A week after the three talked, they would finally enact their master plan. Ten minutes would be just enough time for the three to escape. All they needed was an opportunity to arise.
The day would start with all the staff gathered in one spot as the boss would start a meeting. The staff was separated into their work as well as the three children.
"Hello, staff members. As you know my little princess will be turning ten today. I wanted to let everyone know that I expect the best, and nothing but the best for my little girl." The boss came down and started to tell each individual group their rules for the night.
The housekeeping was to put up decorations and set up the tables and seats for all the guests. The cooking crew would be responsible for making all the food for the event. They were also supposed to make the biggest cake ever so stand five feet tall. Lastly, the Security team was to make sure no one suspicious entered. However, their main goal was to keep the young lady safe from danger.
While Kaylee, Andre, and Jacob had their job to do, they also remembered their plan to escape. While the escape was pretty straight forward the entire thing would be hard to execute. For now, all they could do was wait patiently until the party started.
As the day continued Jacob found himself waiting for the time to tick away. Since his work wouldn't start until the guest arrived he would walk around the mansion and just look around, finally noticing all the small details. From the clean carpet to the paintings that fill up the hallway.
As Jacob admired the painting he heard a soft voice from behind. "Hello.." The soft voice was a new one as he never heard it before. But it almost sounded sad, like someone who had been abandoned. "Are you… Jacob? I've never seen you here before." The voice continued to talk to him. His curiosity finally got the best of him and decided to see who was talking to him. As he turned he finally saw who it was, and it was the young lady, Bella.
This was the one rule he had to follow, 'Don't talk to my daughter. I will personally send you to hell if you do.' Jacob could hear the words of his boss in his head. Now he was here talking to her, and he was a bit scared. "… yeah, I am Jacob. How did you know that?" Generally confused on how she knew about him.
Bella looked at him almost like she was about to cry. Almost like she had done something wrong. "I'm sorry… I shouldn't have said anything." Her voice almost broke as she started to run away with her face buried into her hands.
Jacob reached his hand out trying to hold her back but to no avail. He couldn't just leave her crying. If the boss found out he made his daughter cry it was more than certain he would be dead.
Jacob ran towards Bella, going towards the unrestricted part of the mansion. Since he had never been to the unrestricted area it was almost impossible to find her. That was until he heard a door shut close. Running after it he quietly knocked on the door.
"Are you in there my lady?" His voice was as quiet as a mouse so that no one could hear him. After his word came pure silence. Not a sound could be heard. Not even the voices of the working staff could be heard from the hall. It was scary and lonely especially for someone as young as Jacob or Bella.
The silence would eventually be broken by the sound of the door opening. Her hand waved for him to come in. As well as her hand she wore a smile and red eyes from crying. "Come in quickly."
With this Jacob quickly entered the room and closed the door. The moment he entered the room the feeling of danger came over him. He shouldn't be talking to her, let alone stay in her room alone. However, the room itself was glamorous, enough to make any princess jealous.
Bella stood still as she looked at Jacob. It was only when she made eye contact she decided to speak. Her voice was as sweet as before; she spoke with grace and elegance. "What were you doing upstairs?"
Jacob didn't expect such a question. "I was looking around the mansion. Making sure there was no place for someone to enter from." Technically he wasn't lying. He was checking out the area. Whether that be for good or bad.
With this came a question from Jacob. It was one of the first times they met, and she knew his name. "You know me?" He was considered, but curious all the same.
"Of course I do. I know you, Andre, and Kaylee. We're friends. You just don't know it yet." She said with a bright smile. It was like she was talking to an old friend for the first time.
"My dad says you guys are bad kids and I'm not allowed to play with you. So I watch, I watch you guys run, play, and laugh together. I only wish I could do that with you." Her bright smile soon turned to a frown.
Bella was never allowed to play with them. She wasn't allowed to play at all. The only thing she could do was stay in her room and do what she was told. Eat, sleep, and practice the piano. Her father had her life planned out and she was to keep to her strict routine.
