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My hand shakily reaches for the doorknob of one of the balcony doors, forgetting I’d locked it earlier. Before I can unlatch it, a knock startles me out of my skin. I jump a thousand meters. Oh Lord!
I’m feeling a bit…damp…down there. Perhaps a small puddling. “Goodness, no,” I hiss to myself.
Do I answer the door? Or go for my plan? If I don’t answer, there’s no way I’d have enough time to leave the property without being caught.
I stand there gripping my ladder, my heart pounding against my ribs.
The knock comes again.
This time, I manage to hold my bladder.
Finally, I answer. “Coming.”
Dashing to the foot of the bed, I stuff the ladder back in the chest, quietly closing the lid. Grabbing the fuzzy pink robe that hangs on the back of the door, I wrap it around my dress, tying the waistband tight. “Be right there!”
I unlock the door, opening it to find Freya’s smiling face. She’s changed into black silk pajamas, her blonde hair piled high on the top of her head in a messy knot that somehow looks magazine-ready. “Hello, sweetheart. I just wanted to see if you need anything?”
“I’m good. Tea was lovely. I’m just going to hop in the shower. Then I’ll be right down.”
“Do you like board games?” Her eyes light from within. “I love Scrabble, but Callum won’t play. He says it’s boring, but I think it’s because I always beat him.”
“Scrabble?” Glamorous Freya, so cool in school with her smokes and short skirts, likes Scrabble.
“But that’s my favorite game,” I say.
She claps her hands like an excited little girl. “I’ll make us some popcorn and hot chocolate. Well, I’ll have Chef and Nan do it. They don’t let me in the kitchen. You burn one frozen pizza, and I swear, people act like you set the house on fire. Okay, well, there was a wee little flame in the oven, but?—”
The escape plan grows further from my mind. The idea of being fireside, having a girl chat, drinking cocoa and playing Scrabble is appealing…
But focused on the mission at hand, I think of my dad.
I picture him home alone, worried about me.
I have to try at least to get home to him. I hate to lie to Freya, but I find myself calling out, “Let me hop in the shower. I’ll be right down!”
She looks so pleased to have my company, I feel guilty as she says, “Right-o! I’ll be waiting in the game room.”
I close the door, leaning against it, letting out a big breath. I listen for her footsteps retreating. As soon as I’m sure she’s gone, I lock the door and rush to the bathroom, quickly cleaning myself with a warm washcloth.
There’s a dull noise from the bedroom. A thump and a brush. “Freya?” I call out.
No answer. I’ve locked the bedroom door and, earlier, the ones that go out to the balcony. I exit the bathroom with caution. The room is empty. My nerves have me spooked, making me jumpy.
Going to the dresser, I grab an outfit, choosing black leggings and an oversized pink slouchy sweatshirt—much better than the dress I was initially going to climb down in. Grabbing my quilted bag from the desk chair—something else I forgot the first time I attempted to escape—I throw it over my shoulder, returning to the chest.
I open the lid, ready to grab the ladder.
All my hours of work, my means of escaping the head flip that is Callum Burnes?
Gone. My ladder is gone.
Chapter Ten
Fiona
The chest is empty. I’d used all the blankets and bedding inside for the ladder.
A deep voice slowly drags my gaze away from the empty chest. He’s standing in the center of the room, arms across his massive chest. His earlier shirt is still on, but the sleeves have been rolled up to his elbows.
