CHAPTER 3 - ESCAPE

To fulfill her mission, her primary obligation was to escape and to do that, she must preserve her body and mind. She sat in a corner, pulled her legs up to her chest, and wrapped her arms around her knees. She tried to sleep fitfully. A well-built man in a dark hoodie and mask covering almost his entire face walked towards her cell, alerting her.

            “Who are you? You’re not a dungeon guard.” She asked fiercely.

            “Your older brother will kill you after the event. You should escape now. Don’t waste any time.” He drew out a silver key from his pocket and opened the gate. “Move faster.” Oriana hesitated for a while before moving her feet out the gate. He gave her a medium size bag and took her hand before running away. His big hands felt familiar.

            “Your passport, important papers, money, and everything that you need is in that bag. Dash out like a flash and leave this city. If you can, leave this Kingdom. Don’t ever come back. Take this with you.” He said, handing her a gun.

            “Who are you? Why are you helping me? If my brother knew-“ her words were stopped when the man pulled her down. The dungeon guards are in ruckus upon finding her cell empty. The guard picked up the phone and tried to report, but the man drew his silenced automatic and put the first round through the guard’s head. He put the second round to another guard’s side. Blood.

            “It doesn’t matter who I am. Leave now.” The third guard reacted quickly, pulling his revolver from his holster, but the man fired first. The guard staggered back and dropped to the floor mixed with sticky red fluid. He took her hand and pushed her out of the dungeon.

            “Thank you.” She shook her head before heading to the back door and running away.

            “Whatever happens, you need to escape.” The man uttered before closing the back door and headed towards the control room. The blood splashed through the screen as he put a single shot to the head of a sleeping guard, making sure he is dead before studying the CCTV footage. He saw Oriana running cautiously. Two men blocked her, but she shot them and continued to run. Another man runs behind her.

            “You’re strong. That man won’t have the chance to kill you.” He smiled before deleting every piece of evidence and turning off the surveillance cameras.

***

            The rain poured softly. Leon's dark brown hair that was neatly styled now drenched with raindrops. Covering almost half of his eyes. The freezing night breeze wicking his body despite his thick uniform. Pissed, his body did not move, but his mind wondered about the current situation of his group. The back of the palace where only the High Members are allowed to enter was dark. Soft music from the hall covered the entire surface.

            Suddenly, footsteps were running widely. The High Members were out, so he was alarmed. The swift but heavy wet footsteps grew louder. Strolling, Leon followed the trail of sound. The sound weakened when the rain poured out heavily, so he shook his head. Where did the footsteps go? He stepped back, but all of a sudden, something or someone hit his hardback. He looked back and saw a woman. A very familiar one. Panting, she looked up and stepped back, pointing her gun at him.

            He grinned and took one step. "I told you, didn't I? Do not ever do something that you will regret in the end." The woman studied his face. The heavy rain made it hard for her to recognize him. "You're lucky you met me and not the other High Members. They're not as forgiving of rudeness as I am." He took a step forward as she stepped backward.

            "Oriana Atherton, I'm not expecting to see you here." Her eyes widened. Jolted of the fact that Leon knew her.

            "H-how did you know? Are you one of my brother's men?" Her hands were wobbly; she was about to click the trigger when a bullet flew past her right eye. The man standing from behind her fell. Leon clicked his gun for the second time, and the man's head burst open. At the corner of her eyes, she saw his wolf ring hanging on his neck. In a second, she remembered him. Sensing the rush of helplessness again, fear carried her away. Trembling, she fell on her knees.

            "P-Please, hear me out!" She cried out.

             "Why are you running away? Who is that man, and why did you enter this place?" He asked with his cold tone. She looked around, looking for someone who might be listening.

            "My brother knew what happened, but I don't know the reason how. Boss Zi strictly commanded me not to speak anything regarding that incident, so I sealed my lips. He locked me in the dungeon and abused me." She hangs her gun to her side.

            "I heard that my older brother would silence me. This is the busiest event for the whole year, so I took this opportunity to escape. I beg for your mercy. I really thought that you are one of my brother's men." She explained, looking down, afraid to look at his burning eyes.

            She gulped. "One more thing, I want to be free from Amber's grip." Leon's eyebrow furrowed.   

            "She is a heartless, selfish woman who wants everything for herself. She doesn't care if we will die on a mission and torture us when we fail." Leon observed her for a moment. Oriana tried to calm her trembling body and bit her lower lips against her numbing left arm. She lowered her head flat on the ground when she felt Leon walked closer towards her.

            He lifted her chin and studied her face. She was frightened and tried to remove his hands and lower her head, but he tightened his hand so he could not avoid his eyes. Her skin is pale. A purplish-blue bruise was present on her upper cheek and a cut on the side of her lips.

            He frowned and pulled her right hand up. "It is strictly forbidden for you to enter this place."

