CHAPTER 13

“Oh, I am still alive,” I yawn loudly as my eyes flutter open sleepily. I didn't even know when I slept off. After eating, I had been so full and tired that I decided to rest a little. Maybe it was then that I slept off. I feel a little bit victorious because I am alive, though my body aches from sleeping in an awkward position on the bare floor

I stretch my hands, but my muscles protest in pain from my movements. My ankle still screams from where I sprained it earlier, but I noticed that the pain is now manageable when compared to before

I am trying to stand up when a knock comes on my door. I am a little bit scared and apprehensive but not like the first time- perhaps because I have already subjected myself to whatever fate  awaits me

“Hello, Miss,” the familiar voice of the staff that came earlier filters in through the door. Her tone seems urgent- a type of urgency that wasn't there before. I move closer to the door to hear her properly

“Miss, I came here to tell you that you have been in this room for two days now, and your time has expired”

I feel shocked. I feel my eyes widening and I stumble backwards. Two days? How is that even possible? The time I ate the meal and I fell asleep, it feels like a few hours only

I start searching for my phone to check the date, only to remember painfully that I don't have it with me- I lost it when I lost my purse. I quickly carried my eyes to look at the wall clock. It is showing 12 o’clock  but I cannot tell if it is 12 o’clock at noon or 12 o’clock at midnight. The room is thick with curtains and it is cozy. The atmosphere in it makes me completely unaware of time

“Miss?” The staff member calls again. ‘I have been trying to bring you food several times, but there was no response. The king paid for your food till you leave”

I start to process this information. King Alonso must have paid for the room for that long. He probably paid extra, not knowing I would actually spend the entire time here. I start feeling gratitude and shame all at once

My family must be going mad looking for me by now. When I think of what their reaction would be like, I feel a shiver in my spine. I can already see how my mother would look at me and react. How my father would look at me in disappointment and shake his head but say nothing- he would watch and allow my mother to do anything she wants to do to me. She might even throw me into the dark room and bind me with silver chains again.  And Leah? That one would just be an instigator of all of my torments. I am in a deeper trouble that I realised

“Miss?” the lady at the door calls out again

“I… I'll be out in one minute…” I stammer back in anxiety.

“Okay. One minute and that is it,” she says before she walks away

I spring into action ignoring how I feel in my ankle. I want to rush to gather what I have, but I have nothing except the wrinkled ball dress I am still wearing which is beyond repair. My fingers tremble as I try to smooth out the worst of tears and creases on the dress. I check around for a pressing iron, but there is none in the room. I want to call the customer care for an iron, but it is useless- I barely even have time anymore- they would not attend to me. I take consolation in the fact that the fabric still smells faintly of the perfume I had worn last night, but when I take a deep breath into it I also notice  the smell of alcohol and sweat on it. Gosh

As I am trying to leave the room, I think to myself, “I can't go home. My mother will deal with me. I need a plan”

Yes, this pack has always treated me like an outcast. But this would be different. This time, I have brought great shame to the family’s name. I have disappeared for two days after attending a ball. In their eyes, this is an abomination and the punishment would be severe. I don't think my weak body would be able to stand it

No, I decide. I won't go back to that hell hole called my home. My escape plan must work, with or without money.  I have spent months planning and memorising the patterns of the guards and patrol at the borders. Now that knowledge would work for me

With determination, I open the door, I go downstairs, and I check out of the hotel- keeping my head down and avoiding eye contact with the staff and the customers of the hotel. The lobby feels too big and exposed. I feel like I will be caught if I am not careful. I start wishing for a cap or scarf to cover up my face. But luckily, no one stops me- no one seems to recognise me. I think this is the benefit of being invisible and insignificant

When I finally step outside the hotel, I feel like one step of my escape plan has been done. I think frantically of what to do next. I need to move fast and smart. Across the street I can see a trusted friend of my father walking down towards me. I know I need to dodge him, so I go to hide behind the building nearest to me

I cannot keep doing this- hiding with my bare face in the open. I will be caught if I am not careful. That is when I spot a laundry service- a small laundry service etched between two larger buildings. I know it is a laundry service because of the sheets and clothes hanging to dry on ropes in the open. I start thinking of an idea and a smile tugs at the corner of my lips when the idea finally matures.

I stay hidden and wait until the attendant is very distracted with a customer. When she is distracted enough, I walk towards the building and slip inside smoothly through the back entrance. I tell myself that I am going to pretend like a staff if anyone asks me any question.

When I get inside, the smell of detergent and fabric softener is threatening to make me sneeze- because I am allergic to them, but I hold myself back with all efforts I can gather. If I sneeze I would expose myself as an intruder and that would be double trouble for me if I am caught. I move silently between the role of washing machines and cleanly packed clothes. My hand shakes as I select pieces that will help me disguise. I select a long black dress that looks like it belongs to someone's grandmother. Then I picked out a thick shawl that can cover my hair and most of my face. After that,  luckily for me, I see a wooden walking stick leaning uselessly against the wall. I think of how useful it can be to me, so I grab it. it must belong to one of the workers but I am selfish now- I don't care. “I'm sorry,” I did a small bow to whatever invisible entity that must be angry at me. “But I need these, please,” I complete my apology

In a dark hidden corner,  I change quickly. I stuff my ball gown into a nearby laundry basket. Then I wear the stolen black gown and wrapped up my face in the shawl. I see a mirror close to me and I give myself a quick glance- I look perfect. I now look like a shaky old woman hunched over her walking stick. Another idea comes to my head when I see a basket close by. I pick up the basket, then I fold my previously discarded ball dress into it. “Better, maybe I shouldn't even leave a hint of my presence here,” I say to myself as I place the basket on my head to complete my disguise

Smiling at myself in the mirror, I can see that my plans are already walking out. “If I eventually escape I will be a jewelry trader,” I smile to myself at the small mirror before I decide to leave the place

My heart pounds as I walk out of the laundry room. My sprained ankle gives me an advantage because it is shaky when I walk with the stick and I can disguise myself properly like an old woman in her old walking step. I try not to break character. I try not to be too slow. I try not to be too fast. I don't want to draw attention.