There was a small s.p.a.ce between the fence and the rose bushes. It was about a ruler's width. The s.p.a.ce wasn't large enough that she could avoid the thorns but it at least provided a small path for her to maneuver.

The thorns of the roses were scratching her body; drawing small amounts blood. She tried her best to crawl in such a way that she could avoid being scratched in the face, especially her eyes. This caused thorns to keep getting embedded in the sleeves of her top, forcing Li Xiuying to use more of her strength to crawl forward.

Bits of rock were prodding into her elbows, knee's and stomach. There were dead leaves and small twigs in her hair.

Li Xiuying fought her way through spider webs and an ant's nest. She batted away flies and lady birds. She felt ants and spiders crawling all over her body.

She even saw mice weaving in and out of the rose bushes. She fought the urge to scream and get up to shake everything off.

Li Xiuying: "I can do this."

Beads of sweat were streaming down her face.

She clawed at the soil and rotting vegetable compost. She felt beetles scurrying along her palms. Her sense of smell was being overwhelmed by the odor of decaying food.

Only her sheer determination and willpower kept her going. Li Xiuying gritted her teeth.

The adrenaline rush from earlier had long since worn off. Her body was aching all over. Her bones felt heavy. The scratches on her body were stinging.

Li Xiuying had hunger pains due to her empty stomach. She hadn't eaten anything since 8:30 this morning and judging by the sun it was already way past noon.

But no matter how much pain she was in she knew she couldn't stop. If she stopped she wouldn't be able to continue.

Li Xiuying felt like she was. .h.i.tting a wall both physically and mentally.

As Li Xiuying struggled to keep moving; she noticed a worm in the soil crawling next to her. It was crawling effortlessly. May be it was due to sheer exhaustion and hunger but her self-motivating pep talk took a turn for the weird.

If a worm can crawl then so can I! Am I not better than a tiny worm?! I'm the king of worms! I'm the sovereign of worms! I'm the emperor of worms! I'm an evolved worm with arms and legs... I'm a F*@$ing centipede!!!!

Li Xiuying kept chanting she was a centipede in her mind.

She finally saw a gap in the fence.

Li Xiuying pushed herself forward even harder now that the goal was in sight. She put her right arm through the gap and then turned to the side as she forced her body through. She someone managed to muster the energy to stand up and shake herself off. All manner of creepy crawlies and vegetation fell to the ground.

Li Xiuying then sat down with her back leaning against the fence. There was sweat mixed with soil and blood on her face and body. But Li Xiuying didn't care about that right now.

Li Xiuying closed her eyes and took in a deep breath.

Li Xiuying spoke softly:"So this is what true freedom tastes like."