"ESCAPE PLAN”

Sophia sat alone in the dimly lit room, the silence oppressive and heavy. She felt like she had been locked in for what felt like an eternity, with no one to talk to but her own thoughts.

As she sat on the edge of the bed, her body shook with sobs. She missed her freedom, her father, and her friends. But most of all, she missed her art.

Sophia was an artist, and her paintings were her passion. She loved nothing more than losing herself in a world of color and creativity. But now,she was left with nothing but the memories.

As she cried, Sophia's mind wandered back to her friend, Helen. They had grown up together, exploring the city and sharing their dreams.

Helen had always been Sophia's confidante, her partner in crime, and her biggest supporter.

But Helen was gone now, moved away to another city. Sophia felt a pang of loneliness and regret. She wished she could turn back time and spend more moments with her dear friend prior to her freedom hijack.

As the tears continued to flow, Sophia's thoughts turned to her father,he must be lonely in despair knowing that he had placed her in the condition she was,she thought of her artwork.

She remembered the feel of the brush in her hand, the smell of the paint, and the way the colors blended together on the canvas.

She recalled her favorite piece, "Echoes in the Night." It was a painting of a cityscape at dusk, with the stars twinkling like diamonds in the sky. Sophia had poured her heart and soul into that painting, and it had been her pride and joy that she had refuse to sell it.

Now, it was nothing more than a memory, locked away in her mind like a treasure in a vault. Sophia's eyes welled up with tears as she thought about never being able to create again.

That evening, Sophia was brought a lavish dinner by the cook, a timid-looking woman with a kind face. The spread before her was enormous, with multiple courses and dishes that seemed to stretch on forever.

Sophia's eyes widened as she took in the feast. "This is too much," she said, trying to protest.

The cook, whose name tag read "Emma," simply nodded and muttered, "Mr. Thompson's orders."

Sophia tried to engage Emma in conversation, asking her about Marcus and the mansion, but Emma seemed hesitant to respond. She kept her eyes downcast, avoiding Sophia's gaze.

Sophia sensed that Emma was afraid, not just of Marcus, but of being caught talking to Sophia. She wondered what Marcus had done to inspire such fear in his employees.

As Emma returned to gather the empty dishes and prepared to leave, Sophia reached out and touched her arm. "Emma, wait," she said softly.

Emma froze, her eyes darting nervously towards the door. "Yes, miss?" she whispered.

Sophia smiled gently. "Thank you for the food."

Emma's face relaxed slightly, and she returned a faint smile. "You're welcome, miss."

But as quickly as it had appeared, Emma's smile vanished, and she hastily withdrew her arm. "I should go," she muttered, beating a hasty retreat.

Sophia watched her go, feeling a pang of sympathy for the timid cook. She realized that she was not the only prisoner in the mansion, and that Marcus's grip on those around him was far tighter than she had initially thought.

*******

Sophia had been planning her escape for what felt like an eternity. She had been watching the comings and goings of the staffs, trying to learn the layout of the mansion and identify any potential weaknesses.

Her chance finally came when she requested pads from one of the maids, citing her monthly cycle as the reason. The maid, a kind-faced woman named Rachel, brought the pads to Sophia's room and, in her haste to answer a sudden call, left the door open.

Sophia's heart skipped a beat as she saw her chance. She quickly grabbed the pads and pretended to use them, all the while keeping a watchful eye on the open door.

As soon as Rachel was out of sight, Sophia made a run for it. She slipped out of the room and into the long, dark hallway beyond. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she navigated through the unfamiliar rooms, desperate to find a way out.

But it wasn't easy. Sophia's face had been covered when she was brought to the mansion, so she had no idea what the layout was or where the main door was. She stumbled through room after room, trying to get her bearings.

She passed through a lavish living room, a formal dining room, and even a library, but no matter where she went, she couldn't seem to find a way out. The mansion seemed to stretch on forever, and Sophia was starting to lose hope.

Just when she thought she couldn't go any further, Sophia heard the sound of footsteps coming from down the hall. Her heart sank as she realized she had to hide fast.

Sophia's heart was racing as she ran into the nearest room, slamming the door shut behind her. She leaned against the door, listening intently as the footsteps faded into the distance.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She had to keep moving if she was going to escape.

As she stood up to continue her journey, she suddenly heard the footsteps coming back towards the room. Her heart skipped a beat as she realized she hadn't been as quiet as she thought.

Panic set in as she frantically looked around the room for a place to hide. She spotted a large closet in the corner and hurriedly skipped back into its depths, praying that she wouldn't get caught.

She held her breath, listening as the door to the room creaked open. The footsteps were slow and deliberate, as if the person was searching for something... or someone.

Sophia's heart was pounding in her chest as she waited, frozen in terror. She could feel her pulse racing through her veins, and her breath came in short, ragged gasps.

The footsteps drew closer, and Sophia closed her eyes, preparing for the worst. But as she waited, she realized that the footsteps had stopped right outside the closet door...

Sophia's heart was racing , her ears pressed against the door of the closet as she listened soon the footstep resided and it seem like the person had sat on the bed.

"I don’t care if he is sick or not.” The voice echo

It was Marcus!,shivers of fears ran through Sophia’s body

Marcus's conversation on the phone continued .

She had been hiding there for what felt like an eternity, her muscles cramped and her breath caught in her throat.

Marcus's voice was low and menacing as he spoke to the policeman on the other end of the line. He growled. "He's not getting out of jail until he pays up my money. You can't let debtors just walk all over you."

Sophia's eyes widened as she listened to Marcus's conversation,Another victim just like she and her father.

The thought of her father being imprisoned crossed her mind as she let out a loud gasp,before she realized she was in hiding.

She quickly covered her mouth with her palm,too late ,the damage was already done before she realized.

Marcus stood up and went straight to the closet as he heard the sound coming from there.