2. Bronwyn

2

brONWYN

" N o, no, no-" The words tear from me as my ankle twists, but I refuse to even slow. My body is so numb I can barely feel the pain anyway.

I crash through the snow-laden underbrush, my lungs burning with each desperate breath. The icy air stings my face as I push forward, driven by pure survival instinct. Behind me, the guttural roars of the orc hunting party grow louder, their heavy footfalls crunching through the frozen forest floor.

My mind races, searching for any advantage in this desolate wasteland that was once the northern part of a country long forgotten. The name eludes me – another casualty of a world torn apart by the orc invasion. All I know is the bitter cold of the longest night of the year and the primal fear coursing through my veins.

I duck under a low-hanging branch, my braid catching on the bark and yanking my head back. Panic surges as I fumble to free myself, precious seconds ticking away. The orcs' war cries grow closer, their foul stench carried on the frigid wind.

"Fuck," I mutter, finally tearing free and stumbling forward. My legs burn from exertion, but I can't stop. Not now. Not when I'm so close to...to what? Safety? There's no such thing anymore.

I spot a fallen tree ahead, its massive trunk creating a small hollow beneath. It's a desperate move, but it's all I've got. I dive into the cramped space, pressing myself against the frozen earth. My chest heaves as I try to quiet my breathing, praying to whatever gods might still exist that the orcs will pass me by.

The sound of their approach grows deafening. Massive, green-skinned feet stomp past my hiding spot, kicking up snow and fallen leaves. I hold my breath, my heart pounding so hard I fear they might hear it.

"Where'd the bitch go?" one of them snarls in their guttural language. I understand enough to know I'm in deep shit if they find me.

"Spread out!" another bellows. "Boss wants this one alive. Says she knows where the human bunker is."

I squeeze my eyes shut, willing myself to become invisible. They're right – I do know where the entrance of some of the bunkers are. It's why I led them on this chase, to draw them away from the others. But now, as the cold seeps into my bones and exhaustion threatens to overtake me, I wonder if it was worth it.

The orcs continue to search, their grunts and curses filling the air. I stay frozen in place, every muscle tense, ready to bolt if they discover my hiding spot. But where would I run? In this moment, trapped between certain death and an impossible escape, I've never felt more alone or desperate in my life.

I strain my ears, listening for any sign of the orcs. Their grunts and heavy footsteps seem to fade, but I don't dare move yet. Minutes crawl by like hours as I lie there, my body trembling from cold and fear.

Finally, when the forest falls silent save for the whisper of wind through bare branches, I allow myself to breathe. My muscles scream in protest as I slowly uncurl from my hiding spot, every movement cautious and deliberate.

I scan the area, my eyes darting from tree to tree. Nothing moves. No sign of green skin or crude weapons. But I know better than to feel relief. They're still out there, hunting.

I force myself to my feet, biting back a groan as pain shoots through my twisted ankle. Limping, I push deeper into the forest, away from the direction the orcs had gone. Each step is agony, but the alternative is worse.

The trees begin to thin, and I find myself at the edge of a small clearing. My breath catches in my throat. There, half-buried in snow and overgrown with vines, stands an ancient structure. Its weathered stone walls rise before me, intricate carvings barely visible beneath years of neglect.

A temple? Out here?

I hesitate, my practical mind screaming warnings. Unknown structures mean unknown dangers. But the orcs are still out there, and I'm running out of options. It's the best option I have from the cold, too.

A distant roar makes the decision for me. They've picked up my trail again.

"Shit," I mutter, limping towards the temple entrance as fast as I can manage. The massive stone doors are ajar, offering just enough space for me to squeeze through. Maybe it'll be heavy enough to keep them out.

Inside, it's so dark I can barely see. The only light comes from the damaged ceiling that can't block out the moon. A weak beam of light flickers intermittently through the room, illuminating dust-covered floors and crumbling pillars.

The air is stale, carrying the musty scent of long abandonment. The moonlight catches strange symbols etched into the walls, unlike anything I've seen before. But I don't have time to examine them closely.

