The Escape
709 Words
Chapter One
Daniella was eleven again.
She was running.
Her mother's hand was slipping from hers, her father's voice fading behind her as the castle guards surrounded them. She could still hear the words that had haunted her for twelve years.
Take her instead.
Her father had refused.
And they had paid the price.
Daniella tried to scream, but no sound came out.
A pair of cold hands grabbed her.
“No!”
She woke with a gasp.
Her eyes flew open.
Darkness.
For a few seconds, she couldn't remember where she was.
Then the smell of damp stone reached her.
The dungeon.
Daniella sat up slowly, her heart pounding against her ribs. The nightmare was still clinging to her, almost as real as the chains around her wrists.
She looked toward the small window high above the stone wall.
Night.
Again.
She had spent twelve years counting nights in this place.
A loud metallic sound came from the door.
Daniella froze.
The dungeon door opened.
Two guards stepped inside.
“Get up.”
She didn't move.
One of them walked toward her.
“Tonight, the King wants you prepared.”
Her stomach twisted.
Tonight.
She knew exactly what that meant.
For twelve years, Vegas had kept her alive as payment for a debt that had never belonged to her. But tonight was different.
Tonight, he had decided he was done waiting.
Daniella stood.
Her legs trembled, but she refused to let the guards see it.
They led her through the cold corridors of the castle and into a room where servants were waiting with a red dress.
She stared at it.
“No.”
The servant lowered her eyes.
“Please. Don't make this harder.”
Daniella's hands curled into fists.
She had spent twelve years being told what to do.
Where to sleep.
When to eat.
When to speak.
When to be silent.
But she couldn't let them take this from her too.
She put on the dress.
Not because she had surrendered.
Because she was thinking.
When the guards finally led her toward the King's chambers, Daniella noticed something.
A window.
Large.
Unlocked.
Her eyes lingered on it for half a second.
Then she lowered them.
She had a plan.
The doors to Vegas's chambers opened.
Daniella stepped inside.
The guards shut the doors behind her.
She heard the lock click.
Her heart raced.
Vegas turned toward her.
“You've finally come.”
Daniella said nothing.
She took one step backward.
Then another.
Vegas noticed.
“Where do you think you're going?”
Daniella ran.
She grabbed the nearest chair and threw it toward him, buying herself a few seconds.
Then she sprinted toward the window.
Behind her, Vegas shouted.
Daniella didn't stop.
She pushed the window open and climbed onto the ledge.
The ground was far below.
Too far.
But staying was worse.
She jumped.
Pain shot through her body when she hit the ground.
For a moment, she couldn't breathe.
Then she forced herself up.
Run.
She ran into the darkness.
Branches scratched her arms. Her dress caught on thorns. Her lungs burned.
Behind her came shouting.
“She escaped!”
“Find her!”
“Don't let her reach the forest!”
Daniella ran faster.
For the first time in twelve years, she was outside the castle walls.
She wasn't going back.
Not tonight.
Not ever.
But the guards were getting closer.
Daniella glanced over her shoulder.
They were almost there.
Then—
Something moved between the trees.
A growl echoed through the forest.
The guards stopped.
Daniella froze.
Two enormous eyes appeared in the darkness.
A wolf stepped into the moonlight.
It was massive.
The guards reached for their weapons.
The creature lunged.
Daniella stumbled backward as chaos erupted around her.
The wolf fought the guards long enough for them to retreat, leaving the forest strangely silent.
Daniella stared at the creature.
It stared back.
Then, unexpectedly, it turned toward her.
And lowered itself.
As if telling her to climb on.
Daniella hesitated.
She didn't know what this creature was.
She didn't know where it would take her.
But she knew one thing.
Anywhere was better than the castle.
So she climbed onto its back.
And the wolf disappeared into the night.
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