Chapter three.

"You didn't think it would end up like this, you." A sharp pain, erupts in my stomach causing me to wince.

"Running your foul mouth." The kicks continue to rain down on me until a voice calls out. Stopping the proprietor.

"Enough." The guard spat in disgust. "I need to lock the door."

Anna sent me a sneer then turn away with a huff. 

The door clank shut with a metallic bang sealing my fate. 

It hurts. 

It really hurts so badly. I lay on the ground unable to get up. 

It isn't the first time that I have been beaten this bad. Actually, I get beaten alot. I've been beaten to an even worse state than this. 

But this will certainly be the last. 

I should mark number one off the list now. There is still a lot on my mind that I want to say to those two, but I don't think I was pretty lucky to get away alive this time. 

I will really love to live up the thirty or so of my remaining days .

So that's it for number 1 on the list.

 As for number two, we have to take a nap and recover first. 

Jeez, I'm so tired. The ground is cold. It is also difficult to ride. It also hurts so much.

When I wake up again, it's night time or so. Since it's always dark anyway. 

It still hurts, but I know I need to get up and start phase 2. 

Alpha Luke said to lock me up, but since he's insisting that I serve the evil prince. I am sure he will be releasing me soon. 

I have to escape before then. 

It wouldn't be that hard since I have been planning to escape long before this. The only thing was that I never had the guts to execute the plan. But now—

Fuck guts. Die. Go to hell. 

Calm down.......calm down. 

Lord, I'm so mad. 

So, the first thing to do is move the bed. 

I stare at the old and dying bed, then let out a sigh. It looks so heavy that it feels impossible. Still, I have to do this, even if it takes all day. 

First, time to sleep a little more. I don't think I can get up even now.

♦♦♦♦♦

Waking up several hours later. I can't say I feel much better, but it really isn't as bad as before.

I push myself off the ground, squinting my eyes in the darkness.

It's time for work.

The bed stood at the right corner of the room, pressed against the wall. 

This will be difficult. I chew on my bottom lips, searching for the best spot to push from. And in the end, I found nothing.

Let's just get on with it.

I push, pull, drag, kicked and in the end, the damned bed only shifted a little.

"This isn't going to work." I collapse on the  damped blanket, scratching hard on my hair. 

I need to get out of here. What to do? What to do? 

"Why isn't the damned bed moving?" I punch angrily, frustration slowly creeping in. "Just move, move, move—"

*Crack* "Ouch." The sharp pain in my hand immediately draw tears, and I gently cover it in the warmth of my other hand, blowing hot air through a small hole between my fingers, still the pain only dulls out a little.

Screw you!! Screw you Alpha Luke! Screw all your ancestors and generations to come!! 

Screw!! Screw.....wait a minute. Screw?

Isn't this bed put together by nuts?

I hurriedly crawl off the bed. And there it is. Each corner of the bed has two nuts holding it at the ends.

It is luncommon of a bed. But was this even really a bed in the first place? 

It looks more like an experiment gone wrong.

This means I can just unscrew it all. It's not like I am coming back ever again.

Jumping up, I feel the fire in me recover once more. 

'There should be a screwdriver around here.'

Contrary to what you must have thought. My room is pretty big. 

Since you know—its the basement. 

Most of the junks in the house are been kept here. Me included.

There might even be a snake living in here and I might not know.

Ha ha....I am just kidding.

The snake should know wiser. The environmental condition is just so bad. Trust me.

So where did I see that screw driver again?

There are lots of place to search and just not enough time.

Let's just trash it all then.

And after overturning twelve boxes, I found it. 

Unfortunately, it just doesn't fits.

I grip the screw driver with a when look, resisting the urge to throw it against the wall.

Why? Why?!!

It's like the whole universe is against me escaping. 

Should I just stay?

But what about the prince Emeliano? Knowing Alpha Luke he won't let me off just because of that earlier performance. Once he sets his mind on something, it's impossible to change it. 

Then do I have to—with a man I don't know?

Worse. Prince Emeliano. The savage prince.

All I want is to live the last thirty days, or less, of my life in peace.

Is that too much to ask?

Do I stay? After all escaping doesn't necessarily mean a good ending, there is a lot of things that can go wrong. But isn't it better than just staying here and doing nothing?

No.. I don't want to die here. I don't want my cold body to be buried by these people.

Will they even bury me?

I slump on the bed, only to crash right to the ground.

The ache that ran through my back is immediately pushed to the back of my mind.

The bed broke!!

Haa....

It broke!!!

I grab on the bedspread, flinging it to a corner of the room as I examine the damage.

A small edge had broken off. Although it doesn't looks helpful in the least, it showed me something. 

The bed is old!! 

The wood has been eaten by ants and other small insects, it is also damp and soft, which makes it very heavy, but also easy to break.

So there is the solution I have been looking for.

I search for a hammer, holding the screw driver in another hand.

To lessen the noise, it is better to use the two to pull the woods apart.

But....

I stare at the bed that have protected me from the cold for a very long time, then hesitated.

It has given me more warmth than any one to ever exit. Even my own parents.

Sorry mom.

Destroying this will be the start of my rebellion. To stay and endure this, or to fight for the possibility of a better future.

I don't want to imagine what will happen if I am caught.

Although I have perfected my escape route to the core. There might still be a flaw somewhere.

The risk is high. And the reward is uncertain.

Shouldn't I just stay? Will it be better?

A knock vibratees through out the room, knocking the doubting thoughts out of my head. And I am left staring at the bed, not knowing just how many minutes have passed.

The knock sounds again, and i flinch as dread starts to boil in my stomach.

Is it the maids?—or the guards—or—

I should have hurried—

"Ivy, it's Rowan." A small voice flows into the dark space, and like a beautiful drug all the discomfort attacking me disperses.

"Rowan." My legs moves before my brain even had the time to register, I press my body against the door, awaiting a reply.

"Are you okay Ivy?" Rowan asks in a quiet voice. 

"I am okay." I reply without missing a beat. "How about you?"

"You are the one in trouble, yet you still have the luxury to care about others." He nags coldly.

"I am sorry." I quickly apologize.

"Now why are you apologizing?" The eleven years old scolds even more.

I hesitate a little, before saying. "I shouldn't have said those mean words about your mom."

Sure, she deserves it. But I still feel a little guilty towards Rowan. 

"Let's not talk about that." Rowan immediately shuts me off, then asks. "What do you plan on doing now?"

"I don't know?" I reply sincerely. Taking a seat with my back resting against the door as I listen hard for any sound coming from the other side.

Maybe I do know what to do. But am scared. Am so scared that I can't stop my fingers keeps trembling from anxiety.

"That means that you have it all figured out. right?" Rowan snorts. 

"What—"

"You know. you are the smartest person I have ever met in my life." Rowan pause, then whispers. "That's why I like you"

Forgetting about the compliment, my heart picks up at the confession. "You like me?"

"Of course I like you. Don't you like me?". I can literally imagine those sea blue eyes shooting daggers at me, like he normally does when he is pissed.

"Of course I do. I love Rowan more than you the skies and the earth." I quickly pronounce.

"That's why—i trust in you." He mumbles. "In any decision you make. 

"Thank you."

"Do you need my help with anything?"

"No—yes?"

"Just say it."

"Stay well Rowan." I hesitate a little, then add. "Grow up into a fine man."

"Of course. I won't become a total ass like that man." Rowan rebukes, gritting his teeth.

"Then that's enough for me." I grin.