"Fallon you cannot be serious about this ludicrous plan." Harper rushed out in a urgent tone. She had followed me from the ballroom all the way back to my bedroom.
"I can assure you, I am very serious." The bags I luckily already had packed for tonight were waiting for me by my bed. All that was left now was to get out of this ridiculous dress and out of this soul sucking house.
It had become very clear that this year off was just that, a YEAR off. Once I returned I would never be free of my parent's control. If I didn't escape now I would never be allowed to.
"What is your plan Fallon? Your parents will notice your gone and they'll find you. You're best solution is to finish the evening and leave tonight like you planned." While Harper continued to be futile in her efforts to talk me out of this very risky plan, I continued rummaging through my closet trying to find the most inconspicuous pieces of clothing I owned.
"I don't have a plan, all I know is that if I stay here they'll never let me leave." Finding a black, long sleeved shirt and a pair of dark jeans, I quickly got changed.
"Don't be ridiculous, of course they are going to let you leave. They told you, as long as you did what they said you would be free to leave tonight. If you leave now, that all goes away." I didn't have time to stand here and argue with her. This is the influence that my parents have on the people around them. They give you the illusion of good people who hold up to their word, but the reality is they are nothing but lying monsters who I absolutely believe had something to do with the disappearance of my sister.
I will not allow them to keep up with this lie any longer and I will not let them keep me locked up here for the rest of my existence.
"Harper, you are not going to talk to me out of this. My decision is final so either help me or leave." I looked her straight in the eye and dared her to say another word in defense of my horrid parents.
She dropped her eyes and sighed. "I won't stop you, but I can't help you either. I have been an ally to this family for almost 2 centuries, I cannot simply betray your parents. I will not aid you but your parents will find out nothing from me." I guess that is to be expected. My parents took her in when she needed it the most. At the time when our people were hunted and slaughtered by the hundreds my parents gave her refuge so it only makes sense that she would choose them over me. It doesn't make it hurt any less though.
I finished changing, yanked out all the pins in my hair and tied it into a loose ponytail. "So what is your plan?" She asked. I eyed her suspiciously. She had already admitted to siding with my parents, would it really be wise to give to her my entire escape plan.
She noticed my look and gave me a eye slant that told me she was annoyed at where my mind was going. "Fallon, don't be daft. I said I would not aid you but I also said your parents will never know anything from me." When I still didn't speak of my plan she took a step toward me and sat on the edge of my bed. "I've known you since you were born, you know you can trust me. I just want to make sure you're safe."
I was still very cautious about telling her what I planed to do, but if I don't go into too many details, it should be ok. "I need to get to the docks." Even as I said it, I was racking my brain trying to figure out how to get there undetected. It would take hours to walk there and by that time I would've been found out and it would take nothing for them to catch up to me. I couldn't use my speed because it would draw too much unwanted attention, so what other options did I have.
"Take one of the guest's cars." She said after a moment of silence. "I can get you the keys. You take their car because it can't be tracked like your parents can. Take it to the pier and hop one of the exporting ships. Don't tell me which one."
"Why are you helping me? I thought you said you wouldn't do anything to betray my parents." She smiled at me and reached for my hand. I gave it to her and she squeezed tight.
"I did say I would not betray your parents, but I cannot betray you either. If you truly believe this is the only way I will do whatever I have to, to ensure your safety." She pressed her lips to the back on my hand before getting to her feet.
"Now, you must be quick. It won't be long before they realize you're no longer downstairs you must hurry." I rushed over and grabbed my backpack. I had more luggage, but it was clear I needed to travel as light as possible. Just the essentials. "Climb out your window and wait by the bushes. I will get the keys and meet you there." As soon as she said that she was gone in a flash.
I've never opened my bedroom window in all the years I had lived in this house but it didn't take me long to figure out how to jimmy the lock open and get the window up. The drop from my window to the patch of grass down below wasn't that great of a distance, but still with nothing to cushion my fall from a second story window I was definitely going to get hurt. The injury wouldn't last long with my healing abilities, but it would be a factor in slowing me down for sure.
I tossed my bag down first, but looking at the tiny black dot surrounded by all the green, it was obvious it wasn't going to provide enough of a cushion. Grabbing a couple of pillows off of my bed, I tossed those down too. Sadly those weren't going to work either. I couldn't keep wasting time like this. Harper could be waiting for me right now and if she was caught, not only would she be severely punished for trying to help me escape, but any chance I had at freedom would all be gone.
Deciding I had no other choice, I climbed up on my window seal and let my legs dangle over the edge. The pain wouldn't last long. I told myself this over and over again before taking a deep breath and jumping. The cold, hard ground came a lot quicker then I was expecting it too and so did the pain that started at my ankle and spread all the way up to my knee. I groaned and rolled onto my side, clutching my leg.
