Her fake name was ripped through the dark, half a snarl, half a triumph.

She forced her legs to move faster. Just a few strides more, just a few-

Her knee buckled.

The world tilted. She hit the earth hard, palms scraping raw against gravel, the impact shuddering through her bones.

Pain bit deep, and for one agonizing moment she couldn't breathe.

The torch burned steady, so close she could almost feel its heat on her face. Yet the gates stretched before her like a wall of teeth, ...