Chapter 3 – Escape and Consequence
The lock made a clicking sound.
I froze on the spot, my hand already holding the letter opener under my pillow.
A guard looked in and said. "Dinner." He placed a tray on the dresser and walked out again leaving the door slightly open before closing. I listened carefully,heavy steps went down the hall one set leaving and another coming.
This was it.
My chance.
I held the letter opener tighter and moved to the door, pressing my ear against it. I heard voices faint and far, two men laughing and talking about cars, they were not paying attention
Good.
I turned the knob slowly. It opened the door which made a small creak and I flinched at the sound but nothing happened, no one shouted.
My heart pounded as I stepped out.
The hallway was long with doors on the sides and one end turning to the stairs. I stayed close to the wall with my feet quiet on the carpet.
Just keep moving and get out.
a camera blinked in the corner of the ceiling. I bent low out of its view and moved faster.
The stairs led to a wide hallway below, and I paused at the bottom, crouched low. Two guards stood by the front entrance. Their backs were to me, one holding a phone, the other yawning.
I needed another way.
To the right, there was a side hall i ran into it staying close to the wall there was a door at the far end maybe a kitchen or a service exit, my hand held the opener tight as i reached it and pushed.
The cool night air hit my face.
Freedom.
i went outside my eyes looking at the shadows trying to see the edge the fence was ahead high but i could climb it if i timed it right, i moved fast and stayed low in the grass, the sharp pine smell in my nose.
Then i heard a soft sound of engines.
I froze and my whole body went stiff
my heart beat so hard it hurt like it wanted to break out .I dropped behind the hedge and held my breath, then I peeked.
two black suvs came fast to the gate too fast too straight like they were looking for someone.
The guards at the gate moved forward shouting, i saw flashes before i heard the shots.
gunfire started and echoed over the estate
my hand flew to my mouth but it did nothing to stop the shake in my chest.
five men came out of the suvs their faces covered and rifles in their hands they moved fast like they knew what to do and one guard fell before he could even lift his gun
This wasn't random.
This was an attack.
My eyes went to the main house where Lorenzo was, my chest pulled tight like it was closing in on itself.
I could run now and never look back, never see any of this again.
but my feet stayed stuck to the ground like they belonged there.
The gunfire hit harder, sharper and closer each shot cutting through me.
I saw two men going to the east wing to the room I just left for him.
"Shit…" I whispered but it felt too loud in my throat
I should have let them kill him.
I should have let them end it all.
but i didnt
Instead, I ran.
my legs moved before i could think my chest burning my heart so loud it drowned out the gunfire.
I tore back into the house up the stairs, my hands sliding on the rail as I turned into the hallway too fast and almost slammed into him.
Lorenzo.
He had a gun in his hand, his shirt half open, eyes sharp. He froze when he saw me, when he saw me looking confused.
"What the hell are you"he started but his voice didn't finish
"Behind you!" I screamed, the sound tearing out of my throat raw and shaking
two masked men came from the other hall rifles up. lorenzo turned fast and shot before i could blink one man fell right away and the other grabbed his leg before Lorenzo shot him again
The hall was too quiet except for the ringing in my ears like it was trapped inside my skull.
Lorenzo lowered his gun a little and was still looking at the bodies then he looked.
"You saved my life."his voice low but it cut through me anyway
"No I didn't," I said shaking. "I… I just"
"You could have run." He said his eyes were sharp and cold , hard to read like stone. "But you came back."
His words landed heavily like I didn't know if it was praise or something else.
something dangerous.
"Why, Aurora?" His voice dropped, softer now, dangerous in a different way. "Why did you come back for me?"
I took a step backas my hands were shaking. "Because if they killed you, they will kill me too. I'm not stupid."
his lips moved a little not really a smile more like he saw something i didnt want him to see. "No. That's not why."
"Yes it is."i turned but he grabbed my arm and pulled me to face him.
"You saved me because you care." his eyes looked into mine dark and strong. "Even if you hate me… you care."
The words sank into me, sharp and unwelcome. I shook my head violently. "You're insane."
but my chest felt tight my hands shaking not just from fear but from something else i didnt want to name.
sirens were loud outside maybe his backup or the police i didnt know, it all felt like a blur.
lorenzo came closer, too close that his body warm on me
"You're not my prisoner anymore, Aurora." His voice was low, almost a whisper. "Do you know what you are?"
I stared, caught between fear and fury. "What?"
his hand moved up my arm to my shoulder holding me soft but firm against the wall his face came down close his breath on my cheek.
"My weakness."