Escape to Freedom

Chapter 6: Beyond of the Gate

The brilliant light enveloped Alina as she stepped through the gate, her heart racing with anticipation and a trace of fear. Her eyes adjusted slowly, the brightness fading into a new landscape that was entirely different from the cold stone of the prison or the shifting shadows of the maze.

She stood at the edge of a vast, rolling field, the grass a vibrant green that swayed in the soft breeze. In the distance, mountains touched the horizon, their peaks capped with snow that shimmered under a golden sky. The air smelled fresh, a mixture of pine and wildflowers, unlike anything Alina had breathed in years. It was beautiful. It felt like freedom.

But the peacefulness unsettled her. After everything she had endured—the prison, the maze, the Guardian’s test—this place seemed too perfect. She had learned not to trust the surface of things.

Alina took a few tentative steps forward, her bare feet sinking into the cool, soft earth. Birds chirped in the distance, and for a moment, she let herself believe that maybe this was it—maybe she had truly escaped. But then she noticed something strange.

The sky, though golden and warm, never changed. The sun hung motionless in the same spot, casting an eternal glow over the landscape. The grass, though lush and soft, had no scent. And the mountains, beautiful as they were, felt distant and unreachable, as if they were painted onto the horizon.

“Is this real?” she whispered to herself, turning in slow circles, searching for something—anything—that would explain where she was.

A figure appeared on the horizon. It was small at first, but as it came closer, Alina realized it was a woman, dressed in simple white robes, her hair flowing behind her in the breeze. She moved with an ethereal grace, her feet barely touching the ground. Alina’s heart quickened. Was this another test? Or had she finally encountered someone who could explain where she was?

The woman stopped a few feet in front of her, her eyes soft and kind but distant, as if she was seeing Alina and something beyond her at the same time.

“Welcome,” the woman said, her voice like music on the wind. “You have passed through the gate. You have faced your truth.”

Alina swallowed hard. “Is this freedom?”

The woman tilted her head slightly, a sad smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Freedom is a matter of perspective. What you seek may not lie in this world, but in the choices you make from here. You stand at a crossroads, Alina.”

Alina frowned, confusion swirling in her mind. “A crossroads? I thought I was free. I passed the test. What more is there?”

“You have passed the test of the body and soul,” the woman explained, “but now comes the test of the mind. Freedom is not just the absence of chains; it is the presence of will. You must choose your own path, but be warned, the choice you make will define the rest of your journey.”

The woman gestured to the landscape around them. “This place, it is a reflection of peace, a world free of pain, free of suffering. Here, you may rest forever, unburdened by the trials of life. But it is not real—it is a world shaped by your longing for escape.”

Alina’s heart sank. Of course, it had been too perfect. “And if I choose to stay here?”

“You will live in a world of illusion, free from hardship, but also free from the truth. It will be a life without growth, without challenge, and ultimately, without meaning.”

Alina’s mind raced. After everything she had been through, the idea of peace was tempting. She had fought, struggled, and suffered for so long. Wasn’t she entitled to rest? But as she looked at the still sky, the unmoving sun, and the unreachable mountains, a deep unease settled over her.

“What’s the other choice?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The woman’s smile faded, replaced by something more serious. “You can return to the real world. To the world you left behind. It will not be easy—your enemies still seek you, and the journey ahead will be perilous. But it is a world where you can make a difference, where your choices will matter.”

Alina’s chest tightened. She had dreamed of freedom for so long, but the reality of it now seemed much more complicated. If she returned to the real world, she would face the same dangers, the same uncertainty, and the same pain that had driven her to escape in the first place. But she would also have a chance—a chance to fight for something real.

She thought of the faces she had seen in the mirror: her brother, the prisoners she had failed to help, the people she had lost. Could she really walk away from the world where they still existed, where her actions could still make a difference?

The woman watched her in silence, waiting for her decision.

Alina took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her choice. The peace of this place called to her, tempting her to lay down her burdens. But deep in her heart, she knew that peace without purpose wasn’t freedom. It was just another kind of prison.

“I want to go back,” Alina said, her voice steady. “I want to live in the real world. Even if it’s hard. Even if it hurts.”

The woman nodded slowly, a look of approval in her eyes. “Very well. But know this: true freedom comes not from escaping your burdens, but from carrying them with strength. You will face trials, but you will also find hope. The journey is yours to make.”

With a wave of the woman’s hand, the landscape began to blur, dissolving into light once more. Alina felt herself being pulled back, her body weightless as she left the illusory world behind.

When she opened her eyes again, she was standing at the edge of a dense forest, the real world’s cool breeze brushing against her skin. The sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow over the trees.

Alina took a deep breath, feeling the ground beneath her feet, solid and real. This was it. Her escape was complete, but her journey was far from over.

And for the first time in a long time, she felt truly alive.