Chapter Twenty- Two: An Escape
The wrench of the hallway became a silent battleground as I sought to escape the capture. The throbbing of my surroundings sped, mirroring the worried rhythm of my own heartbeat. The guard, now alerted to my presence, loomed behind, and with each step, the stakes increased.
In that moment, the hallway transformed into a theatre of evasion, shadows and echoes conspiring to dictate the outcome. As I moved forward, surrounded in the obscurity of my makeshift disguise, the hallway echoed with the unspoken tension of a cat-and-mouse game played in the hushed corridors of secrecy.
“Hey!”
His distant voice made me stop, but I still did not look back.
“No one is allowed through this part,” he insisted.
“I was sent to the winery but lost my way. I was just going back to my duty post,” I explained.
“Let me see your face,” he demanded, but I ignored him and continued moving instead tension grew within me.
“Hey! Stop there. Do not move an inch or you would be penalised,” echoed the guard’s voice. Undeterred, I sprinted down the stairs and found refuge in an empty warehouse. When the guards arrived, I eluded them and sneaked into the stable.
There, I encountered a terrified stable boy. Sensing his ignorance of the situation, I decided to pretend innocence.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there,” I said, noting the fear in his voice. Despite my surprise at my own words, I didn’t want to scare him away and risk exposing my location or the help I would be offered.
That’s alright,” I assured him, concealing my true intentions. As I assessed the horses, I inquired about the fastest one. The stable boy pointed to a weary-looking horse. Meanwhile, I observed the outside world through the stable windows, aware of the guards closing in.
“These horses look weak, do you not feed them well?” I questioned, maintaining my facade. The stable boy insisted they were well-fed. As three other men entered with hay and water, my suspicion grew. Requesting the fastest horse, I received a consistent answer from the stable boy, but the men’s behaviour hinted at an underlying understanding.
A distant galloping signalled the guards approaching. Panicking, I accused the stable boy and the men of betrayal. “You led them to me, you fool!” I shouted, vowing revenge. The unfolding situation demanded swift action to escape the impending threat.
Tight ropes embraced my wrists as soon as I was caught. Confining the echoes of revolt that whispered through my veins. A rough gag choked my voice, trapping words unsaid in the cavern of my mouth. The world churned into a distorted sight, each step forward a relentless pull into the deep.
As the guards, faceless in their cruelness, yanked me into the shadows, I stole a glance at Ryan. His eyes mirrored a storm of emotions, a tempest of rage and helplessness.
“You are strong and smart. Even in your current state. Managing to snatch the key from the maid and outsmart the guards to some extent is commendable. I’ll give you that. However, your constant bad behaviour has earned you the tag of an annoying lady who must be tied up and confined.”
“I’ll do anything to get out of this horrible place.”
“But a deal is a deal. Your life for your parents’, and yet you attempted to breach it? You were plotting an escape?”
“I was only attempting to do what any rational person would have done long ago, ” I replied.
“Your stubbornness has proven to be beyond the understanding and control of both the guards and the head maid. Take her to my chambers, and this time, chain her to the bunk, I will make sure you don’t catch a glimpse of what the sky looks like ever again” he commanded.
…
“May I have some water?” I finally managed to utter my first words after languishing for what felt like hours, confined to the bunk of Ryan’s bed in a humiliating predicament. Ryan, seated beside the bed, remained silent, engrossed in sorting through a stack of files. My throat, parched and scratchy, urged me to plead further.
“Please,” I echoed, desperately seeking relief. Despite my plea, Ryan continued his silence, only stirring from his seat after my persistent request. He ambled towards a nearby drawer, retrieving a roll of duct tape.
Curiosity mingled with anxiety as I observed his actions.
“What are you planning to do with that?” I asked as he approached me. But Ryan did not respond, he brought the tape closer to my lips.
“Take that away from me,” I struggled as I attempted to resist, realising my efforts would likely prove futile, I stopped.Têxt © NôvelDrama.Org.
The room’s atmosphere was heavy with tension as Ryan placed the tape over my mouth, sealing off any chance of speaking. My plea for water was met with an unsettling silence.
The hours dragged on, marked only by the muffled sounds of Ryan shuffling papers and occasionally glancing my way. With each passing moment, I was met with an intensifying discomfort, both physically and mentally. I yearned for an explanation, for some semblance of communication from him.
Ryan’s behaviour offered no clues. He continued with his tasks, clearly not bothered by my plight. The room, once a familiar space, now felt like a confining cell. The lack of communication fueled my anxiety, heightening the feeling of vulnerability.
Despite the discomfort, my mind raced through possible ways for an escape. The constrained surroundings forced me to think creatively, exploring any potential weaknesses in Ryan’s actions. I observed every detail, hoping to uncover any way that could lead to freedom. As I stayed tied up to the bunk, the only solace was the flicker of hope that came in between my thoughts that, perhaps, maybe someday, he would come to set me free.
As the evening came swiftly, Ryan walked up to me, with a tray that contained my meal. It was the only time I was freed from the shackles and constraints that bound me together. “Thank you,” I managed to say after a while of not being able to speak. However, true to his silence which I was now used to, he uttered nothing in response, only returning to his study table.
Without any further approval needed from Ryan who had retired to his study, I eagerly went deep into the meal that sat in front of me. It was as though I hadn’t eaten for a very long time, and in a way, that was so. The flavours and textures of the food welcomed my tongue, awakening my tastebuds once again. I enjoyed each morsel that I took in, savouring the sweet taste of the good meal that I had missed.
Amidst my frill, I did not notice Ryan’s watchful gaze. His eyes followed my every move as I enjoyed the meal, a silent observer to my meal. I reached for the first glass of water, eagerly letting it quench my thirsty throat.