I’m going to get through this, she tells herself and takes a deep breath to steel herself against the pain, raises her foot to kick. And freezes mid-movement. A sudden gust of wind rushes past her down the tunnel. She instinctively knows what it means. This time it’s not just the storm outside. It’s a cross breeze. William Tryste must have come back and opened the door to the wine cellar.

She tries to figure out how much time she has. Tryste knows the tunnels and will probably be able to cover the same distance she has in a fraction of the time. And he will likely make sure to bring a torch, so she won’t be able to hide. Panic floods her body, leaving room for only one single thought: I need to get out. Now.

Pain radiates all the way up to her neck when she kicks out. She grits her teeth and takes a few quick breaths. Kicks again. Throws herself at the opening shoulder first. And again. Puts her back against it and kicks out backwards.

Why didn’t I bring the damn candelabra? she rebukes herself as the impact reverberates through her body. Something, anything to beat at these boards with. But she only has her own strength, her own ability to ignore the searing pain of old injuries reopening and new ones being inflicted. Panting, she forces herself to rest and digs through her pocket for the lighter. Shielding the flame with her hand, she can tell a couple of the gaps are slightly wider now. And aren’t a couple of the boards looking ever so slightly warped as well?

She resumes kicking, focusing on the same two boards every time now, pushing with her shoulder and then changing over to horse kicks, while the feeling that she’s going to hear Tryste’s voice behind her any second grows stronger and stronger. Fear floods her system with adrenaline, giving her the strength to keep going, but she realises she’s being carried by a temporary wave of strength that will run out very soon. She knows that’s how it works. Eventually, fear wears itself out and turns into capitulation.

But when she hears the creaking of a board finally giving way, her body goes all in for one last push and she suddenly feels invincible. She almost bursts into hysterical laughter when her next kick snaps the board in half. Two more kicks and another one breaks.