A taste of freedom

JULIETTE

 

My sleep was disrupted by the not-so-dismissive itch that dwelled under my arm. I rubbed my body against it, but it only made it worse.

 

I snapped my eyes open, annoyance setting in, the room was silent, too silent, and each move I made sounded louder than normal.

 

I could still feel the heavy weight of the metal chains pressed against my leg; however, something felt different. My hands felt lighter.

 

I glanced down, and to my utter surprise, the chains were gone. Darius must have taken it off while I was still sound asleep.

 

Now that my hands were set free, I sat up, doubling my strength to pull up my bound legs. The effort made me breathless, but it felt good to move my body again.

 

I glanced across the room, and it was empty. Darius was nowhere to be seen. A sick and unsettling part of me felt disappointed that he wasn’t there, but I brushed off the thought immediately, reaching for my legs. I noticed how raw and red my feet looked, and my toes pricked with numbness.

 

I lay back on the bed, staring at the pitch black ceiling, which made me wonder how much of a psycho Darius truly was.

 

I pulled my eyes away from the weird view, focusing on the large glass walls, it was still dark, which was underwhelming.

 

Then I caught something glinting under the dim light. I peered into the nightstand, and a small hairpin lay effortlessly on it.

 

I stretched out my hand, reaching for the small and thin object. My fingers landed on it and I pulled it forward, snatching it and poking myself in the process.

 

I winced, but ignored the pain,  knowing this little insignificant pin could be my escape out of this bondage.

 

But not yet. Not now, Darius could walk in here and ruin everything with the snap of his fingers. I curled the pin tightly in my fist and forced myself to wait for a while.

 

I found the clock on the other side of the wall, and the time read 4;50 am. The early morning was closing in, and if I wanted to get out of here before Darius returned, I had to move fast.

 

So I did…

 

I lowered myself to the ground, the chains clattering as they hit the polished marble floors. My heart skipped a beat.

 

I swallowed my spew and bent over the chain on my ankle. My hands trembled as I pressed the pin against the lock.

 

I had no idea how to pick a lock, I had only heard and seen it being done in movies, but desperation had me doing literally anything.

 

My breath turned shallow, as I worked the thin metal into the thick lock. My head snapped towards the door every few seconds, making it terribly hard to concentrate. But I had to. I was already making the effort, it would be best if I finished it off.

 

Sweat gathered on my forehead, dripping down my temples, and my palms got sweaty as well, causing my fingers to slip several times. Silence occupied the room even more, the ticking of the clock became louder like a countdown to my freedom or my doom.

 

Tears gathered in my eyes as my fingers struggled with the pin and lock. At some point, I shoved it recklessly, twisting the pin from side to side. But the lock remained intact.

 

“Goddess, please help me…” I whispered, wiping the sweat on my forehead.

 

I wiped my wet hands on my dress and continued, I  pulled out the pin and went back at a slower pace. I gently twisted and turned.

 

Click.

 

The sound was faint,  but it reverberated through me like an electric zap.

 

I unhooked the lock and released my legs from the chains. Disbelief clung to my chest, but I had no time to dwell on it.

 

I stood up, but my legs wobbled from disuse and numbness, sending me back to the floor.

 

My body trembled from fear and uncertainty. I couldn't remain here, I forced myself up, using the bed for support. My legs still felt like jelly, but I pushed through, carefully opening the door and slipping into the corridor.

 

I strained my ears, listening to any form of sound, looking out for anything that sounded like footsteps, and then I continued.

 

Every step I took made my heart beat louder. My mind was blank,  I hadn't thought of any escape beyond  Darius’s room, but I couldn't stay here and take any more of his torture.

 

If I could get out of here now, I could reside in the forest until I figure out where I could run off to and never be found by Darius or my father.

 

I followed the servants’ corridor which I had been to during my first week here, and thankfully, it was empty;  it had a back door that easily led outside. I walked out of the building, and the early morning air seeped into my bones.

 

I heaved a long breath and sighed.

 

I got out, but for some reason, I couldn’t believe it. It felt too good to be true, but then I remembered my earlier struggle, trying to get out of those chains, I had to make my effort count.

 

I proceeded to the back of the building where a smaller gate stood. Luckily for me, only one guard stood watch. I glanced around the building. Only one guard stood in my way.

 

Summoning every ounce of courage I had in me, I raised my chin and moved toward him, wearing a mask of composure.

 

I stopped before him, my heart racing, “Alpha Darius requests your presence in his chamber.”

 

The guard didn't ask any questions and walked away at a speedy pace.

 

I hurried forward, not believing the sight before me, my final path to freedom. I pulled the gate open…

 

“Going somewhere?”

 

My blood ran cold, throat tightening as I froze in place.

 

No. I can't give up now, the gate was still open, I could still set myself free…

 

One minute I was staring outside the palace gate, and the next, my back was slamming hard on the wall, the impact knocking air out of me.

 

I gasped,  as his fingers dug into my skin. “What were you trying to do?” He growled in my ears, his hot breath fanning my neck.

 

Darius grinned, “Did you think it was going to be that easy? Or did you not wonder why you found that pin so easily?” he said and howled with laughter.

 

“I knew you would fall for it, my little pet.” He said, tracing his fingers down my temples.

 

Realization hit me harder than I expected, my effort to escape was just a sick game the bastard chose to play with me.

 

There was no hope for me, not even the slightest, and he knew it. Every bit of hope I had left died down, but it didn't make me weak; instead, it fueled my anger.

 

“You are a monster!” I yelled and spat in his face. Darius released his grip on me, wiping his face. His grin had vanished, replaced with a scowl.

 

“How dare you?”

 

“What?!” I cut him off, “Why are you so shocked, I thought you knew everything? Master of all knowledge, or are you just a coward…”

 

Darius narrowed his eyes, and before I could notice his hand moving, he grabbed my neck, tightening his grip just enough to remind me of his strength.

 

I waited for him to unleash his anger, and hit me, but nothing came. Rather,  he released me.

 

“A monster right? Find them, I will show you what a monster does to stubborn slaves like you.” He roughly pulled me along to his room, taking me back to the place I struggled to escape.

 

Darius pushed the door open and tossed me inside.  I stumbled, but didn't fall, not until my gaze landed on a larger chain resting casually on his bed.

 

My legs gave out.