Eacape

{Elara’s POV}

I stuffed some clothes inside a small bag, my hands moving quickly.

I grabbed my phone, alongside the rope I would use to escape through my room window. 

I had overheard my uncle's conversation earlier. He had planned to marry me off to a dangerous man in order to pay off his gambling debt.

As if I was nothing but a mere property. And never in my life would I let that happen.

I took out my phone and texted Shelly that I’m escaping from home and heading over to her place.

Her reply came immediately. 

Shelly: Look who finally gained some balls, huh. What changed your mind?

Me: I’ll tell you when I get there.

I texted back and kept my phone inside the bag.

Shelly had been pushing me to leave the mansion and start a life away from my uncle. But I didn’t have the guts to do it.

I waited till it was late into the night when the guards would be tired.

Carefully, I tied the rope to my bed stand, and threw it outside the window 

Taking a deep breath, I climbed down slowly, making sure I didn’t make a sound. 

Just as I was almost done climbing over the fence, a bright light shown on me

“Hey stop right there” one of my uncle’s guard shouted 

“Oh shit” I gasped 

And without thinking, I jumped down and started running towards the forest trees.

I ran till I couldn’t breath 

But soon, I heard footsteps approaching and it was gaining fast.

Oh no! 

I ran faster, trying to lose them but it was too late. They were too fast. Soon, I tripped over a stone and fell face flat on the floor

No!!!

I screamed as they dragged me away.

“Don't worry princess, you'll be just fine” he said before he covered my face with a napkin and I passed out.

*********

My body ached all over as I gained consciousness. The first thing I felt was the cold bite of the car’s leather seat against my cheek… 

I blinked groggily, as I observed my surroundings. The car door soon opened before I could sit up.

“Get out.”

The guard’s voice was cold and impatient and when I didn’t move, he dragged me to my feet. 

A gust of wind whipped against my ebony black hair, carrying the scent of the old mansion. The place I once called home had now become a prison.

The huge doors were pushed open, as I was pulled inside the living room. Standing at the top of the stairs was my uncle. His expression was twisted from pure anger and fury.

The moment he saw me, he stormed down the steps, and slapped me hard across the cheek. The sharp sting spread across my face, as the metallic taste of blood touched my lips. I bit down swallowing the pain.

“What were you thinking?” he hissed, grabbing my arm with force “Do you realize what you’ve done?”

I stayed silent. My throat was still raw from the earlier screaming.

“You ungrateful child,” he spat. “Do you think I wanted to do this? Do you think I had a choice?” His voice cracked, not from guilt, but from rage at almost losing control. 

“I took care of you when your parents died. I gave you a roof, food, education, everything! And this is how you repay me? By running away and risking everything I’ve worked for?”

I lifted my eyes weakly.

“You sold me.”

My uncle froze. His jaw clenched.

“You say it like I threw you into the fire,” he snapped. “Do you know who that man is? Do you know what he’s offering? A future. Stability. A life far better than anything you would’ve ever imagined.” 

He made it sound beautiful, like he actually cares about my future.

“I’m not a thing to be traded,” I whispered.

His nostrils flared. “Maybe not. But ever since your parents died on that plane, you became my responsibility. This marriage will happen tomorrow, whether you like it or not.

I jerked my arm away from him, my voice trembling. “I’m… I’m not going to marry him.”

His eyes burned with a mixture of anger and something colder. Fear of losing everything he had gambled on.

“You will marry the young master,” he said, each word dropping like a stone. “The arrangements have been sealed. And after the stunt you pulled today…” He glanced sharply at the guards. “There will be no more mistakes.”

He nodded to them.

Two guards stepped forward, taking positions on either side of me.

“Make sure she doesn’t leave her room. Not even for a second. Block the windows from outside if you must. Her husband will be here tomorrow at dawn.”

My stomach twisted painfully.

Tomorrow!.

My fate was only a night away.

As the guards escorted me inside, I cast one last look at my uncle standing in the doorway. His expression was unreadable.

Then the door slammed shut behind me. 

*******

Sitting by the edge of the bed, knees pulled to my chest, my arms wrapped tightly around them as if I could hold myself together by force alone. The room was cold, and the silence pressed against me like a weight.

“Why…” The word slipped out in a broken whisper. “Why did you leave me?” I whispered, my breath fogging the surface. “Why did you leave me with him? Why didn’t you take me with you?”

A tear slid down, warm against my cold skin.

“You promised I’d be safe. You promised I’d never be alone.” My voice cracked again, raw and desperate. 

“But look at me now… I’m” I broke off, choking on my words. “I’m being forced to marry a monster.” 

I cried, but only silence answered me.

Slowly, as if drawn by some invisible pull, I lifted my head. My eyes drifted toward the window… toward the glow spilling through the glass 

The moon shone there, soft and bright, watching me 

“I’m scared,” I admitted to the moon, to the sky, to my parents, hoping they were listening somewhere. 

“Please… please tell me what to do. I don’t know how to escape. I don’t know how to fight this.”

I leaned my forehead against my knees, closing my eyes as the truth settled like a knot in my stomach.

By tomorrow, I will be married. To a man known for cruelty. A man twice my strength. A man I had never even seen. My voice broke completely.

“My life is over… isn’t it?”

The moon shone quietly back at me, offering no comfort, no miracle, no escape.

Nothing. 

***********

The guards stood outside my door like statues. They were silent, unmoving and impossible to slip past. Every time I shifted on the bed, the floor creaked, and I could hear them stir, alert, watchful, ready to drag me back if I even thought of escaping again.

I wrapped my arms around myself tighter. A silent tear slipped down my cheek as I tried to sleep but I couldn’t 

Minutes turned into hours as sleep refused to come.

2:14am

4:32am

6:07am

And just when I closed my eyes, the door suddenly clicked open, and six women stepped inside. They were here to get me dressed up. 

Each of them wearing the same expression looking professional, distant and emotionless. 

After taking my bath, they immediately started working on me.

The makeup artist tilted my chin up with a gentle but firm hand.

“Close your eyes.”

I obeyed, though my hands trembled on my lap.

The stylist brushed out the knots in my hair, while the designer pulled out a white gown. It looked elegant and heavy. I stared at it.

White.

For a marriage I never wanted.

For a future I didn’t choose.

Tears pooled in my eyes, but I quickly blinked them back immediately. I won’t cry in front of strangers.

By the time they finished, I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I looked beautiful.

“You’re ready,” one of the women said.

Ready.

For what?

For my life to end?

They all left my room silently, while the guards returned to their spots by my door, locking me in the room yet again

Not much time passed before the sound came. Slow at first… then louder… then unmistakable. The sound of tires rolling over gravel outside the estate. 

A presence arriving like a storm.

I walked towards the window to have a look. My stomach twisted so sharply I almost doubled over.

This was it.

Soon I heard footsteps approaching my door 

“is she inside” it was my uncle

“yes sir” the guard responded 

“Bring her out” 

No! My heart dropped into my stomach as my fingers clenched the fabric of my dress.

Dorian Damaris had arrived.