see that others still want him in their lives, but the truth is, I’m weak. I haven’t a clue where to go, and it’s nice to have someone willing to help. A man not quick to scorn. A man who may be tarnished but is a better person than most so-called real people I’ve met. A man whose hand is still wrapped around mine.
    Besides, he’s right. It’s what mother always thought, what she taught me, even if she didn’t know how we could do anything about it. She knew we have a right to be free, and she’s not the only one.
    “Thank you.”
    “ You’re welcome.” He gives my hand a squeeze and pulls me along faster.
    A minute later, we stop. The wall is closed off ahead of us. We’ve been hurrying to reach a dead end? I don’t see how this is good for anyone except Nigel.
    He points to the ceiling. There’s some sort of exit there. Thank the sun! That at least makes more sense than him leading us to a dead end. My nerves are so overwhelmed I start shaking.
    “ I’m going to open the hatch,” he says. “It’s going to bring us out behind a hill where we can’t be seen from the front entry. If there are warlocks here already, they may still be able to hear us so keep quiet.”
    I bite my lip as if that will keep me quiet. I’d bite harder if it’d help.
    He points to the left. “We’re going to make a break for the river over there. We keep a boat hidden under some bushes. When we reach it, sit wherever you can and hold on. The river is fast right now, but it’s been too dry this year so it's not as fast as it could be. We have to hope it’s fast enough. Can you do that?”
    “ Keep quiet, run for the river boat, stay on.” Simple enough.
    “ Ready?”
    I nod, though it feels as if someone has sewn my insides together.
    He pulls a rope ladder down from the wall, climbs up, and slowly lifts the hatch. As he peeks through the gap, I wish I could see what as well. Are they already out there? Did we not run fast enough? Not only do I hope they’re gone, but I want out of this ever-shrinking tunnel.
    After a moment, he finishes climbing out, disappearing from view. Even though I know he wouldn’t have left