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Icelyn's POV

Today was my 18th birthday. 18 years in prison. 18 years without sunlight. 18 years of hiding from what I did not know and couldn't understand. Why? Why would I be hidden from the world like a diseased child? Why couldn't I just go outside like normal people my age could?

I should hate my father for locking me up since I was a child. But I couldn't. He's... He's still all I've got. And he loved me.

He never allowed me take pictures, but Ellen, my nanny, secretly owned a smartphone with all my pictures. We had no internet, but we surely wouldn't even use it even if we had. Because no one was supposed to know I existed. In fact, I did not exist.

I forced myself to smile at the pictures I was taking for Ellen. Maybe one day... One beautiful day... I'll escape this prison.

Ever since I was little, I could sense when bad things were going to happen. I knew when I was going to get hurt, or when Ellen's favourite plate was going to fall and shatter. Or when Dad was coming home in a bad mood. Like today.

After I heard him at the door, my heart began to pound.

“Ellen, Dad's not in a good mood,” I said as she was hurrying away to hide her phone.

“What do you mean? It's your birthday today. There's no way he'd be in a bad mood,” she argued as she hurried back. I clutched my dress and held my breath as I heard him impute the code to the hidden iron door leading to my wing of the house. I shook my head.

“He's in an awful mood,” I cried as I turned around to run to my room and lock my door.

“Icelyn!” Ellen scolded but I didn't want to stop running to my room. I heard the iron door pushed open as I entered the hallway to my room.

“Icelyn! Come out, we're leaving. Now!” My father's voice boomed as he sprang into the room. I halted in my tracks, just before my door.

Leaving? Why were we leaving?

“Icelyn! Icelyn!” He shouted.

“What is going on, sir? Where are you going? Today is her birthday, allow her some decorum!” Ellen nagged. She was not afraid of my father but respected him.

“Ellen, get a few things. We're leaving right now. Icelyn!”

My heart thumped in my chest. Leaving? But it wasn't summer. I was only allowed to hide in a secluded cottage in Scotland during summer.q1

I turned around and walked into my living room to see my Dad with a small bag across his back. He was still wearing his office suit and shoes and was drenched in what was obviously his sweat.

“Dad,” I called. He swiftly turned around to see me. He seemed to relax a tiny bit.

“Icelyn, get your things. We're leaving this city now!”

“Why all of a sudden? What's happening?” I asked. He trotted to me and held my shoulders.

“We are not safe here anymore. We have to go. Stop asking questions and grab a bag. I'll explain on the way or when we reach somewhere safe.”

He pushed me a little to head off and I nodded. I glanced at Ellen, who looked as puzzled as I was, before running off to my room. While I was busy packing, I could hear both my Dad and Ellen grabbing things and hurrying around. Soon, I was done and returned to the living room with a bag having all my necessities. Dad was looking at his watch and visibly shaking. He no longer looked like the daunting Governor he was. But a toddler frightened of his mother.

“Dad, please tell me what's happening!” I demanded.

“On the way. I promise I'll explain.” He took my bag from me and held my arm. Ellen showed up from the kitchen with a bag most likely full of rations. She did not joke about food and basic necessities.

“Ellen, your things. Let me help you pack,” I suggested but Dad jerked me towards himself.

“No. You stay here by my side. Ellen, grab whatever you can in five minutes. We have to leave here. Don't you understand? They're after us all!” he screamed. I flinched at his voice. He never raised it at Ellen before.

The old lady herself could tell that something was wrong. She peered at my Dad as if to read him, then shook her head and disappeared into the hallway.

My heart was pounding loudly now. I could feel it. Whatever Dad was afraid of and running from was close. It was so close. It was... It was already here.

And with a mighty bang, my tight-security iron door fell to the floor like a weak wooden door.