Hunted

Prologue

As I stumbled through the forest, I could hear the galloping of horses not far back. I could barely see through the downpour of the heavy rain. I kept on running. I could feel the slosh of the mud under my feet, but I kept running. Suddenly, I slipped into a puddle and fell forward. My hands hit the pile of mud. I was covered with mud and exhausted. I either had to keep running or find a place to hide. I decided to run. I ran another twenty feet and saw a canyon with a single rope bridge covering the abyss. There is no way a horse can cross that. It'll at least slow them down. I stepped carefully onto the first board. I heard a faint snap. I'd have to risk it or face the king's personal guards. Ever since I broke Marian out of jail, they've been on my tail like a fox. I ran across the rope bridge.

I heard a sharp crack and the board beneath my foot broke loose. My foot was stuck! I pulled and pulled, but couldn't get it loose. I hit the next board and broke my leg loose. I pulled my hurt leg up and tenderly held it. I could feel the warmth of fresh blood. This will definitely hurt later. I tried to keep going but I could feel the shake of the soldiers running on the bridge. I looked up and saw the rope was breaking. I grabbed the opposite rope just as it snapped. The bridge broke in half and the two sides went swinging to the side of the canyon. I hit the rock and surely dislocated my shoulder. I looked down and saw several guards fall to their doom. I can't let go. After all this, I can't give up. I slowly, but surely, pulled myself up the rope and soon reached the top of the canyon, but I couldn't get a grip with all the mud and the rain. As I struggled, a dark figure appeared over me and pulled me to the top.

Just as I was thanking the rescuer, I felt a sharp pain on the back of my head and everything went black.