Layana didn't wait any longer and broke her gaze from Ian. She burst up the stairs, adrenaline coursing through her. The others shouted in shock before quickly joining her up the stairway. It was dark. Darker than what they were used to.

Layana breathed heavily, the thought of the bleeding guard vanishing from her mind. She couldn't see a single thing, but she kept moving forward, putting a foot in front of the other. Layana caught and missed multiple steps, but soon her racing heart, ragged breaths and low stamina is getting the best of her.

"Hurry hurry," Sally's whispers were immediately drowned behind her as the door burst open, metal knob digging into the cement wall. Fleets of guards with evil eyes and black suits continued to pursue them up the stairs.

Layana staggered, the stairs seemed unending and stretched beyond her capabilities. She strained against her muscles, trying to keep running up the stairs. But the children weren't made for running, they were sitting on their buttocks all days of their life. They barely even walked. Layana found tears in her eyes, she couldn't hold on any longer. And behind her, she could hear the equally labored breathing of her family, echoing across the stairwell. A couple floors behind them, the guards shouted curses like barbarians, and threw empty threats like bandits.

How much longer will the stairs stretch forward? Her feelings were a brewing pot of oddities. She couldn't discern them. She knew she felt annoyed, angry, exhausted. But it all seemed to overpower the guilt she hid deep down. Her thoughts flew to the guard beneath the bathroom door. Would she have saved them if they had time? Would she have forgave him?

She didn't know anything anymore.

 Her eyes widened in realization, of course, she had to ask God for help.

Sally was now leading up the stairs, staggering just as she was. Layana glanced down the railings, the guards are gaining on them, only about two floors down.

"Hurry!" Andriette shouted, her feet stumbled under the adrenaline and pressure. She nearly came sliding down the stairs, a tiny yelp escaping her usually reserved mouth. But a hand grabbed her forearm and quickly threw her back to her feet. Mason looked back to her, calmer than he's ever been and smiled with his teeth, "we can't afford slip-ups."

From the tops of the line, Layana braved past Sally, "so do not fear, for I am with you." 

"Do not be dismayed, for I am your God," Sally breathlessly joined in her chant up the stairs. She stumbled, catching the flaking rails with one hand as she kept her eyes on Layana, shrouded in darkness. Yet her skin was aglow, and her smile was unfettered.

At last, they saw the metal doors outside, "I will strengthen you and help you with my righteous right hand."

The five gathered around the metal door, the guards quickly closing in on them three flights down. Yet they did not flinch, they did not stammer. They kept their feet on the ground. Layana wouldn't let them die, not her, not now.

Layana wiped beads of sweat from her forehead before shuffling with the ring of keys. 'The key with the snake,' the letter had stated. Finally, she clutched the key, an image of a serpent engraved on its head.

Layana struck the key to the lock of the metal doors.

"Layana! Hurry!" Mason fidgeted behind her.

'Yes, nearly there,' she wanted to reply but her throat was parched and her voice ceased to function. After an agonizing second, she turned the lock and managed to unhinge the chains wrapped around the door.

Her breath caught in her throat as she pushed the door wide open, a strong breeze sweeping away her hair. Never mind hair, it swept away her soul. For a moment, she forgot to breath. She croaked out, "Finally."

The taste of the fresh air, the gentle strokes of the cool wind. Her legs jellied underneath her, the air. The smell of the air. It was indescribable, different scents she didn't even know mingling around her nose. It hugged her very form, and for a moment she seriously considered laying in that air.

Finally, she was free.

The breeze stopped. But it wasn't finished yet.