The Beast

chapter 2

Hazel

My heart is in my throat as I make a dash for the wall. There is a hole behind the bushes that the groundkeepers haven't discovered yet, or maybe they did and have the same fantasy as me. I've known about it for four years and haven't reported it, discovered it as I dropped my book nearby and picked it up instead of reporting it, I made sure to cover it with sticks for this exact day. I push my sack behind me as I go around the bush and push the sticks aside. I lay on my belly and drag myself, my lungs emptying and my nails breaking against the dirt as adrenaline keeps me going. there are only a few seconds left before the guards exchange a cigarette and go there several ways. they'll spot me and come after me. I almost think I'm not going to make it but then I dig my elbows into the dirt and drag pull out my schedule. getting caught for a second before I free it. it's done. I'm across now and the concrete wall is against my back. I don't stop now. I run for the nearest tree. the estate is surrounded by thick woods. this is no surprise to me. I found a map a long time ago that I memorized the cracked compass attached to my flashlight that leads me South.I jog because I only have 2 hours before the next guards shift. after 15 minutes I break past the trees and stand on a hill overlooking a clustered City. there's graffiti sprayed on the homes. trash gathered everywhere and Street dogs running wild. I see plenty of people too. they're thin and wear raggedy clothes. there is no denying that a war ruined our country years ago. the worst part is that it's not clear what caused the war. there are rumors the military was experimenting with super soldiers and something went wrong. my curiosity keeps me up at night. I looked down at my clothes. they're covered in dirt and for a second I consider wiping it off but I decided might help me blend in I approached the city keeping my eyes low. the dogs bark as if sensing. I'm not from around these parts. my heart raises but people don't mind me. I notice most businesses are closed except for a grocery store and plenty of bars. there are stools outside with scarcely. glad women beckoning customers the smell of alcohol and cigarettes swirl out of every bar. I pass some LED signs that have long stopped working vaguely names of the bars and clubs. although I'm curious, I don't dare wonder too deep into town in fear of getting lost. I enter a grocery store first. the fruits and vegetables are small smaller than the ones we get in the estate. I find myself feeling grateful and slightly guilty for disobeying My mom always told me I shouldn't let my curiosity grow larger than my gratitude. I suppose I failed her a man in a uniform marches around a guard. I guess theft crimes are high, the war ,The country devastated now people steal to feed their families and if their thin condition is any indication they're not eating much. I walk out of the market. I'm still curious. I want to hear conversations about what's going on in town. the best place to go is a club or bar. I find one that isn't blaring music and duck inside the dim lights. don't help hide me. heads turned my way and I look at the ground as I move pretending. I'm in the kitchen, cooking lunch and minding my business I bump into the arm of a patron and I'm surprised. by the way I stumble backwards. a quick glance explains why this man is massive in the hoodie. he wears isn't helping hide his status. I'm sorry. I say compelled to stare at him although the hoodie covers his face, it has only been a few seconds and I'm already captured in the estate books with simple or no cover. always grab my attention more than the ones with elaborate covers go. he says I tip my head to the side. I could have sworn I've heard this voice before, but I don't know how this means. a voice is memorable, dark like the hoodie. he wears grumbling and deep Kurt and dismissive. no servants that they estate have this profile especially this figure. I'm not the only one in the bar that noticed his powerful presence. he's sitting alone on a two seat table. the one 's surrounding him empty. the man will never succeed at being a wallpaper. I shove my thoughts aside. clearly a mistaken. a man like this has never stepped foot on the estate in 10 years. I've lived there. I would have remembered him all the single servant girls would have remembered I keep going sitting on a table far away from him but near the patrons that laugh and chat as I suspected there isn't much technology to speak of this is a new world with less order and more mysterious strangers like this One I bumped into the patrons talk about their work their Farmers apparently taxes are increasing. the small library in town is getting new books. this excites me. I would love to read some new content. what can I get? get you ask some man I smile just a water please. he nods and disappears returning a minute later with a clear glass. I accepted and thanked him. my eyes moved to the left when a large figure moves. isn't that man in the hoodie? he's coming right at me. I gasp when is tan hand swats at the glass knocking it over the waiter makes a move to run the man in the hoodie trips him. he sets a foot on the waiters back to pin him and leans into me. the hoodie covers everything but his gritted teeth and chiseled stubble jaw. that's not a water naive girl and that's not a waiter go home. you should have never left the estate. I hold my breath so he has been around the estate then. is he a new guard? did they send him after me? I look at the spilled water in the wriggling man that tried to drug me. my fingers dig into my satchel which I thought I had prepared for my trip. apparently not nothing. could have prepared me for this intense man with hands thicker than the wall. I skipped th-th-thank you I say Go he repeats. this is no place for you. I stand up but he still hovers over me. my fingers twitch craving to push the hoodie aside. who are you? I dare to ask. it's only fair because he knows plenty about me. he only grows my attacker and drugs Mount sauna run after him. the man in the hoodie whistles and one of the guys standing outside the bar apprehends my attacker. my head is feeling as I watch the hooded man turn a corner and vanish taking his identity with him

A new mystery has been added to my list:

how has the world changed since the war?

who is the estate Master?

why can't we walk the Halls at night?

who is the man in the hoodie?