Suck it up Gray, you have to keep moving. Harper is risking her life for you, you can't keep her waiting. Mustering up all the strength my sheltered little self could, I made it to my feet, grabbed my bag and slowly made my way around to the other side of the house. I moved as quietly as I could, sticking close to the brick wall where there was the most cover from the lights.
Finally when it seemed like I had been creeping around for hours, I made it to the bushes. Harper stood there, scanning the area intensely. I whispered her name and luckily she heard me because her eyes immediately met mine. There was relief on her face as she quickly made her way over to me and shoved the keys in my hands.
"You're running out of time. You must move quickly. Already I have heard whispers of people questioning your disappearance. It won't be long before your father comes to look for you." Her head snapped in the direction of the back patio where already guests had begun making their way to the buffet.
"What about you?" I asked. "I don't think it's safe for you to stay behind."
She gave me a sad smile, one that told me there was nothing I could do to convince her that coming with me was a lot safer then staying behind and suffering the wrath of my mother and father. "You know this journey is one you must take on your own. I must stay behind and do my best to make sure that you are not found for as long as possible." She raised her hand to my face and brushed my cheek. "This may be the last we see of each other. You will not come back to this place, ever, do you understand?"
I hesitated but knew that even coming this far meant that there was no turning back so I nodded and made the vow to never see her or this house again. "Now go, quickly!" I gave her one final hug before making my way as quickly as I could on my bum leg to the front where all of the guests had left their cars.
Hitting the button on the key ring, an all black Mercedes lit up and I limped towards it. Luckily the guards were around back with the rest of guests, otherwise I had no idea how I was getting pass them.
I climbed into the drivers seat and started up the car. It hummed quietly and I couldn't help but enjoy the adrenaline I was feeling that this was actually happening. With one final look at the house that had kept me caged for so long, I put the car in reverse and backed out of the driveway. I mentally said one final goodbye to Harper as I pulled off, watching the house disappear in the rear view mirror.
The docks where I would make my long awaited escape, seemed to be hours away but I know they weren't more then half an hour away from the place I called home. The anticipation of getting there made the drive seem to take forever and the paranoia that I was being followed did not help to calm my nerves.
When I saw the exhaust from the ships over the horizon, it felt as if a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. I was almost there, I was almost free. So far everything had gone according to plan. That's what I thought anyway until my bag made a beeping noise. I reached for the side pocket and pulled out my cellphone. Clicking on the screen, I read the message in bold letters, it was Harper.
They know! They're coming for you!
My heart jumped out of my chest. How did they find out so quickly? Do they know where I am? How long did I have before they found me? So many questions raced through my head. I can't go back I told myself as I stepped on the gas and raced down the road. The ships grew bigger the closer I got until eventually they loomed over me.
I made it, all I needed to do now was sneak on board and hope I wasn't found before the ship set sail. That shouldn't be too hard, I made it this far. I parked the car off into the shadows, just a few feet before reaching the pier. I could hear the different ships crew working diligently to get the vessels prepared to reset sail.
Which one do I take? I didn't exactly have a print out of where each ship was heading. No choice, I had to pick one. Anyone. Before getting out of the car I rotated my ankle a little trying to test my injury. Already it was feeling a lot better.
Feeling a little more confident, I grabbed my bag, got out of the car and headed straight for the biggest ship in the entire pier. Hopefully the biggest ship travels the further because I needed to put as much distance between me and my family as I possibly could.
No one guarded the boats and as I walked up the ramp that put me right on deck, no one questioned my appearance. I knew eventually someone would notice I was out of place and I would be turned in so I had to hide. I looked around the big, rusty, metal boat, taking in my surroundings. There were crates and giant metal storage containers everywhere. At the front of the ship, a huge metal tower stood but even from this distance, I could see someone was up there.
At the other end of the ship a wall so high I couldn't see if there was anything on the other side. Hundreds of tiny windows scattered throughout and at the top, a long row of big, bright lights. That wouldn't be the ideal place to hide either. My only other choice was to hide between the large metal storage containers and hope nobody found me. So that's exactly what I did.
I found a tiny space between two containers and slipped between them. It wasn't the most comfortable spot, but I hoped it would at least be sufficient during the journey across the sea. Not long after getting settled into my hiding space, I heard the loud blare of the horn and the boat began to move.
I couldn't see land from where I was, but I knew that the land I called my home for so many years was getting smaller and smaller the further away the shipped moved.
Finally I was getting my freedom, finally I could say goodbye to my home.