Episode2
1207 Words
The Escape
It was night. The same day. The whole atmosphere was calm, except for two figures moving in the dark.
Ann was up in her room. Awake and apprehensive. This was it. Finally, her moment of escape. She felt a bit sad and guilty. She was leaving home.
Without a destination. This was a very stupid plan. A plan not so well thought of. But she had made up her mind. It was this or a lifelong commitment to someone she didn't get to choose.
"Hurry up" Miriam called quietly. She was carrying a small bag with her.
She waited. In front of Ann's door.
The door opened slightly. And Ann peeped out.
"Am almost done" She kept the same low tone.
"What's keeping you?" Miriam forced her head through the door and walked in.
Ann had a big bag saddled to a wooden frame.
"I just want to arrange this and some other..."
"Ann" Miriam cut her off," that is..." She just stared at the luggage.
"How do we drag this down the stairs without waking Father?" Ann inquired from Miriam.
"Exactly, Ann" Miriam retorted.
Just then, shuffling feet could be heard coming up the stairs.
"Hurry," Ann urged. As she ran to shut the door quietly.
She dragged the frame across the room to her bed. Miriam lent her a hand. The bag was large and heavy. They pulled with their whole strength, slowly lifting the structure using their legs to push the bag underneath.
The footsteps stopped there in front of the door.
Ann held her breath. They still had the side of the bag up, Holding it up.
Whoever it was, had stopped in front of the door.
"Lower it slowly" Ann whispered.
"Ann" a deep hoarse voice called.
They both froze, holding their breath.
The footsteps started receding slowly.
Ann lost grip of the bag, and it dropped with a thud, despite Miriam's frantic attempt to stop it.
"Ann" the voice called again, with the footsteps rushing closer.
"Duck" Ann motioned and pushed Miriam underneath the bag frame.
She rushed to the door and pulled it open just as it was about to be knocked on.
An old scrawny man stood by the door. He had old pajamas. And from the dimly lit room, it was apparent he was blind in the right eye.
"Doctor" Ann stammered.
The old man pushed her aside and walked into the room. He looked around searchingly.
"I heard voices" he squawked "I heard. What was it"
"Nothing," Ann said, looking upset.
Then gently nudging the old man towards the door.
"Unhand me child" he hissed at her, his eyes still scrutinizing the room.
"Dr Luther, I would like to have my sleep in peace" She frowned at him.
"You are up to something, young girl. I can smell it" he said, glaring at her with his one good eye "I can smell it, and I will surely root it out."
"Can I go back to sleep now?"
The old man lingered a few more seconds before leaving.
Ann waited until she was sure he was gone.
"Miriam," she rushed to the bag "we need to hurry."
Miriam crawled out with the bag.
"Ann, I don't think this is still a good idea."
"Miriam, please" Ann pleaded."we won't get caught, I promise, we won't."
They carried the bag, taking slow steps. They were out in the yard now.
"So, where exactly are you headed?" Miriam asked.
"I am probably going to stay with my aunt"
"I didn't know you had relatives in the city."
"Ha" Ann laughed nervously. "Well, lunch is a big city, you really can't tell"
"Seriously Ann, where are you going?" Miriam asked in a more serious tone.
Ann hadn't put much thought into this. She just wanted to stay away for a few weeks, and just wanted the wedding canceled.
"I'll, um.....I'll hide out in the city, somewhere in the city" Ann said, unsure.
"Ann, your dad is going to come searching for you. You better think more than this", Miriam said.
"I have lots of money. Cash here with me. I'll board a train and go somewhere far away"
"Oh God, there are so many ways this could go wrong. Lots of ways"
"I could come up with something along the way"
"I think you should have done that initially."
"The wedding is tomorrow, Miriam, there is no way I am staying here." Ann muttered firmly.
"There is no freaking way. "
"I can't believe I am doing this". Miriam said out loud looking up at the sky." I am helping you elope!?"
"That's what friends are for," Ann replied.
She, too, couldn't believe she was doing this. Running from home. Aimless, no destination in mind.
But maybe this wasn't a bad idea after all.
From a perspective, if she didn't know where she was headed, it would make it harder for her to be tracked.
"Ann, If something bad were to happen to you, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself."
Ann smiled at the show of love.
"Nothing will happen to me. I'll be as careful as I always am"
"That's bad news, then" Ann chuckled.
“Joking now, are we?"
When Miriam didn't reply, Ann realized she was being serious.
"Ouch," she said. Feigning hurt.
"Hey!" A voice arose from the house. They had been spotted. The old man had caught sight of them from the window.
Ann and Miriam dropped the bag.
"Go back to the house," Ann told her.
"You don't want to get caught out here. Take the back door"
"What about you?" Miriam asked. She was really scared. "What will you do?"
"I'll be fine, just go!!" Ann said, running for the gate.
The windows to the rooms in the house were instantly getting illuminated one after the other.
Miriam sped back towards the building." BE safe " she called after Ann.
"The bride is escaping!!" the doctor shouted, "Ann is gone!!"
"Run, run, run, don't look back" Ann kept muttering to herself. It was now or never. And even if she didn't make it out, she would make this count.
She picked up the smaller bag Miriam had packed and ran out into the street. In a few seconds, the whole army of men that had come for the wedding was going to be out in the street looking for her.
There was nowhere to run, but she kept on down the street. Their house being located on the outskirts of the city was just a block away from the forest.
The moon forest. She thought to herself. No one would dare follow me there. No one would.
Her pursuers had poured out into the street, scattering in different directions.
And as she had speculated. No one thought she was stupid enough to venture into the forest alone. Because not one of the men pursued that direction.
But she was determined, and with that determination came the stupidity to dare go into the forest. The moon forest?.
"Mary Ann!!" She heard her father shouting.
She turned to look back at the city one more time.
And then she fled into the thick forest.
“Free at last. Free from my father, Finally!!!”
- Writer
