CHAPTER 8: THE ESCAPE
586 Words
The mansion fell into complete darkness.
Maggie heard Victoria gasp.
Then—
CRASH!
Something shattered downstairs.
Daniel immediately grabbed Maggie's hand.
“Don't make a sound.”
Maggie's heart was pounding so hard she was afraid whoever had entered the house would hear it.
“What is happening?” she whispered.
Daniel pulled her toward the hidden corner of the room.
“Someone has broken into the mansion.”
Victoria closed the door quietly.
Footsteps echoed from downstairs.
One step.
Then another.
Slowly, they came closer.
Maggie held her breath.
“Daniel,” she whispered, “who are they?”
He didn't answer.
The footsteps stopped outside the room.
Someone tried the handle.
Victoria covered her mouth.
The handle moved again.
Click.
Locked.
A man's voice came from the other side.
“Search every room.”
Maggie's eyes widened.
There were more than one.
Daniel leaned toward her.
“There is a secret passage behind the bookshelf.”
Maggie stared at him.
“A secret passage?”
“There's no time.”
He pushed the bookshelf aside.
A narrow opening appeared behind it.
Victoria entered first.
Maggie followed.
Daniel came last, pulling the bookshelf back into place.
The three of them stood in darkness.
The passage was cold and smelled of dust.
Maggie felt along the wall.
“Where does this lead?”
“To the old garage.”
Victoria suddenly grabbed her arm.
“Wait.”
Maggie turned.
Victoria removed the silver necklace from her pocket and placed it in Maggie's hand.
“Keep this.”
“Why?”
“Because your mother wanted you to have it when the right time came.”
Maggie's eyes filled with tears.
“Does my mother know I'm here?”
Victoria shook her head.
“No.”
“Then how did you find me?”
Victoria hesitated.
“Your mother contacted me three days ago.”
Maggie froze.
“She contacted you?”
“Yes.”
“Then she's alive.”
Victoria nodded.
“She told me something very important.”
“What?”
Victoria looked at Daniel.
“She said you must never trust your father.”
Daniel's face became tense.
Before Maggie could ask why, a loud bang came from behind them.
The men had found the passage.
“We have to move!” Daniel shouted.
They hurried through the narrow tunnel.
Maggie stumbled but Daniel caught her.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
They finally reached the end.
Daniel pushed open a metal door.
Cold night air rushed over Maggie's face.
They were outside.
The old garage stood behind the mansion, hidden by trees.
Daniel led them toward a black car.
“Get in.”
Maggie climbed into the back seat.
Victoria sat beside her.
Daniel started the engine.
As they drove away, Maggie looked back at the mansion.
The place that had once seemed like an opportunity for a better life now felt like a prison.
She touched the necklace around her neck.
“I'm going to find my mother,” she whispered.
Victoria looked at her.
“You will.”
Then her phone rang.
Victoria answered.
She listened for only a few seconds.
Her face suddenly changed.
“What happened?” Maggie asked.
Victoria slowly lowered the phone.
“They know where we're going.”
Daniel slammed his foot on the accelerator.
“Who?”
Victoria looked at Maggie.
“Your father.”
Maggie felt a cold shiver run through her.
And then Victoria added:
“He's waiting for us.”
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