Hidden Within

Escape

Cool air caresses my body as I wake sometime during the night. I can hear them upstairs. My aunt will come down before she goes to bed. I am certain she expects me to be healed by now.

I lay there and try to go back to sleep but my mind keeps going over the plan. A feeling I have not felt in a long time is ever so slightly present inside me. I think it is excitement. Of course I am petrified but something new is there too. It feels foreign and strange.

Steps grow louder and my body tenses. Laying perfectly still with my eyes shut, I pretend I am sleeping. The basement door swings open, a cool draft drifts down and the steps grow louder.

"Putrid!" my aunt says with distaste.

A hard foot connects with my back.

"owh" I whimper out.

"Great, you are awake. Tomorrow, you will have this house shining. I've left instructions on the board. Do not mess up this time, you pathetic piece of crap."

A small whimper leaves my lips while I frantically nod my head in response.

Satisfied with that, she turns on her heel and leaves, slamming the basement door behind her. The darkness engulfs me again.

Tomorrow has to work, I can not live like this anymore.

Plagued with nightmares, I wake up sweating profusely and very thirsty. Slowly sitting up to assess my bodies condition. It is still very blackened but the pain is bearable now. I steadily stand up, straining my ears to see if I can hear anyone. Either I am awake before them or they have already left?

I only own a few raggedy shirts that belonged to my cousin and two pairs of tights. Deciding on the least ruined ones, I slowly dress, still listening for signs of life. Taking a deep breath when I'm done, I check if she gave me any more food. Of course, there is none. I drink with my hands from the water bowl and take the last two pain killers I stole.

I go over my plan again in my head. I feel almost good about it. Something in the back of my mind keeps giving me little pings of encouragement.

Heading up the basement stairs, I can not hear anything, which is good. My hearing has always been amazing. I am confident there isn't anyone here.

I go straight to the whiteboard and look at the list she has left. It is a lot, but I won't be doing any of it. I figured it doesn't matter because if I do not succeed in my escape, I will be punished regardless.

I have six more hours before the door will open and I have no idea what to do. I pace the house for a bit, even daring to sit on the couch. After a few hours, I think to myself I should eat but that means breaking the lock on the fridge, I smile at that thought. Looking around for something that would work, I find a screw driver in amongst the bottom draw in the kitchen. I'm already going to be severely punished if I fail, so why not indulge myself.

Using the screwdriver and a bit of brute force, I manage to break the lock, sending it flying across the room. Opening the forbidden refrigerator, I can barely contain myself. I start grabbing at things I haven't eaten in years. Grapes, ham, cheese!

The grape burst in my mouth "mmmm" I moan with pleasure. Tastes so good. I eat handfuls before I take the cheese and eat for four slices. The ham was next. I devoured the entire packet.

Swallowing the last piece, I started to heat up and my mouth started filling with spit.

Everything I just ingested spills out of my mouth all over the floor. Rushing to the sink, I rinse my mouth out and sit down on the floor for a minute, breathing in and out slowly. Really should have paced myself with that. Looking over at the vomit, I smile evilly. Definitely leaving that there for the b***h to clean herself.

Down to roughly one hour before someone opens that door, and I'm going to die trying to get out of it. She will never expect me to barge her once she unlocks it. Never giving her a reason to worry about that when she's using the door, just obediently standing on my spot waiting. This is going to work I prey. I start pacing again.

Down to the last few minutes and my body is trembling with anticipation. Already in position with only the sound of my beating heart heart drumming in my ears, I wait.

The car pulls in, this it, my one chance. "Please don't f**k this up!" I whisper to myself.

Click, the lock is unlocked, the door handle starts to turn. My aunt pushes the door all the way open and that's my que. I rush straight through it. My shoulder connects with her, and I swear I feel her trying grasp at me, but I run.

I run like I have never run before. I do not look back, I just keep sprinting because my life depends on it. I don't stop, I keep going. I can see the national park ahead and I'm so close. My feet burn from the road but i don't dare slow my pace. Reaching the forest edge, I continue running deep inside. After running inside the forrest for at least ten minute's I start to slow.

Sucking in air, trying desperately to fill my lungs, the more I gasp the weaker I become. My body gives out and I fall to the damp forrest floor.

As my rapid breathing starts to steady, I roll onto my back, taking in my surroundings.

"Beautiful." I breathlessly murmur.

Staring up at the thick canopy, I take it all in. The little rays of sunlight shining through the dense canopy, the greeness of the leaves on the thick branches, the brown crunchy leaves surrounding my body. Birds sing high up in the trees. My senses are in overdrive. Hearing little creatures scurrying around in the shrubs, I wonder if they are rabbits or mice.

Once my body has stopped struggling with the lack of air, I sit up. Smiling at the realisation that I'm free. I really am free but I can't stay here, she will come looking for me and I need to find the lake.

The lake is not far. I can smell the water. She will know that is where I am going though. First, I am going to locate the lake before it is totally dark, about an hour. I take note of the sky through the forrest roof. When I locate the lake, I can find somewhere close by to hide until it is time.

Standing up, I turn to the left and take a big sniff. The water is defiantly to my left.

Making my own path, trekking through shrubs and trees, I begin to wonder what exactly I am supposed to do at midnight.

The letter didn't say anything about what I was supposed to do. Just simply go to the lake. Maybe that's all? Just be there. Uneasiness starts to creep in at the unknown.

Darkness is starting to set in now. Luckily, there is a full moon but still, the night is starting to scare me. The little creatures I heard earlier now sound like terrifying monsters trying to catch me. Pushing my way through a dense bit of shrub, I finally come to the lake and it is stunning.

I take a sharp breath in as I stare at the beauty in front of me. The moonlight reflects on the clear blue water, making it look like something from a fairy tale. It's absolutely incredible.

Now I search for somewhere to hide out for a few hours. Taking a few steps back into the shrubs. It will be safer to be a little further back from the lake. I find a comfy spot completely surrounded by shrubbery and sit down in amongst the branches, getting comfortable for the evening.