Chapter 3: My Escape

Ten minutes later, she was still sprawled on the floor, her body tense with anticipation, her mind racing with thoughts of escape. Her heart pounded in her chest as she listened for any sound, any hint that the door might open. And then, finally, she heard it—the faint click of the lock turning. The door knob twisted slowly, and she bolted upright, ready to spring into action.

As the door creaked open, she lunged forward, pushing the maid aside with all her strength. The maid stumbled, taken completely by surprise, and fell against the wall. She didn’t waste a second. She bolted down the hallway, her bare feet slapping against the cold stone floor, driven by a desperate need to escape this horror of a life her father had created.

Her surroundings blurred as she ran, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. She spotted two bodyguards stationed by the door of what looked like a living room. Without hesitation, she sprinted past them, her speed and determination not fazing them. She expected to hear shouts of surprise and anger echoed behind her, but she didn't hear any and didn’t look back to inquire. She had to keep moving. She had to escape.

She burst through the front door and into the open air, the cool breeze a contrast to the hot atmosphere inside. Her lungs burned, her legs ached, but she kept running, her eyes fixed on the tarred road ahead. The mansion behind her quickly faded into the distance as she pushed herself harder, each step taking her farther away from her captors.

She ran for what felt like miles, the road stretching out before her, surrounded by dense trees and overgrown plants. She glanced back, expecting to see the bodyguards in hot pursuit, but there was no one. A new worry crept into her mind. Why weren’t they chasing her? Were they confident she couldn’t escape, or was there some other reason they hadn’t followed?

As she turned her attention back to the road, the unfamiliar silence of the forest enveloped her. The only sounds were the rhythmic pounding of her feet and the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind. Her exhaustion began to take its toll, and she slowed to a walk, her breath coming in heavy gulps. The sky was growing darker, and she still couldn’t see any sign of a gate or a way out just the same tarred road and trees by each sides of the road.

She pressed on, determined not to let fatigue stop her. The trees closed in around her, their shadows lengthening in the fading light. Every now and then, she paused to look back, half-expecting to see someone coming after her. But the road remained empty, an eerie quiet settling over the landscape.

Eventually, she could go no farther without rest. She sank to the ground, her back against a tree, and closed her eyes for a moment, trying to gather her strength. Her thoughts raced, fear and hope mingling in her mind. She had come this far; she couldn't give up now. After a few minutes, she forced herself to stand and continue walking, her steps slower, her resolve unwavering.

As night fell, the darkness pressed in around her. The road seemed endless, a never-ending strip of road cutting through the dense forest. She had no idea where she was or where she was going, but she knew she had to keep moving. The sound of an approaching car broke the silence, its headlights cutting through the gloom.

Panic surged through her, but she was too tired to run. She stood frozen, her heart racing, as the car drew closer. It slowed as it neared her, eventually coming to a halt just a few feet away. She staggered backward, her eyes wide with fear.

A voice called out from the driver's seat. "Young lady, do you need help?" The concern in the man's tone was evident, and despite her fear, she felt a glimmer of hope. She couldn't see his face clearly in the dim light, but she had no other options. She needed to get away from this place, and any help was better than none.

"Yes," she replied, her voice shaky. "I need to get out of here."

“Hop in” He said.

The man opened the passenger door, and she climbed in, relief washing over her. She slumped into the seat, her body exhausted from the running for so long. As the car began to move, she glanced around, trying to get her bearings. Another voice came from behind her, startling her.

"Where are you headed to?" the man in the back seat asked. There was something unsettlingly familiar about his voice, but she couldn't quite place it.

"I'm not sure," she said, her mind racing. "Just... away from here." She replied feeling a little uneasy

The man behind her chuckled, a sound that sent chills down her spine. "Who said you could leave young lady?"

Recognition hit her like a bolt of lightning. She knew that voice from somewhere. It was the same voice that had spoken to her in the day of the auction, the same voice that made everyone in the auction room go quiet, the same voice that had filled her with fear and dread. She turned slowly, her heart pounding in her chest, and saw his face in the dim light. The realization struck her with terrifying clarity.

She was back where she had started, caught again by the very people she had tried so desperately to escape. Her heart raced rapidly and she reached out to the door desperate to run out, but the door won’t open, she looked at the driver with pleading eyes but he looked straight ahead on the road.

What was she going to do?! she had to run away, she can’t go back there. She continued struggling with the door suddenly a hand reaches out and covers her nose knocking her out, the last thing she could hear was an evil laughter filling the car.