Forged Destiny [Book 9: Ch. 18]

"Jaune." Salem's voice dripped with so much rage. "You are a thorn I was bound to let live – no longer. You, I shall take the care of disposing of personally."

She chose me!? With Ruby fast enough to attack her and the only real threat she had here, she chose to hunt me down? I turned and fled, feet stamping against the tiled floor as I launched myself at the closest window.

Fingers wrapped around my ankle.

"Leaving? Let me help."

The world around me blurred as I was swung back by one leg, spun with such force that my body lifted fully off the ground. The grip on me let go suddenly and I was flung away. Pain exploded. Brickwork gave way. Briefly, my view turned from the inside of a house to the world outside, then inside again as I crashed through two walls and an alleyway. I landed in a pile of ruined brick, gasping for breath and with my armour dented and battered. Blood dripped from my lips and hair both. I felt sick in my stomach.

Move. I gripped a brick and used it to pull myself up, stumbling only slightly. My knee gave way, hitting the floor, but rather than try to get back up I kept crawling, dragging myself along with one hand. Got to keep moving.

—Forged Destiny [Book 9: Ch. 18]