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“Why don’t you tell me?”
Chapter 9 - Jennifer
Ivan is in the library, reading and drinking a whiskey. I was chatting to him earlier and told him that was feeling tired and would be going to bed. The entire evening, I have been on my best behavior, letting him put his guard down. And he has. We ate dinner together and I relaxed completely, even commenting on how nice it was here. I want him to believe that I am happy here and that he has nothing to worry about.
He assured me that even though Kiril is not here tonight, I will be perfectly safe with him. He let me know that the guards are patrolling outside and no one can get in.
I am not interested in anyone getting in, though.
I am interested in getting out.
When I told him I was going to bed he said he would check on me in a little while to make sure I was settled. So, I showered, slipped beneath the blankets of my bed, and made myself look comfortable.
He does come and check on me, but I pretend I’m asleep. He flicks off the light and then I hear him walking away.
I quietly throw the duvet off. I am still wearing my jeans and sneakers, not wanting to waste even one moment. I pull a black hoodie over my head.
This is the first chance I’ve had since I arrived here. I have to make the most of it.
I walk over to the doors leading out onto my balcony. They ease open with a soft creaking sound. I hold my breath, waiting for a moment, but nothing happens.
I step outside and ease the doors closed behind me.
It is almost a full moon tonight, so the sky is bright, even though it is so late.
Every time I have walked in the garden, I have paid careful attention to everything. Late at night while I am sitting on the window ledge, I have also paid attention to everything. I know the path the guards walk, I know how long they take to make it around the house, I know where their routes cross, and I know exactly where to walk to not be seen.
My heart is thundering loudly in my skull and I take a deep breath, looking over the edge of the balcony. It does not seem that high from down in the garden, but up here it looks pretty high. I don’t have time to be scared, though. I step over the stone railings and crouch low over the edge. I grip the railing with my fingers and drop my feet with a sharp breath. I hang for just a moment, with my body away from the balcony, and then I drop. I am relieved when my feet hit the soft grass with almost no sound except the air being pushed from my lungs.
I crouch low, making my way to the tall grasses along the fence.
Then I spot one of the guards and lie flat. I count.
When I reach twenty-seven seconds I start moving again. I belly-crawl to the edge of the fence and, finally, through the gate and into a huge field. I bolt straight for the trees.
At the trees, I catch my breath. It has been a long time since I ran. But I don’t give myself long before I start running again. Adrenaline pushes me forward. I still don’t know where the property is situated, but all I need to do is find a road.
But that chance never comes.
I run straight into a sold and heavy figure. The air is knocked clean out of my body, and I slam backward against the ground after the impact.
Someone laughs.
“Well, look at this. Isn’t that the girl we’re here to grab?”
“Looks like it. What are you doing out here all alone, girl?”
A heavy hand locks itself around my arm and yanks me to my feet. I want to scream. I want to kick and fight and make a noise, but trauma has me completely and utterly frozen in place.
I know both of their voices. I know them well. From the moment I was thrown into the van and for however long I was trapped in that container, these are the voices that spoke to me.
I can’t catch my breath and my head is so still that I can only imagine I am in shock.
“It’s Kiril’s little princess. Thank you for making our jobs so much easier.”
They drag me towards a group of men getting ready for something.
“Look what we found.”
