Melting Snow

Prologue

It was raining. Why was it raining? When had it started? I couldn't remember. Doesn't matter. I have to keep moving. Can't let her catch me. I picked myself up off the ground and continued plodding down the road. I had no idea where I was going. All I knew was that I had to get away and I was never going back. I should have left a long time ago, but I had always found a reason to stay.

It was Micah. I had to stay because of Micah.

But now Micah was gone.

It was several moments before I realized that the drops rolling down my cheeks weren't just from the rain. Micah was gone. She had killed him. She had butchered him. And then tried to kill me. But I had always been a better fighter than them both. She was hurt but not dead. I couldn't bring myself to kill her. Not yet. But if we ever met again, I would.

I tripped, sliding to my knees in the mud. I knelt there, utterly defeated, head down, hands loose in my lap, hair hanging in soaked tendrils around my face, the top plastered to my head, clothes clinging to me like a layer of second skin. I was so tired. My body ached. Even if I was the better fighter, it still hadn't been easy to beat her. But she had grown careless while I never was. I shivered and then winced as it caused the deep slash in my side to ache even more. One hit. One hit was all she managed. And that hit had cost her the duel.

I struggled to my feet again, ignoring it when my legs protested the abusive treatment. I had to keep going. As long as I could. It wasn't a matter of choice but of necessity. She wouldn't be able to send out people to hunt me down until the rain cleared. She was one of the most powerful assassins in regards to authority, but even she couldn't get men out in the pouring rain. I had a head start, and I intended to use it.

The ground went out from under me, and I rolled down the slope. At the bottom, I spat out mud and tried to breathe. I stared straight up at the dark sky, beyond caring when rain dripped into my eyes. That's it. I can't go any farther. Whatever happens now will happen. I can't control it. My tense body relaxed as I realized this. The edges of my vision were growing darker, until the darkness swallowed me up, and I could no longer feel the rain on my face.