Chapter 2: The Great Escape

It's been a week, and I never once stepped out of my room. And it's not because I'm crying over Arkin or anything, in fact, I've been formulating a plan the whole day on how I can prove to him that he's wrong about me, that I'm not just some spoiled girl living in her father's house.

I know I can be very difficult at times, but I do have other good qualities. Not many know but I'm extremely intelligent, I just rarely show it since I don't think I need to prove myself to anyone. 

Arkin made a mistake by rejecting me, and I'm going to prove to him that I'm not just a spoiled heiress, and that anything he can do, I can also do.

Plus, I doubt that he really has a girl in his heart. I heard he's a notorious playboy, so that was a cheap lie he had there. If he doesn't want me, then I don't want him.

But I can't deny some of what he said, I do rely on my father, and that's exactly one of the things that I will change, to prove not just him, but also to my father that I'm capable of running my own life.

Which is why I'm waiting till the clock hits 7:00 PM, because that's when the guards will change shifts. I already know their routine, so I'm sure that the back gate will be wide open around 7:10, and that's the time I will sneak out of here.

I got everything ready, I changed into a black wig to hide my auburn hair, and also wore brown contact lenses to seal my natural grey flecked eyes that I got from my mom. And even added minor details like placing a mole under my chin. 

It was effective of course, and I looked like a total disaster. No one would know it was me, apart of course from the white dress I'm wearing since I don't have ugly dresses in my closet.

I opened the window, but looked back first, making sure that I left the farewell letter on my table so my father wouldn't worry much. 

When everything was in their right place, I climbed out of the window using the knotted blankets and sheets and successfully escaped my room without anyone knowing. 

I stretched my hands, feeling victorious as I felt the night breeze hitting all parts of my body.

“Eh-hem!” I froze when I heard someone cough behind me.

I slowly turned around, clenching my teeth. 

I thought it was the guards, but to my utter shock, it was no other than Lisa. 

“L-Lisa, hi…” I stuttered.

“Well hello to you too Miss, we are having a change of looks I see, and where do you think you are going?” Lisa said with a honeyed voice, smiling at me with a knowing look.

I momentarily closed my eyes, cursing in my head that she still noticed me even after I changed my face, “Fine, you got me, I'm planning on leaving home. I want to be independent to prove Arkin wrong, are you happy!” I confessed, crossing my arms, huffing.

“You're going away with nothing with you?” She raised her brows at me, laughing a little.

“Why? I have my credit card with me, plus a bunch of bags will only slow me down.” I replied.

Why do I even need to bring a bag with me when I can purchase new ones when I get out of here?

“Miss, one of the parts of being independent is not relying on your own father's money,” She said, and I wanted to refute, holding onto my credit card as if my life depended on it.

“I-I…it's not my fault my family is well off,” I said, trying to defend myself.

I just can't let go of the credit card. What if I need emergency purchases when I go outside?

“Fine, you can keep it, but I'm coming with you,” She said, and my jaw dropped to the ground. 

Is she being serious?

“Ok then, let's go!” I said, striding forward but she put her arms up, blocking my way.

“What now?”

“Just stay here for a little bit, I'm going to get us clothes and food so we won't starve once we get out of here,” She said.

And I don't know how many minutes exactly it took her to gather our things, but she was fast. 

I looked at my watch and saw that it was already 7:08, which means… We only have two minutes left!

“This is…” 

I didn't give her time for another long speech. I grabbed her hand and sprinted to the path to the back gate, seizing the opportunity to escape while we still can.

…

(Morning)

"Miss, how long are we gonna sit in this park?" Lisa complained beside me as we sat in the park to take a rest.

We walked for about three hours after we got out of the gates, and I can't even feel my legs anymore. 

A can was supposed to be an option but I had no cash on me, only my credit card, so we really had to walk our way to the King Hotel that I planned for us to stay in for the next couple of days.

From what I remember, the hotel isn't far from here, just about 5 kilometres ahead. 

