Chapter 4: The Escape
1012 Words
Mireya’s POV
It started with a piece of paper.
I almost threw it away.
It had fallen behind the dresser, half-crumpled, dusty, nothing special to look at. I thought it was trash. But something made me stop. Curiosity, maybe. Or instinct.
I opened it.
And my breath caught.
The writing was shaky, but clear. Familiar.
It was from her.
The old woman.
Her last words, maybe. Hidden here before she was taken.
———If you’re reading this, it means I’ve joined my daughter in the Moon Heavens.
But for you… it’s the beginning.
I believe you’re the one. The only one.
One day, you’ll have to choose. Stay or leave.
If you choose to leave, throw this paper out the window. Someone who owes me will send you a key when the time is right.
Memorize the drawing below. It will lead you to the East Wing. Use the key.
After that, trust your instinct.
Find the old tunnel Damon’s men once used during war. Freedom lies at the end.
I could’ve run. But my place was here, where my daughter died.
Farewell.———
I stared at the page for a long time.
The drawing was simple—a map of sorts. Lines and symbols I didn’t understand at first. But I studied them until they stayed in my head like a song.
Then, slowly, I walked to the window… and let the paper fall into the night air.
It fluttered down like a feather.
And I waited.
---
The days passed slowly I realized I was pregnant.
I kept to myself. Ate what I was given. Slept when I could.
I didn’t speak. I didn’t ask questions. I didn’t give Damon any reason to notice me.
But every night, I lay awake with one hand over my stomach.
My little secret.
My reason to keep going.
And I knew I couldn’t stay here much longer.
Damon didn’t know yet—not really. But it wouldn’t be long. I was showing, just a little. My dresses were starting to fit tighter around my belly. The maids were glancing at me longer. Whispering when they thought I wasn’t listening.
Soon, someone would say something.
Soon, he’d find out.
And I couldn’t let that happen.
I didn’t trust what he’d do if he knew.
So I watched. I listened and I waited, until one night… I saw my chance.
---
It started like any other evening.
Dinner was brought to my room, placed on the tray like always. The guard outside didn’t speak. The maid didn’t look me in the eyes. Just like always.
But this time, when she turned to leave, she dropped something near the door.
A key.
It was small. Silver. So fast I barely caught the glint of it hitting the floor.
And just as fast, she looked at me—just once—then walked out, silent as ever.
My heart pounded.
Was it on purpose?
Was it a trap?
I didn’t care.
Because Damon wouldn't hurt me right now he he heard about. He wouldn’t even dare hit me if I got caught as I only had to say I was pregnant for him to leave me in peace for a moment. And there was no evidence that I was trying to escapie.
So I took the chance.
Because chances like this didn’t come twice.
I waited until night fell. Until the hallway outside grew quiet. Until the fire burned low and the moonlight slipped through the curtains.
Then I picked up the key.
I moved slowly. Carefully. Every breath tight in my chest.
The door creaked as I opened it. I froze.
No one came.
No shouts. No footsteps.
I stepped into the hallway, barefoot, clutching the key in one hand, the other resting protectively over my belly.
The halls were dark. Still.
I followed the path I knew. Back toward the East Wing. Back toward the lower levels.
Where they kept the maids. The storage. The servants’ quarters.
I kept to the shadows.
But it was too good to be true. I suddenly saw a guard coming from the other side.
No time for panic.
I slipped behind a tapestry and held my breath.
He passed. Never noticed.
And I kept going.
Deeper. Lower.
Until I reached a door I remembered. The one from the drawing.
It led to the old tunnels. The ones the Bloodhowl used in wars long past.
Most people had forgotten them.
But not the old lady.
And now… not me.
I tried the key.
It clicked.
The door creaked open.
And I stepped into darkness.
---
The tunnel was cold and damp. I walked slowly, one hand tracing the wall to stay upright.
The air was thick. Heavy. But I didn’t stop.
I didn’t know how long I walked.
Minutes? Hours?
All I knew was the burning in my legs and the sharp pain every time I moved too fast.
But I didn’t stop.
Because every step forward was a step away from him.
A step toward freedom.
A step for my child and my life.
At last, I saw it—a c***k of moonlight.
A broken part of the tunnel wall, just big enough to squeeze through.
I pushed myself through the gap, scraping my arm on the stone, but I didn’t care.
I was out.
Outside.
The air hit me like a slap—cold, wild, free.
I looked up and saw stars.
Real stars.
Not through glass. Not from behind curtains.
And for the first time in months… I breathed.
Really breathed.
I was out.
But not safe.
Not yet.
So I ran.
Into the trees. Into the dark.
Into whatever world waited for me.
I didn’t have a plan. I didn’t know where I was going.
But I knew one thing:
I was never going bac
k.
Not while I still had something to protect.
Not while I still had a future to fight for.
And deep inside me, that little life kicked softly.
Like it knew.
We were free.
For now.
- Writer
