A/N The long awaited escape is here! I know I haven't updated in a while, but I wanted to get this chapter right. I pretty much rewrote everything because I didn't like the way it sounded the first time.

Does anyone else get the coolest ideas as your writing? Well, of course other people do. (That would be pretty vain if I thought I was the only one) ~eye roll at myself~ I just think it's the coolest feeling. Just writing along and you go "hey, I can do this, and this…" and you're right there to put down the fresh ideas! That happened to me. It was pretty awesome.

As usual, thank you OrangeDragonofDusk for reviewing! =) It's really nice to have feedback.

xxXxx

He was exhausted.

He had woken up that morning to Lahnia insisting that they go back out to the woods for ingredients. They had just restocked the supplies only a few days ago, but apparently she wanted a different plant to create a new recipe. After trying to convince her they could do it later, she finally won and he begrudgingly got out of bed. When they walked out, he was horrified to see that the sun hadn't even come up yet. Just how early is it?

Too tired to have a decent thought process, he followed her blindly like a dog. The whole time she was very excited, chattering as they looked for the special plant. After a relentless hunt in the forest eventually they found some disappointingly small bright purple mushrooms and headed back.

When they arrived to their usual fire pit, Lahnia immediately went to work cooking the day's meal. It was already noon by then, which was terribly late for the amount she had to cook. While Plazo had been looking forward to sitting down for a while, Lahnia mercilessly enlisted the help of Plazo to cut a daunting amount of heart fruit.

The day passed slowly as they worked, casually chatting as they did so. Surprisingly, the subject of Plazo's past was never brought up. He had figured that she would ask him questions, or even just discuss it more. After he revealed his childhood yesterday, she hadn't said anything. It seemed as if she was deep in thought. Maybe… I shouldn't have told her. No, he was still glad to have it off his chest. He just wished she would at least acknowledge the fact that he had told her his biggest secret.

By the time the pudgy demon came for the soup it was sunset. He smiled; the prospect of a long nights sleep for his tired limbs cheered him. He started to walk up the slope, but Lahnia slid in front of him with a somewhat distressed expression.

"Wait! Um… I… have a surprise for you, and I must prepare it. It will only take a few moments." As she said this her head was turned to the side, not looking at him. He was reluctant to wait any longer for his awaiting bed, but… a few more minutes wouldn't matter. He shrugged.

"Ok. I'll stand outside the tent so tell me when to come in." Her mood instantly brightened, and she beamed up at him nodding. They began walking up, and Plazo felt as if he could fall asleep right there. As she went into the tent, he turned to look up at the horizon turning an array of magenta, violet, and marigold as the sun descended. The crickets were just beginning their symphony of notes. He could even see a few stray keeses in the distance hunting in the sky for their evening meal. After a few minutes he was still staring up at the sky. He smiled. It was just so… peaceful. Being surrounded by nature. By the living. He was perfectly content. He didn't have to kill, he was on the surface, and most importantly, he could finally trust someone. He was completely confident Lahnia would do nothing to harm him, unlike everyone else in this distasteful camp.

"Alright, you can come in." He turned lifted the canvas of the tent, bending slightly as he stepped into the tent. Lahnia was in the corner near the small desk. He noticed that she had a small clay cup cradled in her hand. Since the tent was small he could see the liquid it contained, and his curiosity spiked. The concoction was a light pink color that looked creamy and contained a few tiny bubbles on the surface. She offered it to him with a proud smile.

"Here, I want you to be the first to try it. Everything I've made so far has been from recipes I know, this is the first that I've created myself. And the first drink. I'd love it if you told me what you think of it!" She eagerly held out the glass. He walked over to her but his eyes glanced down at the metal chain that bond Lahnia at night.

"Sure, but maybe I should…" Lahnia quickly blocked his view of the restraint.

"No need, this will only take a moment." She rather aggressively shoved the glass into his hands. Her eyes held the most innocent gaze.

"Won't you try it?" He raised his eyebrow at her, confused by her strange behavior. This could be from what he told her last night though. Anyway, he could trust her; he had already figured that out. Peering down at the awaiting beverage in his hands, he slowly raised it to take a small sip. His senses were immediately bombarded with a variety of different flavors. They were all very strange and different, yet at the same time they worked well together. He could taste the sweetness of honey, the sour of stamina, hints of nut, and most of all the creamy texture that bond it all together in perfect harmony. He quickly downed the whole glass, relishing in the flavor. He handed the vacant glass to her, ecstatic.

"You continue to surprise me every day; that was…" Suddenly a wave of vertigo dislodged his balance. Unsteadiness washed over him. Lahnias face started to go hazy, and colors smeared together.

