#Chapter 75 – Broken Commands

Victor and I dash across the lawn, my feet padding silently on the dewy grass as I work to keep up with him. My breath comes fast, ragged in my lungs, as I push, my eyes on the tree line ahead of us. Part of me is terrified, listening behind me for the sound of my father raising the alarm, of pounding Beta footsteps that want to grab me, to drag me back. But another part of me is thrilled, exhilarated to be free – to be going back home, to see my boys, to be with my family – Bam! Out of nowhere, it’s as if I have slammed face first into a wall. I fly backwards, letting out a shout as I fall back, clutching my face where I feel blood leaking from my nose. Victor skids to a stop in the wet grass ahead of me. “Evelyn!” he shouts, turning around. “Are you okay? What happened?” He comes and kneels next to me on the lawn, looking around us for evidence that we’ve been seen or that someone heard my shout. “I don’t know,” I say, gasping. “It felt like – like I ran into a wall –“ “