The Escape

Evelyn

I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the gun on the table. My hands were still trembling, my mind racing. Alessio's words echoed in my head, each one a reminder of the power he held over me. "You either learn to defend yourself or you die."

But I didn't want to learn. I didn't want to be part of this world. I just wanted to escape.

The sound of footsteps outside my door made me freeze. I stood, my heart pounding, and walked over to the window. The guards were patrolling the grounds as usual, their movements sharp and deliberate. But something felt... off.

The door creaked open, and I turned to see Maria standing there, her expression tense.

"Evie," she whispered, glancing over her shoulder. "You need to come with me. Now."

I stared at her, my mind racing. "What's going on?"

She stepped inside and closed the door behind her, her voice barely above a whisper. "Your father... he's gone. He ran. And Alessio's men are looking for him."

My heart sank. "What does that mean for me?"

Maria hesitated, her eyes filled with something I couldn't quite place. "It means you're in danger. If Alessio thinks you knew about your father's plans, he'll..."

She didn't finish the sentence, but she didn't need to. I knew what she meant.

"Come with me," she said, holding out her hand. "I can get you out of here."

I hesitated, my mind racing. Could I trust her? Or was this some kind of test?

"Why are you helping me?" I asked, my voice trembling.

Maria's expression softened. "Because I know what it's like to be trapped in this world. And I don't want that for you."

I stared at her, my heart pounding. This was my chance. My only chance.

I took her hand.

Maria led me down the hallway, her movements quick and silent. We avoided the main staircase, instead taking a narrow servants' stairwell that led to the kitchen. The house was eerily quiet, the only sound being the soft hum of the refrigerator.

"Stay close," Maria whispered, pulling me toward the back door.

I followed her, my heart pounding in my chest. The door creaked as she opened it, and we stepped out into the cool night air. The grounds were dark, the only light coming from the moon and the distant glow of the city.

Maria led me across the lawn, staying in the shadows as we made our way toward the wall. My mind was racing, my hands trembling. What if we were caught? What would Alessio do to us?

We reached the wall, and Maria pulled a key from her pocket. She unlocked a small gate hidden in the shadows, and we slipped through, into the alley beyond.

"This way," she said, pulling me toward a waiting car.

I hesitated, my heart pounding. "Where are we going?"

"Somewhere safe," she replied, opening the car door. "Get in."

I climbed into the passenger seat, my hands trembling as I buckled my seatbelt. Maria started the engine and pulled away from the curb, her eyes darting to the rearview mirror.

"We need to move fast," she said, her voice tense. "Alessio's men will be looking for you."

I nodded, my mind racing. What would happen if they found us? What would Alessio do?

The car sped through the empty streets, the city lights blurring past. I stared out the window, my mind racing. What had my father done? Why had he run? And what did it mean for me?

"Maria," I said, my voice trembling. "What's going to happen to me?"

She glanced at me, her expression softening. "I don't know," she admitted. "But I'll do everything I can to keep you safe."

I nodded, my heart pounding. I wanted to believe her, but I couldn't shake the feeling that this was all a mistake. That I was making things worse.

The car turned down a narrow street and pulled into an alley. Maria parked behind a dumpster and turned to me, her expression serious.

"We need to move fast," she said, handing me a hoodie. "Put this on. And keep your head down."

I pulled the hoodie over my dress, my hands trembling. Maria grabbed a bag from the backseat and slung it over her shoulder, then led me down the alley to a fire escape.

"Climb," she said, gesturing to the ladder.

I hesitated, my heart pounding. "Where are we going?"

"Up," she replied, her voice firm. "Now."

I climbed the ladder, my hands trembling as I gripped the cold metal rungs. Maria followed close behind, her movements quick and silent.

We reached the roof, and Maria led me across a small door. She unlocked it with a key from her pocket and pulled me inside a dark, empty apartment.

"Stay here," she said, closing the door behind us. "I'll be back soon."

I nodded, my heart pounding. "Where are you going?"

"To get supplies," she replied, her voice tense. "And to make sure we weren't followed."

She turned and left, closing the door behind her. I stood there in the dark, my mind racing. What was going to happen to me? What would Alessio do if he found me?

As I sat there in the dark, my thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps outside the door. I froze, my heart pounding. Was it Maria? Or had Alessio's men found me?

The door creaked open, and I held my breath, waiting.

But it wasn't Maria who stepped inside.

It was Alessio.