AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Terror enveloped me, and when a warm, wet sensation trickled down my thighs, and the scent of urine filled the surrounding air, my father’s face twisted into a grotesque look of disgust.
The gun clicked.
I choked on another sob.
My father moved the gun away from my forehead and a single gunshot rang out. I flinched hard. The haunting high-pitched whine of my beloved Lady was followed by my father’s cruel laughter.
I looked up and Lady’s golden coat was covered in dark red blood, her furry body lay still. Another, high pitched scream tore from my lungs.
I never hesitated again during our “training” sessions.
I shake my head free from the memory and blink back the tears in my eyes as I slowly creep along the hall, Allie on my heels as we head toward the stairs. It’s too quiet, and the prickling sensation on the back of my neck has me halting our progress.
Backing up, I take Allie’s hand in mine. “There’s another set of stairs back this way, it leads to the kitchen. Come on.”
In silent agreement, Allie follows me until we reach the hidden stairs. They’re barely used anymore since my father refuses to hire a butler or maids. There’s no point when he has me as a live-in slave.
With each tentative step we take down the stairs, we stop and listen for any sign of danger. When we finally reach the last step, I peek around the opening and scan the kitchen.
Where is everyone?
“How far?” Allie murmurs.
“The kitchen door takes us outside. From there, you’ll need to run. You can’t look back, and don’t stop, no matter what. Just keep running until you reach the trees.”
“You’re not coming?” Horror masks her expression. “You’re not—Jesus, you’re not staying here, are you?”
I shake my head. “I’ll be right behind you, promise.” I squeeze her hand, my forced smile a promise I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep. I’m not foolish enough to believe this is it, that the next few minutes will result in my freedom. If I have to sacrifice my life for Allie’s, I’ll do it. She deserves freedom more than I do.
Hand gripped tight on the gun, I nod toward the far corner of the kitchen. “Let’s go.”
When the kitchen door opens and I take in my first breath of fresh, outside air for almost a week, I can’t help but to close my eyes and relish in this moment.
Far off in the distance, the sun is slowly setting on the horizon. The vast sky is a palette of oranges, pinks, and purples. I’m so close to freedom I can almost taste it.
A sharp tug on my hand pulls me from my reverie. “Come on,” Allie says, and we run. We run for our lives. For our freedom, for every girl who was chained to the walls of the warehouse. We run and run and run, and when we finally reachthe edge of the forest, we fall to the damp, dirt covered ground, puffing and panting.
“We made it,” Allie says. “We fucking made it!”
She takes my hands in hers. “Come on, we need to get to the police, tell them about the others.”
“It doesn’t matter how far you run, Isadora, I will always find you.”My father’s voice slams into me. I clutch my stomach and heave as I vomit into the dirt.“You belong to me. Like your mother before you, there is no escape.”Another bout of vomiting sends me to my knees. “I have to go back,” I sob through heaving breaths. “Oh, God, I have to go back.”
Sobs wrack my body and I begin to shake violently. I shove my fingers through the knotted strands of my dark hair and tug on them, begging the pain receptors in my brain to force me out of this horrific panic.
Allie shakes my shoulders, her panicked eyes on mine as she tries to calm me. “Shush… Stop it! Stop it, Isadora. You need to calm down. Come on, get up. Let’s keep moving.”
“You were made for more, Isa.”My mother’s voice is fleeting. Visions of her lifeless, bruised, and battered body flash through my mind.
I need to run.“I need to run,” I repeat my thought out loud.
“Yes!” Allie says, helping me to my feet. “Yes, we need to run.”
I swipe my sleeve across my mouth and focus on my escape—on our escape.
A gunshot rings through the air, then another one.
“RUN!” Allie screams.
