Escaped

For a split second, Dakshana was suspended, hanging in mid-air between worlds, her feet on clouds or mist or soft fur, vines tangled at her wrists and tugging gently. Voices swirled around her, singing, calling.

And then she was standing on dirt and rock. A cave. And there were hands at her wrists dragging her forward, almost tugging her arms out of her sockets. There were voices around her, crying, shouting.

Arms were flung around her from both sides, and she was smothered in the scent of human and girl and then Srina said,

“You’re safe now. You escaped!”