The Escape
1125 Words
Chapter 10:
Mia's heartbeat thundered as she raced back through the dark passage, her breath coming in sharp gasps. She had to warn the others. They were all in danger.
The moment she reached the end of the passage, a figure stepped into her path, blocking the exit.
The silver-masked man.
His polished shoes gleamed under the dim lantern light, his posture relaxed, amused even.
“Leaving so soon?” he drawled, tilting his head slightly. “But the night is still young.”
Mia clenched her fists. “I know what this place is. What you’ve done.”
He chuckled, the sound sending shivers down her spine. “And what do you plan to do with that knowledge, Mia? Run? Tell the others? Do you think they’ll believe you?”
Her stomach twisted. Would they? The guests were already on edge, paranoia driving them to accuse one another. Even if she told them the truth, the masked figures still controlled the game.
No. She couldn’t just warn them. She had to end it.
Her eyes flicked to the heavy velvet curtains beside him.
An idea struck.
Thinking fast, Mia grabbed a nearby candle from its holder and hurled it straight at the fabric.
The moment the flame touched the thick, dust-laden material, fire erupted.
The blaze spread rapidly, crawling up the length of the curtain like a living thing, licking at the ceiling, casting wild shadows across the room.
Gasps filled the hall as the guests turned, their fear momentarily shifting from each other to the growing inferno.
The silver-masked man’s amusement faltered as he stepped back, his gaze flickering toward the spreading fire.
Mia didn’t hesitate.
With the chaos as her cover, she bolted toward the nearest window. The thick glass reflected the frantic glow of the flames, distorting the horrified faces of the guests.
She grabbed the base of a brass candelabrum and swung it with all her strength.
CRASH!
Shards of glass exploded outward, the cold night air rushing in.
The silver-masked man turned sharply. “Stop her!”
But Mia was already moving.
Ignoring the sting of glass against her hands, she climbed onto the window ledge and leaped into the darkness beyond.
Into the Night
The ground came up fast. She hit the damp earth hard, the impact jarring her bones. Pain shot through her ankle, but she gritted her teeth and pushed herself up.
Behind her, Ravenwood Manor burned.
The flames climbed higher, reflecting off the rolling fog that slithered through the estate’s vast gardens. Shadows flickered wildly against the twisted shapes of the trees, distorting the world into something out of a nightmare.
Shouts erupted from inside the house. The guests—panicked, confused—scrambled for the exits.
Mia staggered forward, her breath fogging in the cool night air. The dense forest loomed ahead, its dark canopy whispering in the wind.
She had to keep moving.
She didn’t know how many of the masked figures were inside, how many were watching, waiting. But she knew one thing for certain—
They wouldn’t let her leave so easily.
A voice rang out behind her. “Mia!”
Her blood ran cold.
She turned—just in time to see the silver-masked man stepping through the shattered window, his pristine suit now dusted with ash.
Despite the chaos, despite the fire, he still exuded an air of eerie composure.
“You’re making a mistake,” he called out, his voice smooth, unwavering.
Mia backed away, her hands trembling. “The only mistake I made was coming here.”
He tilted his head, the firelight catching the sharp angles of his mask. “The house always chooses. You were meant to be here.”
Her heart pounded. “Not anymore.”
She turned and ran.
Branches tore at her skin as she plunged into the forest, the damp earth uneven beneath her feet. She didn’t dare look back. She just ran, pushing forward, deeper into the trees, guided only by the faint glow of the moon filtering through the dense canopy.
The sounds of Ravenwood Manor grew distant—the crackling fire, the screams, the frantic voices of guests trying to escape.
But another sound followed her now.
Footsteps.
She wasn’t alone in the forest.
Someone was following her.
Mia’s breath hitched.
Her mind raced. If she kept running blindly, she’d exhaust herself before she ever reached safety. She needed to think.
She needed to hide.
Spotting a fallen tree just ahead, she dove behind it, pressing herself flat against the damp earth. She forced herself to stay still, to quiet her breathing.
Seconds passed. Then minutes.
The footsteps drew closer.
A figure emerged between the trees, their silhouette sharp against the moonlight.
The silver-masked man.
Mia clenched her jaw, barely daring to breathe.
He stopped just feet from her hiding place, his head turning slowly as he scanned the darkness. The flickering firelight from the manor barely reached this far, leaving most of the forest in deep shadow.
For a moment, he stood there. Listening.
Then, slowly, he stepped forward.
Mia’s heart pounded as he walked past her, moving deeper into the woods.
She waited, counting the seconds, listening to his footsteps fade into the distance.
Then, when she was certain he was far enough, she pushed herself up and ran in the opposite direction—toward the road, toward freedom.
The Road to Escape
The forest thinned as she neared the estate’s outer edge. The distant glow of a streetlamp flickered through the trees, the first real sign of civilization she had seen all night.
She stumbled onto the dirt road, lungs burning, legs shaking. The manor was far behind her now, its fiery glow barely visible through the dense fog.
A sound made her freeze.
The roar of an approaching engine.
Headlights appeared in the distance. A car.
Mia stepped forward, waving frantically. “Stop! Please!”
The vehicle screeched to a halt. The driver—a middle-aged man with tired eyes—rolled down the window, staring at her in shock.
“Jesus, lady, are you okay?”
Mia gasped for air. “Please… take me away from here.”
The man hesitated only a moment before unlocking the door.
She didn’t wait for an invitation. She climbed in, slamming the door behind her.
As the car sped down the road, Ravenwood Manor disappeared behind them, swallowed by the night.
Mia didn’t look back.
She didn’t need to.
She had survived.
But she knew the truth now.
Ravenwood Manor wasn’t just a house.
It was a hunting ground.
And somewhere in the shadows, the silver-masked man was still watching.
Still waiting.
Because the house always chose its guests.
And one day… it would choose again.
- Writer
