The girls moved cautiously through the shadows, hearts pounding in sync with each step. The square was empty now, fire embers dying in the pit, shadows stretching long and thin across the cobblestones. The carvings on the posts seemed to watch them as they passed, silent witnesses to their escape.
Aurethia led the way, soft brown hair brushing her cheeks, eyes alert and attentive to every detail. Vincy followed close, alert and agile, occasionally glancing over her shoulder, ensuring no villager noticed. Bellara and Aurethia exchanged quick whispers and giggles, trying to keep the mood light despite the tension.
Seravina lingered slightly, letting the others move ahead. Her golden waves shimmered faintly under the lantern light as she pretended to adjust her bag, carefully noting the safest path, the timing of shadows, and potential escape routes.
Finally, they reached the edge of the village where the bus had been parked. Its silhouette loomed against the night, quiet, waiting. Mika's hands touched the door handle. "This… this isn't it the same bus we took?.." she whispered.
Vincy grinned tightly, gripping the edge of the bus. "Then let's not waste any more time."
The girls exchanged determined looks. Fear and adrenaline coursed through them, but they moved with purpose, ready to reclaim their freedom before the village could realize what was happening.
As the girls were on the brink of fleeing the village, Aurethia pressed the brake pedal with mounting anxiety, hands trembling from tension, only to find the car stubbornly silent. She tried again and again, but the engine refused to respond, as if the dusty, rusted metal itself mocked their desperate need.
Suddenly, Bellara screamed, her voice cutting sharply through the tense night:
"Aurethia, you stupid ! Start the car already! what wrong with you??"
Aurethia shot her a glare, eyes blazing with frustration as she struggled hopelessly:
"Shut up! Can't you see I'm trying?! Out of all the cars to steal, it had to be this junk? Honestly, who let Vincy and Bellara touch it—if it were me, I'd have handled it myself!"
Vincy leapt out of the car, the cold biting at her cheeks, her tone edged with determination:
"Come on, girls! Push! Push with me! Maybe we can get it moving!"
She pressed against the bumper, muscles tensing, while Aurethia joined in, shoving with every ounce of strength. Inside the car, Mika sat quietly, softly pressing the brake, her fingers trembling slightly, but to no avail. The silent screech of wheels on gravel only heightened the tension.
From the back seat, Seravina straightened abruptly, shoving Bellara near the door with a sharp push and get out of the bus:
"Honestly, you all are hopeless! What am I even doing with you? Can't handle a simple car?!"
Bellara's eyes widened in shock and fury.
"Hey! Watch it, you brat! Where do you get off leaving us like this?"
Seravina didn't bother justifying herself, her tone cold and unbothered:
"None of your business."
The anger in Bellara's chest flared, but before she could lunge at Seravina, Mika held her back:
"Bella!!, stop. That's just who Seravina is… it's not personal. And this isn't the time to fight you two!!. We need to focus on the problem here."
Vincy and Aurethia had heard the raised voices and left the car to intervene, though Aurethia tried to keep her tone down:
"Hey! Why all the yelling? You're making things worse!"
Bellara shot a glare at Seravina :
"Look at her not me ! I swear, if I catch her, I'll teach her a lesson she will never forget !. Thinking she's so clever… instead of helping us, she just criticizes!"
Seravina's voice remained icy
"What the problem? It's not my problem if you panic. From the start, you and Vincy dragged us into this mess! I told you from the beginning—plane, plane! But nooo, you insisted on a stupid bus. And i'm so stupid for following you."
Vincy, silent all this time, finally responded, frustration tightening her jaw:
"What does this have to do with anything? We all agreed on the bus ! I don't understand why you're blaming me and Bellara. If you have a problem, say it—don't make it some silent vendetta."
Seravina's gaze stayed sharp
"So?. From the start, I said I can't stand you. That's all."
For a few tense seconds, silence fell, broken only by the faint shuffle of leaves outside. Then Aurethia sigh saying
"Some people really have no shame."
The argument was cut short by sudden noises from the village—the crunch of gravel, curious footsteps, voices growing louder. Their exposure was imminent. With no choice left, the girls bolted toward the forest, leaving the stolen vehicle behind.
After running through the dark, dense woods, they finally lost the villagers' trail and settled near the abandoned cabin. The thick, heavy air and oppressive darkness intensified their sense of unease and danger.
A strange calm fell over the group, especially after the heated confrontation between Bellara and Seravina, who now ignored each other entirely, as if an invisible wall had risen between them.
Mika busied herself searching for something edible, while Vincy and Aurethia huddled in a corner, trying in vain to power up their phones, dead from the lack of signal and electricity. Technology, it seemed, was never on their side here.
Aurethia sighed, shoulders drooping from exhaustion:
"Someone call Mika or Seravina, see if they can figure this out. I'm done… I'm exhausted."
Vincy ignored her, intensely focused on her device. Frustrated, she suddenly hurled Bellara's phone onto the floor, the screen stubbornly black despite her repeated attempts—unlike the other phones, which had miraculously worked without network.
Bellara jumped, grabbing Vincy by the collar, eyes flashing with fury for her beloved phone—her "precious little one." Naturally, Aurethia didn't intervene, letting the absurd scene unfold.
Mika returned, carrying old food tins—still edible by Aurethia's standards—and began distributing them, keeping some tucked safely in her bag. None knew when they would eat again.
Finally, the girls gathered around a rickety wooden table, forced to treat it as an "official meeting"—though, in truth, it had become exactly that.
Mika, eyes scanning the cabin's shadows vigilantly, suggested softly:
"Forget the car… let's go on foot. We can slip through the forest, stay behind the village. Move while they aren't watching."
Aurethia scoffed, a teasing smirk tugging at her lips:
"Sure… like we're in some game, taking two steps and reaching the next city. They're probably lurking everywhere."
Mika, impatient, gestured sharply:
"No, I said we move. That's it. Unless anyone has a better idea than just sitting here, waiting for death to catch up with us."
Bellara rolled her eyes, muttering sarcastically toward Seravina:
"Ask the great oracle over there what her brilliant plan is… clearly, divine inspiration struck her back in the car."
Seravina, smug and self-assured:
"Finally, some of you realize I'm smarter than you all."
Bellara scrunched her face in disgust:
"Ugh, your ego… unbelievable!...."
Vincy tried to mediate:
"The idea's good, but how do we get out without being spotted? As Aurethia said, ninety percent chance they're watching every inch of this place."
Mika groaned, throwing her hands in the air:
"Fine, what do you expect us to do.??"
Aurethia straightened, voice firm, declaring the plan:
"We go with the mika Plan !!. Risky, yes—either we escape or get caught that is our only chance . Most important: if anyone sees someone, we run. Don't look back. Even if vincy trips and falls!"
Seravina shrugged indifferently:
"Fine by me. Can't be bothered looking after you all while I run. My own survival matters."
Vincy, eyes downcast, murmured sadly:
"And I'm the black duck… left behind to die so no one from the village catches you… fine, I know my fate."
Bellara laughed, gripping Vincy's shoulder:
"Don't worry, Vincy. If I fall, I'll pull you with me. Friends don't abandon each other."
Vincy shot back playfully:
"Try to step on me and I swear… I'll haunt you for life! Don't grab me, or I'll make you my sworn enemy—I'll claim you killed me!"
Mika chuckles at them as she said
"Well let's do it...let's run together!..no matter what happens, we should run and tell anyone outside about this village"
Seravina smiled softly at mika and said
"I won't promise anything but i will try to run together"
Bellara who looked annoyed said to seravina
"You better be"