My heart seizes, gaze flicking around the room. That’s when I see it. The root of all my problems.
I dash forward, grabbing it and fumbling with the latch.
Gideon gave me back the cello.
Made me believe in myself.
Lies.
All lies.
Without hesitation or even thinking about what I’m doing, an ear-piercing scream tears through me, and my arm pulls back and slams down.
The cello bounces off the wall and crashes onto the floor. Shards of wood and strings fly in every direction.
The tears roll down my face, and I can’t stop them, no matter how much I want to. It feels like there’s a hurricane inside my chest, tearing through everything I am.
How could he do this to me? How could he make me fall in love with him?
He’s a monster.
He’s always been a monster.
And I’m the fool who fell in love with him.
There isn’t much time. It’s likely someone has already called Gideon. The window for escape is closing quickly, and I need to slip through it before it does.
All of this shit can stay. I just need to leave.
Thankfully, I’ve already done my recon on this place and know where the fence is broken. Without Gideon here to catch me, hopefully, I’ll be able to get away.
I try to be quiet. I tiptoe down the back hall stairs, making my way into the servant’s wing.
It’s a gamble, but one I need to take.
Down the hall and all the way to the back door, the closest exit point to the fence is where I head. If I can get out, I’ll get away.
I creep toward my salvation, and when the door is within reach, I turn the knob.
Nothing.
The door is locked.
My heart races, and my hands shake.
“Shit.”
What am I going to do?
The sound of footsteps makes me jump and spin around.
Fear wraps itself around me, depleting the oxygen I so desperately need.
My vision is blurry from the lack of lights, but as it adjusts, my breath leaves my body in a burst.
It’s not one of the guards.
It’s the quiet maid.