Escape plan

Emilia~

I panted, running as fast as my legs could take me in such a tight dress. If Marcelo catches up to us, there was no telling what he would do. I wasn't about to find out either.

"Come on, faster!" Martha whisper-yelled, urging me to match her pace.

I've known her to be one of Marcelo's maids, as she was specially assigned to "take care of me". It made me skeptical as to why she was suddenly trying to help me escape.

I slowly came to halt, doubling over and trying to catch my breath in a part of the mansion that looked like an abandoned garden. My lungs seemed like they were on fire, as I literally gasped for air.

"We don't have time for this, Miss Anderson!" Martha said, a hint of annoyance in her voice.

I raised up my head to glare at her. What the hell was her deal?

"Maybe you should have mentioned a lot of running in your grand escape plan!" I snapped at her.

"Why are you even helping me? You could get in so much trouble if we're caught."

She frowned at my words, hesitating a little, before answering.

"I don't plan to get caught."

"Very convenient!" I scoffed.

"This place is teeming with armed men. It's a surprise they aren't shooting at us yet."

"We need to get going. I know a secret exit. One that leads right into the main city."  Martha said, tugging at my arm again.

When I was married to Bronx, I saw Marcelo as my savior, my way out. I trusted my best friend, only for him to turn out worse than Bronx. Was I about to trust this female, who I barely know? What if this was all part of a bigger scheme?

"Wait!" I blurted out, stopping Martha in her track, once again.

She turned to look at me, her black hair whipping her face violently. I could sense her impatience, but I still chose to remain cautious.

"You haven't answered my question yet." I told her, maintaining a distance between us.

"Why are you risking so much to help me? You barely even know me!"

"He's an evil man, Miss Anderson!" She said, her eyes filled with so much terror.

"I've seen him. I know the vile things he's capable of doing to people like us."

"I've  also seen what he does to people who he considers his enemies. He's a monster!" She continued.

"...and then I've seen you, a total opposite. You're kind, despite the fact that you have no reason to be, and you cry yourself to sleep every night."

My eyes widened in surprise, as I took in her words. I didn't realize she had seen me in my vulnerable state, but then again, she was initially assigned to look after me.

"I see you've been through a great deal of pain, and trusting a total stranger like me, feels like the last thing you want to do right now." Martha said, her eyes reflecting concern and empathy towards me.

"...but please, Miss Anderson. Please, let me help you get out of here."

"You deserve so much better than being another toy for him to play with, till you're broken."

There was so much emotion in her voice, and sincerity flashed in her eyes for a moment. I found myself wanting to trust her a little more, and I did.

"We better hurry, then!" I said, before taking her hand in mine again, and flashing her a small smile.

Soon, we were running through the bushes and overgrown shrubs in the garden, guided only by the moonlight above us, and Martha's flashlight. I was trusting her to get us to safety.

A small, iron gate soon came into view, and from the looks of it, this was the "secret exit" she spoke of. I saw a glimmer of hope for the first time in a very long while. It felt like I was on a direct path to freedom.

We came to a sudden halt, at the sight of a familiar, intimidating figure, emerging from the shadows. Hands in his pockets, he seemed eerily relaxed and calm, considering he just caught us trying to escape. Marcelo's eyes zeroed in on me, making me swallow hard.

I instinctively hid behind Martha, who seemed to be too stunned to even move a muscle. Approaching footsteps and barking of dogs soon alerted me to the fact that we were now totally surrounded. Marcelo didn't come alone.

They closed in on us, making me press myself further up against Martha. I should have known this was a terrible plan from the start. We were both shaking like leaves in the wind, while Marcelo and his men just eyed us like a pack of hungry wolves.

"Evening, ladies!" Marcelo suddenly spoke up, a smug look on his face.

"May I ask where  you are both off to in such a hurry?"