Runaway Bride

Chapter Three

Escape in Motion

The faraway hum of the city combined with the sheer rhythmic ticking of Olivia's bedside clock filled her room with a pulse that was almost alive. Sitting on the edge of her bed, inhaling the thick coolness of the early morning air, every fibre of her seemed tightly coiled, her nerves strained with the weight of what she was about to undertake.

She had planned it for days - once mapping every step and then rehearsing it until the route was as customary to her as the beating of her heart. But tonight, the finality was causing her hands to shake as she checked her bag over once again.

In the small duffel, she had packed the essentials: a change of clothes, some toiletries, a burner phone Maya had given her, and a few photographs she couldn't bear to part with. She hesitated, then glanced over at the jewelry box that sat on her dresser, in which was tucked, a silver bracelet her mother had given her on her eighteenth birthday. A piece of her life was here, reminding her of those rare moments when she had felt closest to her mother in spite of the ice walls that were always present.

Slipping into the dim corridor, Olivia moved in measured steps, carefully avoiding the creaking spots in the floor she had memorized as a child. She moved with purpose toward her father's office, looking over her shoulder to make sure the coast was clear.

The door to the office yielded to her touch, and she stepped inside, holding her breath as she carefully turned on the small desk lamp. She knew where her father kept his emergency stash of cash - hidden in the bottom drawer, beneath a stack of old files. She reached for it, her fingers curling around the envelope she'd seen him stash there years ago. Opening it, she counted out just enough to keep her going for a while, careful not to take too much lest he notice. She folded the bills and tucked them deep in her coat pocket, then turned off the lamp.

As she stepped back into the hallway, Olivia froze, her heart pounding as she spotted a figure at the end of the corridor. Dim light danced across soft, delicate features - her mother, standing there in a silken robe, her expression unreadable.

"Olivia," her mother said, her voice barely a whisper.

For a moment, Olivia felt like a child, sneaking out of bed after curfew. But the truth weighed heavily between them — this wasn’t some harmless transgression. This was the beginning of her escape.

"Mother," Olivia replied; her voice was guarded.

Her mother's eyes rested on hers and for a fleeting instant, Olivia wondered if she somehow knew, had pieced it all together. But she merely let out a sigh, moving closer until she was close enough to touch Olivia.

You look. different tonight," her mother said softly, her eyes searching Olivia's face with a tenderness she hadn't seen in years.

Olivia swallowed in an attempt to fight back the emotion rising in her throat. "I'm just tired," she whispered, averting her gaze.

Her mother's hand rose and then, after a hesitation, stroked a stray lock of hair from Olivia's face. "I've watched you carry so much on your shoulders," she murmured. “Sometimes, I wish things could be different.”

Olivia’s heart twisted. She wanted to ask why her mom never intervened, why she never stood up against her father's controlling ways. But time was slipping away, and every second spent here risked her chance at freedom.

“I need to leave,” she said softly and stepped back.

For a long moment, she looked into her mother’s eyes, as if calculating the benefit of saying anything more. Finally, she gave a slight nod, her lips pressed into a faint, knowing smile.

Be careful, Olivia," she said softly, her voice a strange mix of sorrow and hope.

Olivia felt a lump form in her throat as she turned away, her mother's words echoing in her mind. She moved more rapidly down the hall now, her steps quickening into purpose. This was it. She couldn’t allow herself to look back.

Olivia ran down a narrow back stairwell at three o'clock, slipping out into the cold, deserted courtyard. She huddled her coat closer to her body, shivering not from the chill, but from the tension coiling in her muscles. The getaway car — a modest sedan — was parked just beyond the gates. Maya had arranged it with someone who owed her a favor, a man who had sworn to keep the arrangement discreet.

As Olivia made the final turn towards the sprawling estate, she had mixed feelings of relief and fear. This place, with its grand facade and tastefully decorated rooms, this had been her prison for a long time. Now, as she was slowly walking away from it, it felt as if a part of her was torn out of herself—a piece that would never return to her again.

She had only walked several feet when she heard a voice from behind her.

“Miss Bennett?”

Olivia's heart skipped a beat as she turned around, confronted by a tall, smartly attired gentleman - a family associate in whom her father had implicit trust. He looked at her politely, though piercingly, transparently surprised to find her outdoors at such a time.

"Is everything all right?" he asked, frowning slightly.

“Y-Yes,” she stammered, forcing herself to appear calm. “I just… I needed some fresh air.”

The man studied her, his brow furrowing as if he sensed something was amiss. Olivia's pulse was racing, but she stood firm, channeling every ounce of poise she'd learned from years of navigating high-society events.

"Well," he said with suspicious slowness, "if you need anything, don't hesitate to call."

"Thank you," she managed, giving him a quick nod before turning away.

She heard the footsteps fade down the hall, her breath caught, until she was certain he was well out of earshot before she allowed herself to exhale. That had been too close. One more question on his part, one decision to call her father might have unraveled her escape plan in an instant.

She hurried her pace now, slipping through a side gate onto a narrow path leading away from the estate. The car was waiting just beyond the gates, its headlights dimmed to avoid drawing any attention. She slid into the backseat, pulling the door shut as quietly as possible.

Maya turned, her kind face giving a reassuring nod. “Let’s get you somewhere far and safe.”

"Yes," Olivia replied, her voice barely above a whisper. “Somewhere far.”

Maya took off into the night; city lights to the back, they headed for the open road. Olivia watched the skyline disappear in the rearview mirror as her heart raced with fear and exhilaration.

And as the miles went by, further and further away, she only looked ahead on the road, never turning back.

A few hours later, a small mountainous region appeared just as the day's first light began to break in the horizon. As they parked in the parking lot of a roadside diner, Olivia's heart began beating faster. It was a simple structure, not so sizeable within the heavy cover of trees. This was far from the refined streets of Manhattan, and for the very first time, Olivia felt she could finally take a breath.

‘This is it,’ Maya said. She looked around in a nervous manner. "You'll be safe here. I know someone who owns a small cabin nearby. You can lay low for a while, get your bearings.”

Olivia nodded, a surge of gratitude washing over her. “Thank you, Maya. What would I have done without you?

Maya smiled, though her eyes had filled with concern. “Just promise me you’ll stay safe. And if you need anything, you call me, okay?”

Olivia promised, watching as Maya pulled out of the lot and disappeared down the road. The loneliness bit deep as the car disappeared out of view, but she forced herself to focus. She had reached a point of no return.