I took off, running like a madwoman down the hallway, skidding around corners as quickly as possible. I didn't know whether this was a trick or not, but I wasn't about to pass up a possible chance of escape. At one point I nearly lost my balance and careened into the wall. Picking myself up, I darted down another hall, repeating Ace's instructions in my head. Right, Left, Second right, Left, Left, Cross the glass hall, Down three flights, Door on the right.

All was going well until I heard the thunder of footfalls behind me. I threw a glance over my shoulder and saw the most terrifying sight I have ever witnessed in my life—Rosamund running towards me with a face of stone cold determination and fury.

Scared out of my mind, I took the first turn I could find and ended up at the bottom of a stone staircase. I knew my general direction was several flights down, but I was out of options. I took to the stairs, leaping them two, sometimes three, steps at a time. I couldn't breathe—softball doesn't prepare you for long, intense cardio—but stopping wasn't an option, so I found myself running on the little oxygen I could pull into my broken lungs.

Meanwhile, Rosamund had been joined by one of the castle guards in a shiny golden breastplate. I could hear the woman's bracers clink against her breastplate with each behemoth stride she took. With every step I took, I could hear the clanging of metal grow louder and louder. There was no doubt in my oxygen-deprived mind: they were gaining on me. They'd gone from three flights behind me to a little less than one and a half.

I had little time to consider how sad it was that I was being overtaken by a middle-aged pregnant woman as I darted out at the next floor. I dove under a fortuitously placed bench, pulling myself into a tight ball. My heart hammered in my ears, but I held my breath, ignoring the panic building deep in my lungs. I watched from my hiding spot as both women burst into the hall.

Rosamund slowed. She glanced both directions.  I kept my mouth shut, fighting against the darkening corners of my vision. I was about to break and take in a desperate gulp of air when the woman with the shiny armor saved me.

She rounded the corner, running down the corridor with confident strides. When she realized Rosamund had slowed, she yelled behind her: "Catch up, Virago!"

Rosamund nodded, returning to a swift pace down the long hall in order to catch up with the shiny woman.

Once they were out of sight, I took a gasping breath, and my lungs quivered with joy. Still braving air in and out of my lungs, pulled myself up, swaying a little from the oxygen-deprivation.

"Well, that was awfully close," a voice commented from out of nowhere. The sudden presence made me jump out of my skin as I spun towards the source.

Slowly, Ace shimmered into view.

"Bless the golden sky above, why did you scare me like that?!" I exclaimed, my heart trembling from too much excitement.

He rolled his eyes. "You didn't exactly follow my directions, now did you?"

I gritted my teeth, still struggling to catch my breath. "I had more immediate concerns, but I can retrace my steps now that I've lost them. Our deal still stands."

"There is no way you will be able to get back down there undetected. Agent Alexandris has alerted the entire Palace Guard by now."

"Not if you help me become invisible," I said, pointing to his golden bracelets.

He followed my gaze, shaking his head. "That would require direct skin contact, and that's... no that's not happening."

I glanced down the hall. Still no sign of Rosamund, but I needed to hurry. This nonsense was wasting precious moments. "Come on, I don't have cooties or anything like that."

He raised one eyebrow, and I realized a too little late that the term 'cooties' may not be a part of this magical realm's version of playground insults.

"It's weird, and it's not happening. But," he added as I looked to leave. "I can show you a different way out."

It felt like a trick, and, in the back of my mind somewhere, I knew it had to be. But I was so eager to get out of the building that I grinned and asked, "Which way?"

Ace stepped back into the stairwell and used a big, sweeping arm to gesture upwards. Being the hopeful fool that I am, I followed.

"Alright, I think I will head back inside." I stopped short as he pulled the door open to the rooftop terrace. All I could see was golden sky. No treetops, no buildings, no ground. There wasn't even a railing at the edge. What kind of safety hazard is that?

"Come on, don't be a scared little Ground Hugger," Ace chided, pacing out towards the edge of the roof. "You wanted a way out, and you got one."

"I wanted an escape route. Not a death route."

I stubbornly remained at the door, several paces from the edge.

"Seriously?" Ace persisted. "I promise you won't fall." He smirked like it was another joke I wasn't in on. I glared back.

"I am sure I won't, from here..."

"Chicken."

"Chickens can't fly, so it would be wise for a chicken to avoid such a great fall." I shot back, feeling the anxiety tight in my throat.

"Fine," he said in a tone that made me think I had finally won. He looked out at the horizon. "It's later in the evening than I realized," he noted.

I nodded absentmindedly. The sun was already sinking towards the horizon, coloring the sky with a gorgeous, otherworldly sunset.

He glanced back at me, flashing a smirk and then took two running steps forward and jumped.

Jumped.

Off the edge.

Of the building.

Hope y’all are enjoying The Longest Spring Break in NonHuman History. The next instillation will come out tomorrow, and we will see what happens ;). Sorry to leave y’all on a cliffhanger... Until then, I have a few questions:

1) Who is your favorite character?

2) Why do you think people tried to kill Gwyn fifteen years ago?

3) What happened to Sloane O’Hara six years ago?

-MM