"Just let me rest for another five minutes and I promise we'll be on our way," I said, breathing heavily, leaning backward to rest my weary body.

It was still early in the morning and there weren't many people in the streets .

I looked around and surveyed the area, all I could see were a few people jogging in the park and pet owners walking their dogs around.

So this is what it feels to have a normal day away from home, huh? I can't say I like it, but hopefully it will get better after this. 

I just really need one good miracle to happen. 

“Miss,”

“Huh?” I looked at Lisa and she was looking past me. I followed her line of sight and saw that there was a timid guy wearing glasses, holding a bunch of papers getting circled at by a bunch of other guys. 

They were clearly making fun of him, poking his shoulders harshly, and one guy even slapped his head. 

Some passersby saw what was happening but ignored it, making my blood boil seeing the nonchalance of other people.

This is why society is getting rotten, people don't stand up against this kind of people. 

“Oof!” I heard a thud, pulling me out of my thoughts. When I looked back at them, the guy was already on the ground, clutching the papers to his chest. 

I couldn't take it anymore and I don't know what happened, but somehow, I was now standing in front of them, a metre away to be exact. 

My hand was shaking as I grabbed a rock, and threw it at one of the jocks, hitting his head.

“Fuck!” The person who I hit cursed loudly, and their laughter died down. 

And like them, I was also pulled back to reality. I didn't know why the hell I did it. I just got mad, and now, they were staring at me, danger looming in their eyes. 

“Was that you ugly bitch?!” He screamed, pointing at me. 

“No,” I shaked my hand in front of me hysterically, afraid of what they'd do to me.

“The heck you say it's not you, then who else could it be?!” He gritted his teeth, glaring at me.

I mentally prayed, hoping I'd get out of this alive. I looked behind me to search for Lisa, but she was gone. 

Where the hell did she go?! Did she leave me alone?! Ugh, I'm so gonna be mad at her.

“I-I don't know…” My voice faltered as I took a step back seeing that they were slowly nearing me. 

I looked at the guy, and he was also looking at me, his face riddled with surprise. 

My heart was racing, but I knew I had to get out of this sticky situation. 

I kept thinking and thinking until an idea popped in my head, an old trick I always see in movies. I just hope this works. 

“Hey! What's that?!” I screamed looking horrified, pointing somewhere, and when they all turned around to look, I didn't waste any time and grabbed the guy's hand that was on the ground and pulled him up fast, screaming “run”.

He was also fast to react and sprinted away together with me. 

We both ran for our lives while the guys screamed behind us telling us to stop. 

“Stop! Or else it won't end well for you bitch!” The guy I hit earlier screamed loudly as he ran to catch us.

“Do you think I'm an idiot you ugly pig!” I screamed back at him. It was the first time I did something like this. And to be true, it was quite thrilling, despite the eerie death feeling that was closely looming behind us. 

I looked behind me and saw that they were already out of breath. Tsk! These guys have weak stamina. I'm even wearing my silver stilettos yet I still outrun them.

I turned beside me and saw that the cute guy I just helped was also falling out of breath, his movement becoming sluggish. 

“Come on, don't stop now,” I told him, and I think my words encouraged him since his previous pace came back to life.

Unfortunately, while I was talking, I didn't notice that two of the guys had already caught up with us and successfully dragged him down, while the other held me firmly, stopping me from moving. 

“Let go of me you bastard!” I screamed, trying to break free. 

“Shut up!” The guy holding me yelled in my face, and I honestly got dizzy, are villains nowadays not brushing their teeth?!

“You shut up, and will you brush your teeth when you get a chance!” I shouted back, moving my face away since I can't stand the smell of his breath.

“You're dead you nosy bitch!” The larger guy raised his fist, and I knew what was coming.

“No!” The guy I helped, screamed, trying to stand up to help me, but faced with a larger foe, he stood no chance, and so did I.

I snapped my eyes close, waiting for the impact, accepting that my fair and beautiful face was about to get beaten up by a this hoodlums.

However, like the trumpets of the angels, I heard a life saving sound. I suddenly heard whistles and shouts erupting in the air. 