However, when she heard the laughs of children she would look out the window and admire them. The three kids played outside without any care in the world. That's what she wanted, she wanted to join them. She just wanted a friend.
Without saying anything Jacob could tell what she was thinking. Being around most of the staff and patrolling the mansion showed him how much she really left her room. Only during special occasions, and if not she would stay in her wing of the house which is separate from where the staff stayed.
"I'll play with you. I have some time before I'm supposed to get ready." With these simple words, a glow came from Bella. Her eyes lit up and her smile could light up every darkroom on this earth.
Bella held his hand and dragged him towards the piano. "I've always wanted someone to play with. I wrote a song, but I've always needed another person since my arms are too small." She giggled as she sat Jacob down and put his hands on the keys.
"Don't worry it won't be hard. I'll do all the hard parts. You just need to set the tempo and keep the rhythm." She held his hands and closed her eyes. With this, she started to hum the melody while she played the keys with Jacob's hands. Each key would coexist with her hums almost like a professional.
"Easy right? All you have to do is 1, 2, 3, and extend your pinky to hit the 4. One more time 1, 2, 3, and extend." Bella smiled as she looked down at Jacob. Until she noticed her hand still holding his, and then she quickly looked away from him.
With the little lesson completed Bella sat next to Jacob ready to play the high notes. She looked at him and began to bounce her leg with the tempo of the song. "Ready?" She said looking at him. Soon Jacob began to play his part. 1,2,3, and extend for the 4.
With this Bella's pale fingers started to push onto the keys beautifully. Each note she played with grace. When she played the piano she made Jacob look like an amateur, which he was. Soon the room filled with music good enough to play on stage.
Once the melody was set the real magic happened. Bella opened her mouth and began to sing out loud. Her sweet voice would make the performance ten times better. With the piano, vocals, and lyrics it would make anyone cry. What made it sadder was what she was saying.
Loneliness, sadness, and being scared could be implied with her lyrics. It was not a happy or uplifting song but something quite the opposite. It reminded one of their loneliness and how this girl was still filled with it. It was hard for Bella to sing it herself. She started to tear up while singing.
As Bella began to end her song, Jacob thought the opposite. He moved his notes to a higher scale and sped up the tempo. He didn't want the song to end with a sad note so he decided to rewrite the song. Give it a second chance.
The song sounded wonky and bad, but it was uplifting and heartwarming. Then came the vocals. Not knowing how to sing he made-up words and tried to match them with the music. As soon as he did, Bella whipped her eyes clean and began to laugh at the weird composition.
She soon began to help play some cords that would match his tempo. This time she played something warm and less cold. Soon the two were playing and singing like two idiots, like two free kids.
This would go on for what seemed like hours. Just the two of them joking around and laughing. It was the first time either of them had so much fun. Even Jacob who had always played with Andre and Kaylee.
Soon both of them would be interrupted by one of the maids. "Miss. You should get dressed. Some of the guests have started to arrive."
With that, the maid left and Jacob's face turned pale. He didn't notice how long he had spent with the young lady. He was supposed to meet Andre and Kaylee outside when the first guest arrived, and it seemed he was already late.
"I'm sorry, miss. I need to leave before I get caught." Jacob said as he tried to make his way towards the door. Before he could leave he was stopped by Bella. Her throat was still a little sore from all the singing, but enough to ask him a question. "Will I see you again?" Her eyes filled with hope that she could see him another day like this one.
"Promise." He didn't want to lie to her but there was no way to leave without doing so. He was already late and without leaving soon he would be caught.
Before leaving he looked down and saw the ring he held on to. It was his mother's, and he wore it every time he missed her. However, with him leaving and seeing his mother again he noticed someone that needed it more than he did. He took it off and handed it to Bella. "This was my mother's and now I'm giving it to you. Every time you feel lonely or just need a friend, wear it."