***

            After completing their mission in the city of Ren, the Cadre of High Members gathered in the living room of the main palace. Aside from Natsuki, who enjoys himself outside, everyone’s eyes are intriguing. Looking intently at Leon and back to Oriana, who was kneeling on the floor.

            “Tell me, Leon, what exactly happened?” Olive seems a little surprised seeing her twin showing interest in another woman aside from Ashriel.

            “Why did you brought her here knowing that those who are not members of our Cadre are prohibited here?” Olive continued. Leon briefly explained everything to them.

            “Regardless, I know we must guard our little secret.” He continued. Xieaniel looked at Oriana, who is currently shivering intensely.

            “Your eyes saw our headquarters, and what’s worst is that you saw the Boss’ identity. That’s a bad trait but-“

            “The best way to keep her quiet is to make her still. That’s what we always do, right?” Kate interrupted, eating a piece of homemade cake prepared by Nathan.

            “There is a time and place to joke around, Diana. Do not make any decision abruptly that you might regret in the future.” Ashriel’s tone silenced Kate. Her eyes caught Oriana’s ring with Second Rank Nobles emblem.

            “How are you related with the twins of Second Rank Nobles?” She asked. Oriana hesitated to look at her, so she remained facing the ground.

            “T-they are my brothers.”

            “I’ve heard enough. Take her away.” Ashriel signaled with her hand, telling them to remove Oriana from her sight. She could feel the tip of her fingers beginning to tremble and her heartbeat echoing in her eardrums. Full of terror, she cried out.

            “P-please, spare me!  I swear I won’t tell a soul!” Tears threatened to fall from the corner of her eyes. Beads of sweat are forming on her forehead. The thought of being executed by the High Members terrified her the most.

            “I suggest you prepare for the worst. Things may appear rather bleak for you.” Right after Ashriel’s word, Oriana was dragged away by Venice and John. She was hopeless like a butterfly in a lamp. For a few moments, no one spoke. Hunger took over them.

            “It was a mere coincidence that she went there, Boss.” Leon justified, biting his thumbnail.

            “Is that all? Is that what you are implying?” Olive tried to savor the delicious freshly baked cake.

            “Otherwise, you never would have brought her to our headquarters. Now Carsillion, do you have a problem? You haven’t spoken a word.” Everyone stopped and looked at Nathan, who is currently sitting still, crossed arms against his chest, feeling befuddled.

            “Do you think this was a setup so she could come here and spy?”

            “Doubtful. I don’t think she is capable of putting on an act like that. Besides, the Second Rank Nobles are our ally. So, there is no reason for her to spy on us.” Venice entered the door, followed by John. Ashriel hissed. Dubious if they are really their ally or not. 

            “How is she?” He asked her.

            “Why are you so worried, Leon? You better check her your own later.” She laughed, which made Leon fluster. “The guards put her in the prison room. Her left arm is injured, her body is covered with fresh cuts and bruises, even her face did not escape. I guess the torture that she experienced was intense. I’ll treat her tomorrow. Rest assured, she will not die, so don’t worry.” She added.

            “I’m not worried about her. Why would I anyways.” Leon pushed his hair away from his face. “Besides, we must figure out what to do with her. We just have to make her someone’s attendant, right? How about Boss’ attendant?” Leon suggested, trying to hide his embarrassment.

            “Who are you to take away my position?” Olive’s expression looking back at her twin was terrifying.

            “Come now, Colonel. It was your idea, so get to follow through with it.” Raith smiled and winked at him. Leon tried to refuse, but Ashriel agreed. His eyes widened.

            “Your Highness-“

            “I’ll put her under your care, Thaddeus. Train her properly.”

            It was the phrase that made him want to strangle himself or even rip out his head. For a moment, he hesitated, then released a deep breath and messed up his hair. He does not want any attendant or secretary, nor apprentice. He does not want any headaches.

            Walking from the living room to the hallway and to the prison rooms, Leon was pissed. His mind refused to take Oriana as his secretary. Nathan told him to check her before going to bed, so he walked slowly through her prison room. There, Leon saw Oriana outside her assigned room, peaking from left to right, checking if someone is guarding her. Is she planning to sneak away? Oriana then ran, but Leon followed her and grabbed her hand.

            “You idiot! Do you really think you can escape? I’ll kill you if you run.” His tone was burning with anger. He is angry not only because he has another assignment but because Oriana will be killed by the hidden traps for unregistered members if she will try to escape.

            “I can’t die yet!” She tried to set herself free, so Leon forcedly releases her hand, making her fell on the floor. Leon fizzed. He hates weak people.

            “Enter your room, now.” His voice was crisp. Oriana quickly stood up, entered her room, and slammed the door.

            What was that for?

~ If you want to succeed, don’t just make your spirit and soul healthy. Your body needs to function, so make it strong as well. ~