Chapter 300 The lost tunnel

Chapter 300: Chapter 300 The lost tunnel

Kaelen’s POV

We ran until my legs gave out.

I collapsed against the wall, and I felt the cold stone against my back. Talia was still in my arms, with her breathing shallow, and her body burning against my chest. Seraphina was beside me, with her body trembling, and her hand gripping my arm like I was the only thing keeping her upright.

I slid down the wall, and I felt the stone scrape against my shoulders. The silver burns on my hands ached, and I could barely feel my fingers anymore.

"I need to stop," I said, with my voice ragged. "Just for a moment."

I pressed my back against the cold stone and let my head fall forward, with my breath coming in ragged gasps. "I am sorry," I said, with my voice barely audible. "I am sorry I have to stop. I know we do not have time, but my arms are giving out, and I cannot feel my hands anymore.”

Seraphina nodded, but I could see the worry in her eyes. Her face was pale, and her lips were cracked. She had been in that cell for fifteen years, and now she was running for her life.

"Child," Seraphina said, with her voice barely above a whisper. "I think we are lost."

I looked around. The tunnel had twisted and turned so many times that I had lost track of where we were. The walls all looked the same, and the darkness was endless. Every corner looked like the last one, and every passage looked like a dead end.

"We are lost," Seraphina said again. And her voice cracked on the words. "I do not know where we are."

I looked down at Talia, and I felt the fear rising in my chest. Her face was still pale, and her body still burning. I pressed my hand against her forehead, and I felt the heat coming from her skin. I knew that she was getting worse.

"Taliiiiiaaaa," I said, with my voice breaking. "Tell me what to do. I do not know which way to go, and the tunnels all look the same. I need you to guide me, because I cannot think straight anymore."

I felt her shift in my arms, and I heard her voice, weak and faint. "Kaelen..."

I leaned closer. "I am here, Talia. I am here."

She blinked slowly, and I could see the effort it took for her to stay awake. "The symbols," she said. "On the walls. Follow them."

I looked at the walls, but I could not see anything. "What symbols, Talia? I do not see anything."

She tried to lift her hand, but it fell back against my chest. "They are there. You just... you have to look."

I looked at the wall, and I forced my eyes to focus. The stone was dark and rough, and they were all covered in dust and grime. And I could not see anything.

"I do not see anything," I said.

Seraphina moved closer, with her eyes scanning the wall. "She is right," she said. "There are markings here."

I leaned in, and I saw them. There were indeed faint markings, even though they were worn by time, but they were still visible. They were carved into the stone, barely deeper than scratches, but they were Silvertongue symbols.

"How did you see that?" I asked.

Talia tried to smile. "I know them," she said. "I have always... known them."

Seraphina pressed her hand against the symbols, and I saw her fingers tremble. "These are the old markings. My ancestors carved them."

I looked at Talia. "Can you read them?"

Talia blinked slowly, with her eyes struggling to focus. "They say... this way. Keep going."

I felt the hope rising in my chest. "They are guiding us."

I looked down at Talia’s pale face, and I felt the tears burning in my eyes. "You found us a way out, even when you could barely stay awake," I said, with my voice cracking. "You are still fighting, still leading us, and still giving everything you have. And I am going to make sure we make it out of here, because you deserve to see the sun again.” I hugged Talia tightly against my chest. “Thank you, Talia.”

Seraphina smiled, and nodded in agreement, and I saw the tears on her face. "My brave girl. Even now, you are leading us." She brush Talia’s hair off her face.

I pushed myself off the wall, and I forced my legs to move. My body was screaming, but I did not stop. I could not stop now that we had found our way again.

"Talia," I said. "We are going to follow the symbols. But I need you to stay awake. Do you understand?"

She nodded weakly. "I will try."

"Talia," I said again, trying to keep her awake, with my voice desperate. "Do not give up on me. Not now, and not after everything. Okay?"

Talia did not respond.

Then I heard some voices echoing through the tunnel.

"They found the blocked passage!" a guard shouted. "They are close! Keep moving!"

I felt my blood run cold, as I realized that the guards had found us again, and they were getting closer. Which meant that we had not lost them at all.

"Talia," I said. "We need to move."

She nodded weakly. "Follow the symbols. They will lead us out."

I looked at the wall, and I saw the next symbol. It was faint, but it was there. I followed it, and I walked deeper into the tunnel.

The tunnel twisted and turned, and the symbols guided us. But the guards were still behind us, and my strength was fading. My arms were burning, and I could barely hold Talia anymore.

Seraphina stumbled beside me, and I caught her with my free hand. "Keep going," I said. "We are almost there."

She looked at me, and I saw the exhaustion in her eyes. "Are we?"

I did not answer, because I did not know.

Talia’s breathing was shallow, and I could feel her heartbeat slowing. She was fading, and I could not stop it.

"Talia," I said. "Stay with me. Please."

She did not respond.

I looked at Seraphina, and I saw the fear in her eyes. "She is fading," Seraphina said.

I looked at the tunnel ahead. The symbols were still there, guiding us. But they were getting fainter, and harder to see.

"I know," I said. "But I am not giving up."

I held Talia closer, and I kept walking. My legs were shaking, and my vision was blurry, but I did not stop.

"Just a little further," I said. "Just a little further."

The tunnel twisted one last time, and I saw a light ahead. It was very faint, but there. It was not the harsh glare of torches, but something softer, and something warmer.

I blinked, and I felt the hope rising in my chest. "Is that... is that the exit?"

Seraphina looked ahead, and I saw the tears on her face. "I think so. I think that is the way out."

I pushed forward, and I walked toward the light. The symbols were still there, guiding us, and the light was growing brighter with every step.

"Come on," I said. "We are almost there.”