After The Escape Novels & Stories

The cab surged forward, smoothly merging into the quiet nighttime traffic. I sank back into the seat, my trembling hands clutching my phone tightly against my chest. The mansion was shrinking in the distance, disappearing behind a row of towering city buildings. A breathless, disbelieving laugh escaped my lips, quickly turning into a tearful sob of pure relief. I was out. The brothers couldn't reach me here. I pulled out my phone to text Nina that I was on my way. A single, beautiful realization grounded me: I was finally on the run, and tomorrow, my real family would be waiting.

Golden sunlight fell across the petals and across our interlocked fingers. The entanglement between Julian Hayes and Victoria Quinn had finally vanished completely. And the new life that belonged to Elise and me had only just begun. The end.

Then Seraphine coughed. “Please tell me we're alive.” Damon groaned from somewhere nearby. “Unfortunately.” “Good.” Mira laughed. A small sound. But real. The first genuine laugh anyone had heard from her in a very long time. Luca slowly lifted his head. Sunlight poured through the collapsed tunnel entrance. They had made it. Somehow. Against every probability. Against every expectation. They had escaped. For a moment Nobody rushed to leave. Nobody celebrated. Because they all understood something.

No control. No certainty. Just something new. Respect. “Good,” he said quietly. Then— He stepped back. And everything changed. The Escape The wall behind him slid open. Hidden. Seamless. A way out. Of course he had one. He always did. “Stop him!” Blake shouted. But it was too late. He stepped into the darkness. And vanished. The Aftermath Silence fell slowly. Heavy. Uneven. Broken only by the sound of breathing— And the last guard hitting the ground.

Not only that, they forced me to stay in a dingy, windowless basement apartment and saddled me with massive debt, leaving me to be beaten by loan sharks on a daily basis. Now, the comments were telling me that the person the three women loved most was me. All I could do was find that funny. Ignoring the comments, I stuck my head through the noose and kicked the stool away, allowing an overwhelming sense of suffocation to wash over me. Before my eyes appeared Mom and Dad's loving smiles. How nice. I was finally going home. "Don't worry, everyone! Elena is on her way! She might have a sharp tongue, but she'll save Daniel in the end."

Because of my fragile health, my best friend, Eva, kept me on a tight leash growing up. She always told me, "Leah, you can't take risks." So for every date David and I planned, she had to test it out for me first. When the new roller coaster opened at the amusement park and she said it was too intense for my heart, David took her instead. After I booked a bed-and-breakfast by the ocean, Eva said the night breeze was too strong for me. So David spent the night there with her. I made reservations at a romantic couple's restaurant, only for her to say the menu might trigger an allergic reaction. That was why David took her to try it first. Every time they came back, Eva would look me in t

I pressed my back against the crates, a breathless gasp escaping my lips. I can't… My eyes watered. Tears streamed down… I can't believe it. I actually… I made it. The truck sped up, passing through the gates and onto the open highway. I was out. Eva… you escaped them… you escaped those two monsters. I almost laughed out loud. I was free.

It looks like they are planning something else, knowing that they are known for sports so why settle for the obvious? We continue eating our food. I've been thinking about our upcoming training. Finally, I can find my sweet escape again away from my suffocating world. It’s been a month since we took a break from training and I can say that it’s like hell for me. I really can't wait to get back to the dorm and train again. "Guys, I need to go! My mom texted I need to fetch her" Akisha said. We bid our goodbyes to her and reminded her to be careful.

Zeeve expressed gratitude. The boy nodded and turned his back to us, continuing to perform what he had been doing a short while before. "Did you happen to hear what he had to say? After exiting the department store, take the first left; it was take you to the front entrance, the restroom was near there.” Zeeve repeated himself while Zeiara was paying attention to what he was saying. "All right, got it, brother! I guess you'll have to wait for me here,” she said as she flashed her trademark mischievous grin.

“The same person who tried to kill you and Carl took a bullet for you?” “yes.” “ My mother and I were captured; tortured , and abused …” “ When did it happen? I am so sorry.” “ Its okay.” “ A month before the accident that made her fly back to South Africa .” Cleo blinked and wiped her tears. “Hey I am okay.” She held my hand and I kissed the back of her hand and wiped a tear. “ You don’t have to tell me if you aren’t ready.” “ with you I am ready for anything . I can even relocate here.”