“Hey! What is happening here?!” 

“I saw them, they're harassing the poor guy,” I heard Lisa's voice, and I felt a smile break out of my face.

I opened my eyes again and saw her walking with the police.

The pigs quickly scrambled away running as Lisa and the cop neared towards us.

When the cop saw them getting away, he quickly made chase, leaving the three of us on our own. 

“Thank god you arrived in time,” I exclaimed, hugging Lisa as she fetched a handkerchief in her pockets and then wiped my sweat filled face carefully with it. 

“Umm…hello,” I turned around, and saw the cute guy standing up, his cheeks bright red as he looked at us sheepishly, scratching the back of his head.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“Yes, and umm…thank you for helping me,” 

“It's okay, I only did what a decent human being would do,” I replied, smiling at him.

“What were you doing anyway? What are those you're holding? And why did they harass you like that? Do you have a feud with them?” I bombarded him with questions.

“I don't really know what I did wrong, I was just handing out these flyers when they came up to me,” he said, his voice cracking, as his eyes reddened, tears threatening to escape from his eyes.

“It’s okay, they're gone now,” I comforted him, patting his shoulders.

“What are you handing out anyway this early in the morning?” I asked, leaning over to look at the papers he is holding.

“Oh this,” He adjusted his glasses, “It's papers from my friend's master, she's out sick so I'm trying to help her pass this job offer flyers to people who wants to be like us,” 

“Masters…Like us? What do you mean?”

“Master or employers if you may. You see, my school offers scholarships, but in return, you have to offer your service to some elite students there. I'm just happy that my master is kind, however, my friend's is a bit…” he paused, hesitating, “Well…you know, a bit harsh,” he smiled awkwardly averting his eyes.

“What school?” I asked curiously, feeling like I've heard this type of setting before.

“Hail Academy,” he said, and my eyes instantly bulged out. I was right!

I looked at Lisa and we exchanged looks, both of us having similar thoughts.

Hail Academy is currently where Arkin is studying.

I turned my eyes back to him, studying his face, “Um…what is your name again,”

“Henry,”

“Yeah Henry, can you tell me which master your friend is serving,”

“Oh I'm sure you know him, he's quite popular both at school and out. His name is Arkin…Arkin Hades,” he said, and I felt like I just hit the jackpot. 

It seems my prayers have worked. A miracle did happen today.

“HA-HAHAHAHA!!!” I laughed like a maniac. 

Henry stepped back, probably afraid of the expression I'm showing, so I cleared my throat and composed myself so as to not scare the poor guy.

I raised my hands and placed it on his shoulders on each side, eyeing him with a glimmer of light in my face,“Henry, you don't have to pass these flyers anymore,” I said.

“W-why is that?” 

I smiled at him, “Because you found the people you're looking for.”

“Huh?”

I looked at Lisa, and she smiled, nodding in understanding at me. 

I looked back at Henry, inhaling and exhaling deeply, “We're going to apply. We're perfect for the job,” I said, and his eyes widened.

I let go of him, chuckling at the thought of this playful fate. 

It seems we're really destined to see each other sooner than I thought Arkin. And it came with a full package, a scholarship and a job. 

This is going to be exciting.

I rubbed my hands together, my manic laughing resurfacing, and I could see from my peripheral vision, Henry trying to escape. 

But I snaked my arms in his neck on time to prevent him from escaping, “And where do you think you're going?” I asked him with a sweet voice. 

“I-I'm heading back,” He replied.

“Oh are you now?” I clicked my tongue.

“And you're going to introduce us and get us the job, right, Henry?” I asked, a smile still plastered on my face.

“I-I…”

“We did save you, the least you can do is this, right?” I whispered in his ear, and he seemed to be contemplating, and soon, he sighed helplessly, looking at me with resignation.

“Ok fine…I hope you won't regret it,”

“Oh don't worry, we won't,” I said, winking at him, already feeling pumped about what's going to happen. 

I guess I'll see you soon…

Arkin.