"…really…" His head was swimming, and his legs felt like jello. The room started spinning. He clumsily reached his hands out to hold onto the desk in a desperate attempt to balance himself. He started to feel lethargic and his eyelids were drooping. His sense of the world around him started to dull, everything slowly fading to darkness.

"…what's going…" His tired eyelids closed, and he felt himself falling. He was vaguely aware of slender arms trying to catch him as he fell. He could barely hear the whispered apology as he left the world of the conscience.

xxXxx

Her plan had worked.

She looked guiltily down at Plazo, who was now snoring on the cold dirt floor. She felt terribly remorseful of what she did, but it was the only way. She had to get him out of the picture for even a chance of escape. It was actually quite a simple plan. The plant that they had spent hours looking for in the forest was a rare variety that had the desired side effects Lahnia needed. The only reason she knew of the mushroom was a terrible misfortune with one of the village men.

When she was nine that year there was more rain than usual. During the spring there was a disastrous mudslide in the woods, but luckily most of the elves were safe in the village when it occurred. All except one.

After the danger was gone the village sent out search teams to look for the missing elf. They eventually found him, having to pry him out between a cliff face and a fallen tree that he was trapped between. He made it out, but not before the two destructive items had managed to saw into his leg as the rushing water had passed him. When he came to the medic his leg was a mangle of flesh stained with his crimson blood. They had to amputate it, as it had already begun to fester with infection.

The only painkiller strong enough for the procedure were the small purple mushrooms that were so rare. They were poisonous, but not the gills. Lahnia had watched as they hastily took apart the mushrooms to use the only helpful part. After the elf ate the gills sleep immediately enveloped him as a side effect.

Those were the same mushroom she had used today. She had cloaked the unpleasant flavor expertly. Sighing at what she had had to do to her friend, she turned to her bed and threw back the covers to reveal two envelopes. She slipped one into the pocket of her dress, and placed the other on the desk. With one last sorrowful look at the sleeping demon, she turned to leave.

As she began to open the flap of the tent she tripped over something. She looked down to see the hated chain that restrained her at night. She paused; glancing at Plazo, then back down at the chain. She grimaced at her own thought. Well, it would buy her more time. Before she could change her mind, she quickly gathered the chain in her arms and walked over to Plazo. The chain locked into place around his ankle with a reassuring snap. Where does he keep the key again? She ransacked her brain for the answer; she never had really paid any attention before. Her eyes lingered at his pocket. She nervously reached her hand in the pocket, a blush painted on her face. Well, at least he's not awake. After retrieving the key, she slipped it into her own pocket.

She walked up to the tent flap, again, and extended her hand to the edge of the flap. Suddenly butterflies were dancing in her stomach. I'm really going to do this. After she walks out, there's no turning back. She either makes it out of camp, or she gets caught and dies. She took a deep breath, and stepped out the tent.

xxXxx

She slid her head past the flap, checking to see if anyone was there. The camp was empty. She could see the watch towers above that surrounded the sealed pit but the light from the lanterns didn't reach down here. There was no need for guards inside the camp as they were protecting against invaders, not trying to keep in prisoners. She slid fully out of the tent, confident that there was no one around to stop her.

She looked up at the stars, relishing in the night. The cool evening's breeze lifted her long braided brown hair gracefully. Crickets were singing their harmonies peacefully, and fireflies could be seen between the trees in the distance. The brisk temperature nipped at her bare feet, and goose bumps danced up her arms.

Slyly, she crept between her tent and the next, careful not to disturb either tents cloth. Her hand reached out to meet the frigid stone wall, a friend to her escape. If she just kept between the tents and the wall it was definite that there wasn't even a chance that she could be seen. Well, unless she woke someone up. She turned and tiptoed through the slight opening the tents made, making her concealed way up the slope. Light snores resounded from the tents, some louder than others. While in the past their snores had kept her up some nights, it was a welcome sound to her now. No one can fake a snore. She made her way quietly for the longest time, soon reaching the halfway point of the slope. Then the parade of tents ended.

This was one area she wasn't so sure about. The dreaded stone building that housed the Demon Lord was currently blocking her path to freedom. There was a fifty feet span of barren earth between the building and the last tent, where Lahnia now stood. No gap between the building and the slopes wall was present, so she would have to walk right in front of the building. So, not only would she have to expose herself for a long span, she would also have to pass by the residence of someone who would not hesitate to kill her on the spot.

She clenched her fists and inhaled deeply, calming herself. Before she could doubt her confidence, she left her cover. She silently jogged along the wall, making her way across the expanse of path. Her mind focused on reaching the top of the slope.

