The horses also seemed to notice the approaching threat as they both whinnied for the officers to hurry up. Needing no more encouragement, the officers quickly got to their mounts.
The two mares galloped away with renewed energy as they became even more determined to escape. The officers encouraged the two horses as they headed for the perimeter fence. However, when Mark looked back at their pursuer, he saw that the distance between them was rapidly shortening.
“They’re gonna catch us at this rate” Mark frantically yelled to his colleague.
“We’re nearly there, just keep going” replied Georgina.
The escapees could now see the fence in the distance. They were so close to freedom.
And yet, things didn’t look good. The two mares seemed to be flagging again as they began to slow down. Moreover, they could now hear the hoof prints and wild shouts of their pursuers as they got closer.
Georgina tried to encourage Princess during this last stretch. “Come on girl, we’re nearly there. We’re nearly free.” The horse grit her teeth as she fought the intense pain and fatigue that was ebbing her strength away. She neighed loudly from the effort as she picked up her speed.
Meanwhile, Mark was being much less sympathetic towards his mount. Sophie watched in despair as Princess began to leave her behind. She had been unfortunate to get Mark as her rider. The stupid man was quite overweight and wouldn’t stop kicking her painfully in the flanks.
Sophie looked back and saw that her pursuers were now only a few hundred meters behind them, so she decided she had to do something urgently. Suddenly she raised herself on to her hind legs, catching Mark completely off-guard. He yelled out as he tumbled off the horse’s back and on to the floor. Sophie then raced away with no regrets as she left Mark to his fate.
Mark cursed as he realised that there was no way he could outrun the woman now. So, in one last act of bravery, he decided to try and delay the woman so that the others could escape.
As the stallion approached at full speed Mark raised his arms and began shouting in an effort to scare him. Unfortunately the woman’s magic allowed her to keep control over her mount. In desperation, Mark tried to block the horse’s path as it neared. However, the woman expertly swung with her whip as she rode past him. Mark was knocked down by the force of the blow and he yelled out in total agony as blood trickled down his face.
However, the woman didn’t stop, but instead continued her pursuit of the others.
Mark dared hope that he could now sneak away. Sadly, the whip’s magic had already taken root within his body. Mark felt himself slowly begin to swell and get hairier as his transition from man to horse began. He didn’t bother getting up as he knew that he was doomed.