Before Bella could say anything Jacob was long gone. She didn't even get to tell him thank you but was still grateful. She put it on her ring finger and smiled. Even though it was big on her she still wore it. It even matched her birthday dress.
Bella now in her beautiful pink dress walked to the main entrance of her house to greet the guest. Everyone complimented her beautiful looks and dress. She was a bit embarrassed every time she heard someone say that, but she wanted to hear it from Jacob the most.
After greeting all the guests, she met her dad in the hall with the other guests. It was going smoothly until the boss found her. He forcefully grabbed her hand and noticed the ring straight away. "Where's the ring I told you to wear? And whose ring is this?" It didn't take long to understand the situation. He ordered the guards to look for the children. No one was to leave or enter until they were found.
Of course, this was not to the guest's knowledge. While the main guest had fun making connections, the security team was to find the children.
While that was happening Andre and Kaylee waited outside for Jacob to arrive. The amount they waited started to scare Andre. Most of the guests had arrived and Jacob was nowhere to be seen. "I told you this was a bad idea. He's going to get us killed." Andre said with a wave of anger in his voice.
Kaylee looked back to the main house for any sign of Jacob. She didn't think he would abandon them. "Please.. just trust in him. Like how I do." She held her hands together praying that Jacob was okay. Soon her prayers would be answered.
A loud scream came from the main house. It was impossible to hear until it came closer. Soon the two of them could hear the voice. "Run. Run towards the fence." The voice turned out to be Jacob as he started to run towards the fence he was pointing at.
The two of them finally caught on to what he said and began to run for the fence as well. As they ran, Andre would be sure to complain to Jacob. "What the hell. We've been waiting for an hour."
Jacob was more focused on where he was headed and didn't answer Andre. "The fence. There should be an opening. Once we go through it we'll follow the river to the nearest town." The plan was simple until they came across a complication. The rain started to come through hard, which made it almost impossible to see.
"See! If you were here earlier we would be out before the rain." Andre again said as he began to run out of breath. Kaylee had enough of the complaints and shouted. "Will you please stop? We'll talk about it once we get out of here."
Then, like the gods were trying to stop them, the opening in the fence was blocked up by a wooden panel.
"Why'd you stop? Go through the ho…" before he could continue his sentence Jacob noticed the wooden panel over the hole. "What? I just checked it out yesterday."
"Yesterday? And it didn't come to you to check it the day we sneak out?" Andre said already getting worried about his life and Kaylee's. "You're going to get us killed. I shouldn't have listened to you." Andre said again.
"There's still a way. I'll help you jump the fence. Once you get to the other side you'll help Kaylee and then me. Ready?" Jacob said as he started to bend his knees and helped a hand out for them to use.
First up was Andre who had a bit of trouble clearing the fence. Next was Kaylee. She placed her foot on Jacob's hand and was too scared to jump the fence. However, she would need to hurry since at that moment the security team noticed the kids. "Please Kaylee just jump," Jacob shouted out.
With a smooth landing, Jacob was the only one left. Now the security guards were getting closer to their location. There was enough time for him to make it. "Okay, Andre. I need you to put your hands through the fence so I can jump." Jacob looked back at the guards getting closer and shouting louder.
"Hurry we don't have enough time." Jacob stepped back to get a running start and waited. But that moment never came.
Andre held Kaylee's hand tight and looked into Jacob's eyes. "You're right. There's no time left. If I help you there won't be enough time." With a simple turn, he ran away from the fence with Kaylee still in his grip. Kaylee tried to stop but couldn't since she wasn't strong enough. All she could do was look back at Jacob and yell.
"No! Please don't leave without him."
Her screams echoed in his head as their figures started to bend in with the darkness of the forest. This wouldn't stop him though. He tried to use his feet to climb the fence but couldn't with the rain. There was no hope anymore.
With all his hope gone he fell on his knees. He tried to understand the situation, but couldn't. Not long after a group of guards arrived pushing him to the ground and making him unable to move.
All he could do was stare into the forest with a blank expression. No tears, no anger. Nothing.