"So did you hear about…" Low whispers sounded behind her. Lahnia abruptly stopped, looking over her shoulder in horror. There wasn't supposed to be anyone patrolling this area! In the distance there were two demons, quietly chatting with one carrying a lantern. She looked back ahead of her, the building still a good twenty feet away. Could she make it? The voices were getting steadily louder. She didn't have a choice but to try. She ran for the building, making her way along the wall in the shadows. Thankfully, it was a dark night and the crickets were currently playing at forte, so her steps and rapid breathing were concealed. She reached the building and made her way to the large wooden doors.

They were now only fifteen feet away.

She reached her hands over the elaborate metal handle, and pulled as hard as she could. It wouldn't budge.

Ten feet.

It was locked? Not only that, but a distinct aura was rolling off the door in waves, repelling her with a strong force. Like magic, a barrier. She fought the repulsive force and tugged at the door desperately. In vain.

Five feet. The cheerful banter was turning to questioning tones.

No, no, NO! This couldn't end now, here, she was so close! She turned to face outward, her back pressing against the unwelcoming door. She flattened herself into it, nails digging into the wood.

Three feet.

She closed her eyes, brows furrowing in concentration. She could only hope for one thing now. Luck. That by some chance, they wouldn't see her. That they would pass her unaware. The image played in her mind. They passed her. They didn't stop her. They passed her. She was unseen. They passed her. It etched into her mind until it seemed real.

One foot.

The lanterns rays penetrated her eyelids, turning the inside a bright red. The image kept playing in her mind. Over and over. She could feel a slight breeze as they walked in front of her, their foul scent lingering behind them. She waited until the red faded into black in her eyes, and she dared to open them. They were well away in the distance, unaware of her presence.

They… they had passed her.

She stared at their retreating silhouettes in wonder, amazed. They surely should have seen her. The corner of her lip turned. Then the other. Then a grin. She suddenly laughed out loud at her luck, before raising her hand quickly to her mouth, still smiling. Her vision had come true.

It took a rather sudden aura of vicious repulsion from the barrier to remind her of where she was. Her smile fleeted and she quickly backed away from the door. After eyeing it suspiciously, she continued to make her way up the slope.

With what had just happened, she strangely felt more comfortable sneaking out of the camp. In turn, 'sneaking' out of the camp became more like just walking. Eventually she made it to the top of the slope.

This was the part of her plan she hadn't exactly planned out.

There were two options: easy way and the way she'll have to use if the easy way doesn't work out. The latter consisted of sneaking past the numerous watch towers encircling the camp. The light from each tower bleed into the next, with no gap between them. If she were to do that she would either have to run really fast or… well, she would just have to run really fast. She was hoping the easy way would work out.

In the ring of watch towers, there was one break. It was a large cliff side that seemed impossible to scale. Trees were seen at the top, and vegetation thrived in the numerous cracks on the cliff. She made her way over there. Unless she was mistaken, this was where the sealed temple used to be. Or as Lahnia thought, where it still was. If the temple was somehow destroyed, why wasn't there just the ruins? It was a cliff, for goddess sake. You can't just grow a cliff in a couple of months. If it was still there, maybe she could find a way in and make her way through the temple. She knew there were two doors in it after all.

Her eyes scanned the rock face, searching for a crack or small cave big enough for her body to squeeze through. After a few moments, she started over, huffing in frustration. It didn't seem like there were any! Maybe she could see one from a different perspective. She quickly spotted a small ledge where she could scan again.

She walked up close to the face of the cliff and gripped a protruding curve, hoisting herself up as she prepared to scale the surface. As she began to lift her right hand, it wouldn't budge. Since she was only a foot of the ground, she quickly hopped back down to observe the problem.

She tried lifting her hand again, but it was as if glue was holding it down. She leaned in to look, and saw that part of her hand was actually in the rock face! Panicking, she tried to yank her hand out, then reached up and put her other hand against the surface for leverage. Then that hand began to sink in. The unknown force was slowly drawing her body toward the rocks.

"No, no no no no no! Help! HELP ME!" As she yelled the cliff was gradually consuming her whole body. The rock was now up to her elbows, and as more of her flesh went in the rock looked as if it turned to liquid around her consumed parts. She could feel her hands inside, but she couldn't move them at all. She tried to struggle as the rock enveloped her shoulders. She turned her head to the side, frightened she would suffocate if it pulled her face in. The cold relentless liquid crept up along her face, bordering her jaw line before it sucked her whole face in.

She could see nothing. She could move nothing. She didn't know how, but she could still breathe. Her legs were still out, and she thrashed them around in a futile attempt to do something, anything. Her feet were the last to enter this strange, restricting world. Her body was now completely immobile. It was as if she was now a part of the rock. What would happen next would be completely out of her control. She would have shivered at that fact, but even that ability was banned.

What have I gotten myself into now?

A/N Please review =)