Chapter 20:A Glimpse of Freedom
880 Words
Alina’s breath came in shallow gasps as she stared at the locked door, Viktor’s chilling words still echoing in her mind.
"I only need to make you crave the cage."
No.
She would never crave this. Never.
The moment Viktor left, she sprang into action, her body thrumming with urgency. She couldn’t afford to waste time. If she had any chance of getting out, it had to be now—before he returned, before he decided to tighten his grip on her even more.
Her eyes darted around the room, assessing every possible escape route.
The door was locked. The windows were barred. The vent was too tight.
She needed another way.
Alina turned toward the grand bathroom attached to the bedroom. If she was lucky, there might be another way out. She rushed inside, her bare feet silent against the cold marble floor.
The bathroom was just as extravagant as the rest of the room—sprawling, with dark marble counters, a massive mirror, and a deep, claw-foot bathtub. But her focus wasn’t on any of it.
Her gaze locked onto the small window near the ceiling.
Hope surged through her.
It was small, but not impossibly so. If she could pry it open and squeeze through, she might just make it.
Without hesitation, she grabbed the nearest object—a heavy perfume bottle—and slammed it against the glass.
Crack.
Her heart pounded as the glass fractured, but it didn’t shatter completely.
She hit it again.
And again.
Finally, the window gave way, shards falling to the ground in a glittering mess.
Alina didn’t waste time. She climbed onto the sink, gripping the edges of the window frame. The opening was narrow, but she twisted her body, angling herself through.
The sharp edges of the broken glass scraped against her skin, but she gritted her teeth, ignoring the sting.
She wriggled through, her shoulders barely making it past the tight space—
Then she was out.
Cold air hit her skin as she tumbled onto the rooftop outside.
Alina gasped, her hands scraping against the rough surface as she steadied herself. Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would burst from her chest.
She was out.
But she wasn’t safe yet.
She scrambled to her feet, her eyes darting around. The rooftop stretched before her, sloping downward toward the courtyard below.
She wasn’t sure how high up she was, but it didn’t matter. She had to keep moving.
Her breath came in ragged gulps as she ran, the icy wind biting at her exposed skin. Every step felt precarious, every movement calculated to keep her from slipping.
Then she saw it—a ladder leading down the side of the building.
Freedom.
Alina didn’t hesitate. She rushed toward it, gripping the cold metal with trembling hands. She swung her legs over the edge and began her descent.
Her fingers ached from the cold, but she forced herself to keep going. Step by step, she climbed down, her body screaming in protest.
She was almost there.
Then—
A deafening alarm shattered the silence.
Her stomach dropped.
They knew.
She was running out of time.
Panic surged through her as she quickened her pace, her feet barely touching each rung before she reached the next.
Finally, she reached the ground, her legs shaking as she stumbled forward.
She turned, her breath coming in sharp gasps.
The estate loomed behind her, dark and ominous against the night sky. The high walls stretched in every direction, enclosing the property like a fortress.
And somewhere inside, Viktor was coming for her.
Alina clenched her fists.
She wouldn’t let him catch her.
Not now.
Not ever.
She took off running, her bare feet slapping against the pavement as she sprinted toward the main gates.
She had one chance.
And she wasn’t going to waste it.
She weaved through the garden, ducking behind hedges and statues, staying low. The alarm blared through the air, loud and jarring, but she didn’t stop.
The main gates were in sight.
Almost there.
But the sound of footsteps pounded behind her.
Alina’s stomach twisted.
She risked a glance over her shoulder and saw them—guards, storming out of the house, their voices sharp and urgent as they scanned the grounds.
"Find her! Now!"
She ran faster.
The gates were just ahead, but they were tall, reinforced with thick iron bars. There was no way she could climb over them in time.
Her gaze darted to the side, and she spotted something—an opening near the hedge where the bars didn’t reach all the way to the ground. It was small, but she might fit.
She threw herself forward, diving toward the gap.
Her shoulders barely squeezed through as she wriggled her way underneath, dirt and leaves clinging to her skin.
A shout rang out behind her.
"There! She's there!"
Alina pushed harder, ignoring the way her ribs screamed in protest.
Then—
She was through.
She scrambled to her feet, gasping as she took off down the empty road outside the estate.
She had made it.
She was free.
But only for now.
Because behind her, the sound of an engine roared to life.
And Viktor was coming.
To be continued...
---
- Writer
