Ariadne’s breathing was quickening, fast and shallow. The panic rose up within her, threatening to overwhelm. The Temple. The tasteless gruel. The endless hours of work, her fingers twisting so many wires, typing so much code, that they almost bled. The Oracle will hide you so deep in the Temple that no one will ever find you again. You’ll be alone, forever and ever.

“Ariadne.” Clo’s hands gripped her shoulders, hard. The pain helped bring Ariadne back. “Ariadne. Breathe slower. Sit.”

Ariadne let her legs give out from under her.

“Lean forward, head between knees.”

Ariadne complied. Clo rubbed her back while she forced her breaths to slow. Like Rhea did. It wasn’t as good, but it was nice. “Are you okay?”

“Memories,” Ariadne managed between breaths. “I’m afraid of going back. I’m afraid—”

“Shhh,” Clo crooned. The hand on Ariadne’s back made soothing circles. “Look at me.”

Ariadne dragged her head up, her vision blurry with tears.

“You’re never going back to Tholos. I swear on my life.”

“I wish I could believe that.”

“Then I’ll believe it enough for the both of us.” Clo gave her shoulder another squeeze before looking down at their disastrous jumpsuits. She paused, frowning. “I think I have an idea for how we can make it back to the ship. Once we get down, follow my lead.”

Ariadne dug deep to find strength and banish her fears. She opened the window and climbed out onto the thin ledge on the building’s facade. They had to hold on to the bones that made up the outer facade of the building. Ariadne tried not to think of how many murdered creatures it had taken to make this palace.

Just get down to the hedge. Keep going. Just a jump.

“Let’s do this,” Clo said. There was sweat at her temples, and her hands shook.

Here goes. She flung herself from the window, hoping Clo would follow.

Ariadne’s stomach dipped, but falling through the air was almost freeing. Gravity pulled her down. Her legs took the impact on landing, the force reverberating through her body. She rolled out of the way for Clo. Would the other woman’s false leg take the jump?

Clo landed hard and rolled twice. She let out a short hiss of pain, her hand going to the flesh above her prosthetic.

“Are you all right?” Ariadne asked.

“Fine,” Clo ground out between clenched teeth.

Ariadne held out a hand to help Clo up. The other woman rose, favoring her good leg, and limped alongside Ariadne. They hid from view behind a hedge, narrowly missing discovery by a passing drone, its little beady camera eye swishing back and forth.

“That was closer than I’d like,” Ariadne whispered after it sped away.