Aron falls right on top of me, quickly scrambles to his feet, and pulls me up. I suck my lungs full of air, rub my eyes, and spit a few times to get the sand out of my mouth.
“I told you to hold your breath.”
His hands wipe my cheeks clean, pushing a lock of hair behind my ear in the process. I feel his hands cupping my face, forcing it up so I have to look at him. His brown eyes look composed and that look anchors me as I slowly but surely feel my sense of panic fading. Aron’s hands fall away and for the first time I look around me. We’re in the middle of what looks like a forest, and behind us, the wall is hidden behind shrubbery and creepers climbing the stone like black shadows.
“Where are we?”
Aron remains silent for a second, then answers my question. “The Freeland.”
I cast a look around again to take in my strange, new surroundings. This is not the wilderness that people led me to believe was here – the wasteland where chaos rules and every form of civilization or protection by rules and sets of laws is absent.
For the first time in my life, I don’t feel suffocated and tangled up in endless prohibitions and regulations. I draw a deep breath and look at Aron.
For the first time in my life, I actually feel free.
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