Instead, Liera offered him half of a stale bread she’d hidden in her sleeve. Corin tore a strip from his shirt to bind her bleeding hand.
They dug. The air grew thinner. The dark pressed in like a living thing. They broke surface just before dawn, half-blind and coughing mud. The forest smelled of wet pine and rot. No shouts from the prison. No torches. For one long, trembling moment, they were simply free . tunnel escape fates entwined
But tonight was different. Tonight, a second set of hands joined his. Instead, Liera offered him half of a stale