Maybe I had fallen asleep, for the next thing I knew I could hear the Oracle's voice again.

"You must go."

I lifted my head, finding myself leaning against the base of the statue. Certainly I had been dreaming—for images of me and Sam running freely through the desert lingered in my mind like shards of a broken mirror. I felt beneath my shirt again for his serpent's tooth pendant.

The cavern was dim and still, with the only other sound being a distant drip of water. My mouth was parched and my body ached, but I stood.

The Oracle's eyes were closed. I faced her, placing my hand upon her crossed arms over her chest. "Thank you," I whispered.

The tunnel leading back into the citadel wasn't difficult to navigate; though there were other paths leading into darkness, I knew the only way to go was up. What time is it? I wondered. How long had I been down there?

Somehow, I found my way back into the citadel, though it seemed to be empty—as in, there was simply no one around. The halls were deserted and disheveled, like somehow fighting took place inside as well as outside. Is this place filled with ghosts?

I left the citadel and slipped into the streets of the Lost Cities. People everywhere were out and about, scrambling to repair buildings that looked to have been greatly charred by some kind of fire. Wounded soldiers were being tended to on cots by anyone who could help. Did these people know that Prince Ramkat was dead?

Or rather, undoubtedly murdered in cold blood by the Necromancer.

As I wandered aimlessly, it occurred to me that I was most likely the next person on Lord Terrowin's inevitable hit list. Certainly he would come looking for me—if he hadn't already began—

I halted. Though the streets were crowded and no one bothered to spare a glance at me after all that had ensued, (and thankfully I was still dressed in common clothes), I couldn't help but feel that there were eyes upon me. Could the Necromancer be following me?

Immediately, I ducked into a narrow alley off of the main street and let myself into a darkened tavern. The room was brimming with people and buzzing with words about the war. As much as I wanted to know what happened, I felt like I was still being followed. So I exited the tavern through the back and re-entered the city, but in a new neighborhood. I decided to head towards the central bazaar, which was always crowded and seemed to be relatively safe. At least, I didn't think the Necromancer would try to snatch me in broad daylight.

I continued on through the morning. By the time I reached the bazaar I heard chatter of an oncoming storm. The usual crowd that preoccupied the streets gradually began to thin. People disappeared into their homes and abandoned the repairs that were being made on scorched buildings. Before I even had time to figure out where to find shelter, I found myself almost alone now in the streets. The wind had picked up and a mighty wave of sandy gusts billowed through the bazaar.

I quickly glanced around; all the shops around me were closed. The bazaar stalls were secured and empty. The few remaining people in the street were dragging heavy carts, their heads bowed against the wind.

I stepped into the village square, vacant and darkening. Then, across from a great fountain on the opposite side of the square, a figure emerged. I squinted through the haze, my clothes blowing in the wind.

"Sireen!"

I stopped; someone had definitely called out my name. I stared forward as the person before me materialized through the storm.

Aladdin!

I raced forward, my heart nearly beating out of my chest. Our hands met, I grasped his tightly as he embraced me. My face nestled into the warmth of his neck.

"Sireen," he breathed. "You're alive."

I held on to him tighter. The wind roared around us.

"Come with me," he said.

He led me, running, past the village square and down a narrow street. As if he knew the way by heart, we got to the end of the street and were met by a small, closed door. Aladdin thrust it open, and we jumped into the darkness.

He lit a match, and suddenly the space was illuminated by a lantern. I stood in the doorway and beheld some kind of store room; a room bigger than a closet, but full of rugs and crates. Aladdin gazed at me, trying to catch his breath. The next thing I knew, my arms were around his neck and I pressed my lips against his with unrestrained sincerity. Outside, the wind howled as the storm moved over the city. I opened my eyes as we pulled apart.

"Aladdin," I finally said, "I can't believe it's really you."

He gently traced his thumb across my neck, his fingers caressing my hair. "I can't believe it's really you, either. I thought-" he glanced away uneasily, "I thought it was over."

My heart fluttered, out of control and against my will. "How did you find me?"

"I had a vision," he said. "I don't know how—I just keep getting them. I saw us here."

I embraced him again, and held onto him for a long time. "I was so scared," I admitted. 'How did you escape?"

Aladdin's face turned somber. There was a shadow of sadness in his eyes that I had never seen before. I saw something in him that reminded me of myself; I couldn't say what it was.

"It's okay," I told him quickly. "I'm just glad you're okay. This is a miracle, Aladdin. I can't believe we've come here." Tears were rising in my throat.

"Sireen."

"Yes?"

"I can't keep losing you like this."

My insides tightened. Aladdin pressed his forehead against mine, his eyes closed. He trembled in the darkness.

We were consumed by the shadows there, isolated from the rest of the world. Aladdin's scent filled my head like an enchantment. Never before had I felt like this.

We were only momentarily safe. But our enemies were forgotten as the storm raged outside. Time was almost tangible- and for just this once I wanted to hold onto it forever.

What came to pass then would become my most sweetly hallowed secret.