570 Another Life

[An Hour Before Caleb's Arrival]

‘I wanted to share something with you. An idea… to save the people of Summer.’

Ashleigh’s eyes widened at Lily’s words.

“Excuse me, Fiona,” Ashleigh smiled. “I just need a minute.”

Fiona nodded, taking a seat at the small table as Ashleigh walked a few feet away to continue the conversation in her mind.

‘What do you mean, Lily?’ Ashleigh asked. ‘What idea?’

‘Fiona is right,’ Lily began. ‘There is no point in saving the gates if they will ultimately fall and the people of Summer will be lost.

‘Summer is well guarded and difficult to infiltrate because of the natural barriers it uses as its borders, much like Winter. But that also makes it almost impossible to escape when the enemy is at your door.’

‘They never thought there would be a need to escape,’ Ashleigh replied sadly.

‘No,’ Lily said. ‘But, even so, they do have an escape route.’

‘Where?’ Ashleigh asked.

‘The same way we arrived.’