Chapter 10 Escaping Seem Impossible

• After Ansell left, my eyes moved to Grace, she was looking at me. We had a conversation with our eyes for a moment.
• But she quickly averted her gaze and began collecting the dishes one by one, carrying them back to the kitchen.
• Though I haven't eaten properly yet, I wasn't feeling hungry. The only thought that was there in my head was to get free from here as soon as possible, relentlessly yearning to regain my freedom.
• As Grace gathered the last of the dishes and retreated to the kitchen, a wave of determination washed over me. I knew I needed to take advantage of the situation and explore every possible way to escape from this cage.
• Slowly standing up on my feet, I found myself standing alone in the middle of the hall. My eyes scanned the surroundings, trying to spot any way out of this hell.
• A servant came out of the bathroom, from which I retrieved the mop in the morning. He bowed slightly before continuing on his way. It struck me that the servants probably had no clue about the circumstances that led to my presence here.
• My condition in his house is worse than theirs. They are there with their own will and could leave anytime, unlike me.
• I didn't want to arouse suspicious among the workers, so I walked casually around as if I were simply exploring the house. I had to be cautious; for all I knew, Ansell could have instructed someone to keep an eye on me during his absence.
• I cannot predict his move or the things he is thinking about.
• As I was looking around to pretend to be normal, it was the first time that I was able to take in the beauty of his house. The ceiling, which was articulated diligently, had fancy lights banging from it, the floor was shinning like marble, the furniture was of top class, expensive items were placed around, and everything was screaming money.
• Luxurious velvet drapes adorned the windows, adding a touch of grandeur to the surroundings. Now this is the thing that tempted me, and exactly this is what I was looking for.
• I looked around for a second to make sure that I was alone before slowly making my way towards the windows slowly.
• Holding onto a glimmer of hope, I gently opened the window, only to be greeted by a breathtaking view of the garden below. It was a stunning sight, filled with a variety of vibrant flowers. And all I could see was greenery. While I would have normally appreciated the natural beauty, my heart sank when I realised that this window was not my way to freedom.
• The window was more like a 'Jail window ' adorned with vertical bars and columns that made it impossible for anything larger than a fly to pass through. The realisation hit me like a punch in the gut.
• Got!
• That was my biggest hope.
• One by one, I decided to check all the windows to get the same result, and my heart sank in the pit of my stomach.
• Why fate has suddenly become so cruel to me?
• I haven't done anything wrong to anyone. I don't want to face him ever again, I have to escape this jail anyway.
• My feet led me almost automatically to the final option, the main door. I was well aware that it would likely be guarded by his imposing minions, but I was determined to try my luck nonetheless.
• As I neared the door, I was met with the sight of two burly arms stretching out before me, halting my my progress.
• "Ma'am, you can't cross this line" a deep and authoritative voice came from one of the guards.
• They haven't even looked back; how did they know that I had come?
• "Oh, I was just planning to step out to the garden..." I fibbed, my voice betraying a hint of hesitation, "You know, for some fresh air"
• "I'm sorry, ma'am, but that's not possible" one of of the guards replied, their tone resolute.
• It was a ded end. My attempts to escape were thwarted at every turn, and the reality of my situation hit me like a ton of bricks. I can't even fight them because they are so bulky that I would wait no more than a cat for them.
• "You can go to the terrace; there's a small garden there too" the other guard suggested.
• Terrace?
• I turned around. Shall I go to the terrace and jump down from it?
• No! This could cost me my life. Last night, it was possible to manage to see the height of this house, and it was pretty enough for someone to commit suicide.
• I can't die.
• As I walked back from where I started, I found Grace having breakfast while lost in her thoughts.
• She seems old m, and I am sure she must have been working here for long time because Ansell seems to trust her.
• Could she help me?
• Slowly, I walked to her and sat beside her. She glanced at me and offered a warm smile, which I returned, though my smile held little sincerity as my brain was too busy with other thoughts to think about anything else.
• "Umm, can I ask you a question?" My eyes were searching for her, but she was not ready to meet my gaze.
• She paused for a moment before replying to me. I know she must be scared of Ansell because if his threat of losing her job if she is involved in a conversation with me.
• "Around twenty years"
• Twenty years!
• She had practically raised Ansell, being a constant presence in his for so long.
• " I understand your loyalty to him, but..." I couldn't hold back the welling tears, and my voice trembled as I continued. " I need your help to escape this" my words were barely a whisper, as I didn't want anyone else to overhear our conversation. My trembling hand was gently placed over hers on the table.
• I wasn't entirely sure if was doing the right thing by confusing in her. After all, this was only our second encounter, and we had never spoken before. Yet, there was something about her that seemed trustworthy, an unspoken understanding in her eyes, a flicker of sympathy that caught my attention.
• She stopped eating as soon as she heard me. Her food was almost finished.
• "As much as I wish I could help you because it pains me to see you in this situation" she began, her voice heavy with regret, "I can't" her gaze lowered to the table, and a sense of helplessness emanated from her.
• A gasp escaped my lips as tears threatened to spill over.
• "Please" I implored softly, my voice laced with desperation, my heart aching for any glimmer of hope.
• "Don't cry, Please" she said gently, her grip on my hand tightening comfortingly. "I can't beat to see anyone in pain, but..." Her voice wavered as she looked down as if trying to manage her own emotions. "My son and daughter-in-law passed away in a tragic accident, and I lost my husband to illness. I now have the responsibility of raising my son's two children on my own and Ifni helped you then sir would definitely fire me" she looked up and there were small tears in her eyes as I expected "At this age, no one would give me a job and we will come on streets"
• Listening to her story, my heart clenched even more. I cannot be so selfish that, for my freedom, I bring little souls to the street and make them beg for their lives.
• "It's ok" I wiped my tears.
• "Everything would soon be fine. Have trust in the process of God, ma'am" she said softly.
• "Please, you're older than me. Don't call me ma'am. My name is Leonara" I replied, mustering a smile in a attempt to lighten the mood.
• "Your name suites you perfectly. You look like an angel an actual angel" she responded, with a small smile gracing her lips.
• "The one whose wings have been ruthlessly chopped off" I said with a sarcastic smile tugging on my lips.
• "I am sure you will get your wings back and this time they will be even more beautiful than before "
• I nodded, as I didn't want to bother her anymore with my problems. She is already very depressed and has lost a lot in her life.
• "Come, I will tell you everything about sir, as he said in the morning" she said as she stood up.
• I nodded and followed her into the kitchen to distract my mind for some time and think about the plan to escape.
• ****
• The whole day passed by thinking about possible ways of escaping from here, but I couldn't come up with any.
• A man came with two suitcases that had various dresses, sandals, and another things that I would need, but I was least interested in all of that.
• Grace helped me set everything up as she was ordered by Ansell on the phone. Submission was my only option, a bitter pill I had no choice but to swallow.
• I was already full from lunch, so I decided to skip dinner and have a long bath. When I came out, I searched for a dress, but what repelled me was that all the dresses were short, contrary to my liking. I searched for the longest red frock, but still, It stopped at my mind-thigh.
• It was late at night and everyone has already left the house when I heard the honking of a car.
• Fear settled in my bones as I peeked out of the window and found that he has came back.
• God!
• His homen visit which was one exciting to me has now become a dreadful nightmare.
• I was pacing around the room thinking of what shall I do to save myself from him.
• Shall I sit in the position he asked me to, in the morning when he was explaining rules?
• No, o won't!
• I was expecting him to spend time in his sister's room but my eyes widened in dread when I heard the clicking sound of the door.
• He is back!