As I paced back and forth, absently chewing my nails, my eyes kept darting to the wall clock above the TV. My heart was racing in my chest, fear slithering into my mind.
A part of me thought this was a horrible idea that could land me in deeper trouble if I got caught. The other part of me, however—the one pushing me into making this bold move—was of the opinion that everything in life was about taking risks.
If I didn’t do this now, I might not get another chance. This was uncharted territory for me, and my chances of making it out of here without getting caught were slim. Yet I was determined to try rather than sit back on my ass and accept my fate.
At the stroke of 12:00 a.m., my heart skipped a beat, and a bell rang in my head. I rushed to the door, grabbed the handle, and turned it slowly. It creaked open, revealing the dimly lit corridor. I stuck my head out, looking both ways to be sure that no guards were coming from either direction.
A soft sigh escaped my lips. “Here goes nothing.”
With that, I stepped out into the open, closed the door behind me, and rushed through the hallway with quiet footsteps. Every now and then, I’d glance over my shoulder while my brain calculated how much I had left.
I raced down the curved staircase, the red rug fluffy beneath my bare feet. My heart was pounding like a drum, my pulse quickening as I descended the steps. I expected to run into a few guards along the way and was already prepared to hide as many times as possible.
I passed through the living room and didn’t spot a single guard—not even one. The glass door leading to the garden was unlocked, slightly ajar. Desperation clouded my judgment, and I didn’t see the need to question anything yet.
Without a moment of hesitation, I pushed through the door and ran out into the open. The moon’s ethereal glow enveloped me, the cool breeze brushing against my skin as I sprinted through the garden.
Hold a second,a voice whispered in my head.Do you hear that?
I slowed, my eyes squinting as I listened more closely. Yet I couldn’t hear anything.
Exactly,the voice said.It’s too quiet.
I stopped in my tracks, my brain putting the pieces together. I’d been running for almost ten minutes now, and I still hadn’t spotted any guards. Not even one. This place was supposed to be crawling with them—yet it felt like a ghost town. Empty.
Just because there weren’t as many guards at this particular time of night didn’t mean they were all off duty. Where the hell was everyone? Plus, I didn’t expect the door leading out here to be open the way it was because I was ready to pick the lock. Even though I planned my escape well, I knew this was way too easy. Something wasn’t right.
At that instant, a sharp metallic clang came from behind me, accompanied by the hum of electricity. In a split second, the lights in the garden burst on, pinning me in a harsh spotlight. My arms rose to shield my face from the brightness that almost blinded me, and my heart sank.
Shit!
My pulse spiked, and my chest was heaving with ragged breaths. I’d been caught, and only God knew what punishment awaited me.
I squinted as I watched a tall figure emerge from the shadows, the brightness behind it casting a halo around its imposing frame. I didn’t have to see its face to recognize who it was. It was my jailer.
My heart was about to jump out of my chest at that moment, as fear gripped me. My palms were greasy, and I was starting to sweat in awkward places.
With slow, menacing steps, he walked over to me in silence, a hand buried deep in his pocket. When he halted in front of me, his imposing frame towered over me, making me feel small in his presence.
He didn’t say anything at first. He just bent over, picked up a rock, and then hurled it forward. I flinched in terror when a gunshot rang out, shattering the stone midair.
My eyes widened, shocked and terrified.
He dusted his hands and faced me again. “Motion sensors,” he said. “You were walking into a trap that would’ve ended your life in a heartbeat.”
What the hell?
I swallowed hard, struggling to mask my fear as I thanked my lucky stars that I had stopped when I did. Who the hell set booby traps in their compound, anyway?
“Would you like to keep going?” he asked. “The gate is right over there.”
Silence.
A self-satisfied grin tugged at the corners of his lips, and he stepped closer. “You’re not going anywhere. The sooner you understand that, the better.”
“You’re a monster,” I growled, my eyes blazing with fury.
“I am,” he answered. “And you’re trapped with me forever.”