I need to find a place to hide, to catch my breath, to think. The temple seems to stretch on forever, corridors branching off in all directions. I pick one at random, my footsteps echoing ominously in the silence.

Suddenly, a crash comes from behind me. They've found the temple.

"In here!" an orc bellows, his voice bouncing off the stone walls. "I smell her!"

Panic surges through me. I extinguish my light and press myself against the wall, heart pounding. In the darkness, I fumble forward, hands outstretched, searching for any kind of sanctuary.

My fingers brush against something cold and metallic. A door handle? I twist it desperately, relief flooding through me as it gives way. I slip inside, easing the door shut behind me just as the sound of heavy footsteps echoes down the corridor.

I press my back against the cold stone wall, my chest heaving as I try to catch my breath. The room I've stumbled into is pitch black, and I strain my ears for any sound of pursuit. My legs give out, and I slide to the floor, my body shaking uncontrollably.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck," I whisper, the words barely audible even to my own ears. The irony of the situation isn't lost on me – it's the winter solstice. A night that used to be celebrated with feasts and bonfires, now reduced to this desperate fight for survival.

The sound of heavy footsteps and guttural voices grows closer. I clamp a hand over my mouth to stifle my ragged breathing, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. This can't be how it ends. Not after everything I've survived.

"Please," I plead silently, my usual skepticism crumbling in the face of sheer desperation. "If there's anyone out there, any god who still gives a shit about us humans, I could really use some help right about now."

The words feel hollow, ridiculous even, but I cling to them like a lifeline. I've never been one for prayer – the gods abandoned us long ago, if they ever existed at all. But right now, trapped in this ancient temple with bloodthirsty orcs closing in, I'm willing to try anything.

A crash echoes through the corridors, followed by angry shouts. They're searching room by room. It's only a matter of time before they find me.

"I don't want to die," I whisper, my voice breaking. "Not like this. Not alone in the dark."

My hand brushes against something on the floor – a small, metallic object. I grasp it tightly, not caring what it is. In this moment, it's a talisman, a focal point for my desperate plea.

"A god of people? A god of kindness or faith or humanity?" I'm begging the universe now. The orcs said they want me alive, but I know what will happen to me if they take me.

I won't last long.

"A god of earth?" I hold back a sob. "Please, someone help me."

The footsteps grow louder. A door slams open nearby, and an orc roars in frustration at finding another empty room. I press myself further into the corner, willing myself to become invisible.

My heart pounds so hard I fear it might burst from my chest. The air grows thick, almost electric, as if the very atmosphere is responding to my desperate prayers. But is it just my imagination, fueled by terror and exhaustion?

A strange warmth spreads through my body, starting from the hand clutching the mysterious object. For a moment, the pain in my ankle subsides, and my trembling stills. I hold my breath, hardly daring to believe that something might be happening.

The door to my hiding place begins to creak open...

But suddenly, the ground beneath me gives way. A gasp tears from my throat as I plummet through empty space, my stomach lurching with the sudden drop. The metallic object slips from my grasp, lost to the void.

I fall through seemingly the ground, my scream of surprise cut short as I'm enveloped by a blinding light. It's so bright it burns, forcing my eyes shut. The air around me crackles with energy, making the hair on my arms stand on end. My body feels weightless, spinning in a dizzying freefall.

The sensation is unlike anything I've ever experienced. It's terrifying and exhilarating all at once. For a moment, I forget about the orcs, about the constant struggle for survival. I'm suspended in this strange in-between, caught between two realities.

My mind races, trying to make sense of what's happening. Is this death? Some strange hallucination brought on by fear and exhaustion? Or have the gods actually answered my desperate plea?

As I tumble through the light, flashes of images assault my senses. Glimpses of a world that looks nothing like the one I just left. Or is it more than one? I can't tell.

My heart pounds with a mixture of fear and wild hope. Whatever's happening, whatever awaits me on the other side of this portal, it has to be better than what I'm leaving behind. Right?

The light intensifies, becoming almost unbearable. My head spins, and I feel consciousness slipping away. My last coherent thought is a jumble of relief and trepidation about what awaits me on the other side.

Then, mercifully, everything fades to black.