CHAPTER THREE

The moment the hunter blew his horn, the doors to our cages flew open, and we were let loose into the arena.

The doors opened to reveal a pine forest blanketed in snow, and the limbs of the trees glistened like silver in the moonlight.

When I looked at the ground, I realized it would be difficult to cover my footprints. There wasn't enough snow falling for it to cover my footprints.

The drugged victims fell out of their cages and limped through the underbrush, making a mess of the freshly fallen snow while I was wasting time considering my alternatives.

I took a few slow, deep breaths to settle my racing mind and formulate a strategy.

Most of the others who hadn't been drugged had already escaped into the woods, leaving behind clear footprints that even a vampire who was blind could follow.

I knew that if I followed one of the others into the forest and proceeded along the same path they had taken, I might conceal my escape. After I had traveled a sufficient distance into the bush, I would be able to look for a spot where I might conceal myself.

I took a few long, deep breaths before starting to run, praying with each step that I would make it to daybreak and making a silent oath to myself.

While running, I ripped the bells, ribbons, and glow sticks out, ripping out chunks of my hair when they wouldn't come out easily and flinging them as far away from myself.

I would make it. It was likely that I would be exiled to the free zone, far away from the vampires. Once I got there, I would be able to find work and put away sufficient funds to give my mother her independence.

As I fought through the snow and bushes, I kept reiterating these thoughts.

After one mile, the tracks I had followed curved around to head back towards the cages. I assume the prey I was utilizing as cover decided that it would be a good idea to conceal itself in the location we were meant to be fleeing from at the time.

I continued to make my way deeper into the forest while silently wishing whoever it was good luck. I was determined to put as much distance as possible between myself and the hunters.

I wasn't paying attention, and I ran right into a twelve-foot-tall chain-link fence with razor wire on its top. It was as though I had reached the boundary of the playing field.

While looking for a spot to hide, I heard a second horn sound. This horn signaled that the vampires had been set free in the forest, and I needed to take cover immediately.

I made a snap judgment and stepped away from the fence towards a large hedge of shrubs after thinking about it for a moment.

After I had pulled needles from the branches and snapped them in half, I wiped the fluids from them all over my clothing to cover up the aroma of sweat and dread I was sure the vampires could detect.

I did this over and over again because I was adamant that I wanted to give myself the greatest opportunity possible.

I knew they had arrived at the cages when I heard the first scream, followed by a second one.

As I approached the mass of brush, I grabbed handfuls of mud and smeared it into my hair, face, and hands to conceal the fact that my complexion was extremely pale from the full moon.

In response to a shout of victory followed by the sound of conflict occurring nearby, I tore at the ground to create a hiding spot for myself.

To slow down the rate at which I was breathing, I lowered myself to the ground in the shallow dip that I had been able to create and pulled the loose earth over my body. With my palms sweating and my heart beating, I prayed to whichever god was out there that I had been able to conceal myself adequately.