Desperation surged through Rosalie as she sprinted down the dimly lit corridor. Her bare feet pounded the cold floor, sending sharp jolts of sensation up her ankles. She raced onward, navigating the labyrinthine twists and turns of the seemingly endless passageway, yet an escape route remained elusive. It was as though she had stumbled into a surreal maze designed to ensnare its prey indefinitely.
Eventually, exhaustion began to gnaw at her body, and her lungs fought for each labored breath.
'I can't sustain this pace much longer. If Rosalie regains consciousness, I will be forced back into my own body, and that can't happen just yet. First, I must find a way to free her from this place.'
The duchess cast a wary glance around, her attention drawn by an unusual crackling sound creeping closer from behind.
'The fire is advancing rapidly. If the flames encroach upon me too swiftly, leaping from the window might become my only viable option.