Peekaboo

NOREEN 

I grinned at her genuinely, "Thank you."

"Happy to help." 

"So how is it going to be?"

 "You can use my private back exit, but you'll have to drug the guards there. I'm sure you wouldn't want their death on you. Once you've drugged them and they fall asleep, you can make your escape." She explained, giving me a small bottle 

"I don't see where the money comes in." I mentioned.

"I'll leave two pouches behind the post. It'll be easier for you to grab and run." She explained. 

"Okay," I nodded, "When can I leave?"

"Today," she replied firmly, "This evening. You can't spend another day here. The King's rut period is near, and I don't know the exact time, so I can't risk it with you. Also, I'll keep Elion busy while you make your escape. "

"Good call," I beamed, "Till evening then."

I stood up, pocketing the sleeping drug she gave me.

"Noreen?" Kathleen called, "Be careful out there and trust no one."

I shook my head, "I'm a survivor."

*

The entire day went by in a breeze.

I have everything I need. 

My sister's picture and the drug.

The instant it was five p.m. I stopped pacing and ran out of my room. 

I caught Amber in the corridor, holding a tray with two cups.

I kept my head down, thinking of the excuse to give her. Instead, she shoved the tray in my hands.

"Miss Kathleen said you would need this." She grumbled and left.

I held the tray tight and made my way to Kathleen's private exit using the hand drawn map she'd left under a cup.

As I neared the exit, I put two drops of the drug in the water.

It was enough to knock them out, and there's no risk of overdose. 

"Hello," I greeted them when I got to the post, "I'm the new slave. I brought you both some water."

For guards, the men were too trusting. 

"I thought you are a slave to His Majesty, not Her lady," one of them said after he gulped down the water.

"I work for both." I replied.

The second one drank his halfway and muttered his thanks. 

I pretended to go back and slipped in between two blocks, waiting for them to pass out.

Barely thirty seconds after, both guards fell to the floor.

I took that as my cue.

True to Kathleen's word, there were two pouches by the guards' post.

I pocketed the pouches and ran like my life depended on it because it does.

I went through the gate easily, pumping my legs to go faster.

I can't be relieved until I'm sure I'm far away from Elion. 

I frowned when I saw another gate up ahead 

Kathleen didn't mention another gate. it's a good thing it wasn't guarded.

Ten feet away from the gate, I screeched to a stop.

Guards suddenly surrounded me.

My heart dropped. 

There was no way out. 

There were about forty guards, and they flanked me in every corner.

"I told you!!" Kathleen's voice reached my ears, "I knew these good for nothing slaves couldn't be trusted. She also stole my jewelry."

The guard parted to reveal Kathleen and Elion.

Oh boy, he looked mad!

For a second, I forgot how to breathe.

How??

I did everything she asked me to do, so why was she complaining to Elion.

My tongue darted over my dry lips nervously, "It's not what it looks like."

Kathleen's eyes flashed in anger, "And what exactly does it look like because to me, it looks like you are running away after stealing my jewelry and killing two guards."

This double faced mf!! She set me up.

"No!" I protested, "I didn't kill anyone. I was just‐"

"Running away?" Kathleen interrupted, her voice a pitch higher.

"Search her. Look for a blue pouch. That's where I heard she put my jewelry."

A female servant came forward and went directly for my inner pocket, taking the blue pouch as if she knew where to search.

She opened the pouch and emptied the contents in her hands. 

Kathleen's ruby necklace was indeed there.

My heart sank.

How did I not see this? Why would she set me up when all I'm doing her is a favor.

I turned to Elion quickly, "I swear, "I don't know how that got here."

Elion said nothing and just stared at me coldly.

"She should be punished," Kathleen said suddenly, "Death by hanging is the perfect way to teach her a lesson and send a message across."

"Please believe me. I didn't know about the necklace. I admit I was running away, but I didn't steal, neither did I kill anyone. Send a doctor to the guards, you'll see they are alive, just sleeping,"

"They are dead." Elion spoke, his voice icy, "You killed my men, and I gave you a chance to explain. Instead, you were beating around the bush."

"No," I shool my head, "They can't be dead. Kathleen said—"

"Kathleen said what? You've run out of excuses now, and you decided to drive a wedge between me and my man?" Kathleen snapped, "You killed them, so take accountability for your crimes, and stop shifting the blame."

I turned to Elion, begging him to listen, but the look in on his face made whatever I was going to say disappear.

There's no getting out of this for me.

This must have been her plan all along. 

She wanted, —needed me dead. That's the only way she's sure she can be rid of me.

I glanced back at Kathleen in time to see the ghost smile on her lips.

She's going to pay for this.

In a way, if they were right, I did kill the two unsuspecting guards.

"Grab her." Elion ordered and walked off.

The guards tied my hands and feet, then dragged me all the way back to my hell hole.

I expected them to throw in a dungeon while I awaited my death. Instead, they threw me in what looked like a red room and left after freeing me.

What was I doing here?

While waiting for whatever was about to befall me, I took out the second pouch.

Since I have money now, I can make contact outside and do what's needed to be done. 

I opened the pouch eagerly and dipped my hands inside.

It was filled with stone and paper.

An angry scream erupted from my throat involuntarily after I read a note on one on the papers.

It read, "Peekaboo"