The pillow was too soft, the blankets too warm, but my thoughts were too restless to let me sleep. All I could think about was the engagement hanging over my head. My parents had already set the date, and in just a few weeks, they'd be making it official, introducing me as the perfect bride for a man I barely knew. I couldn't imagine spending the rest of my life following a script that I hadn't written.
I sighed in frustration, clenching the edges of the too-plush pillow. Why couldn't I have been born into a different family, one that valued freedom over legacy? I'd give anything to be normal, to live without the weight of my family's name dictating every step. There was no room to make mistakes or explore. Every decision, every choice, was already made for me.
I glanced toward the window, where the thick velvet curtains shielded me from the world outside. Beyond them, I knew the city was alive, the streets glowing under a canopy of lights, with people who had no idea who I was or what I was supposed to be. They had freedom, lives they could shape however they wanted.
Before I knew it, I was out of bed, crossing the room to pull back the curtain. The city stretched before me in rich, vibrant colors—a stark contrast to the quiet, polished halls of my family's estate. The twinkling lights called to me, hinting at places I'd only seen from afar. I wanted to be out there, to experience something real, something beyond the suffocating walls of my world.
Without thinking twice, I grabbed a cloak from my wardrobe and slipped on a pair of simple shoes. My heart raced, and I felt a thrill of excitement as I quietly made my way through the darkened halls, avoiding the guards and staff on duty. For once, I wanted to see what life was like beyond the gilded cage my family had crafted. Just one night, I told myself. Just one taste of freedom before I was trapped forever.
As I slipped out into the cool night air and away from the estate, a strange sense of exhilaration filled me. The city awaited, full of unfamiliar sights and sounds, and I was ready to experience it on my own terms—if only for a little while.
The city lights blurred behind me as I wandered further, taking in the unfamiliar sights. Every step felt freeing, like I was shedding the layers of expectations that had always cloaked me. The air was cooler here, and the streets were quieter than I'd expected. I took a deep breath, savoring the thrill of being somewhere I wasn't supposed to be.
But as I walked, the buildings around me started to change. The polished storefronts and bustling cafes faded, replaced by crumbling facades and flickering streetlights. The vibrant part of the city was far behind me now, and I was surrounded by silence. Shadows clung to the cracked brick walls, and bits of trash drifted along the sidewalks, tumbling with the wind.
A chill settled over me. I wasn't sure where I was, but this part of the city was nothing like the lively, glamorous scenes I had imagined. I glanced back the way I'd come, but the twisting alleyways and narrow streets all looked the same now. My heart pounded as I realized I'd wandered too far, with no sense of how to return.
I picked up my pace, hoping to find a familiar street, but the deeper I went, the more rundown everything seemed. There were shattered windows in some of the buildings, graffiti streaking their walls, and the occasional dim light from an old apartment casting eerie shadows onto the street. An unsettling quiet hung over the place, broken only by the distant sound of dogs barking or the faint hum of passing cars somewhere far away.
I stopped, feeling a wave of anxiety rise within me. The world I knew felt impossibly distant, and I was alone in this unfamiliar, decaying part of the city. A shiver ran down my spine as I hugged my cloak closer, realizing how far I'd ventured from the safety of my home.
I wandered aimlessly, hoping to stumble upon some clue that would lead me back. But the streets only grew darker, quieter, and somehow colder. I glanced around, looking for anyone who might help, but the few faces I saw in the shadows quickly turned away, uninterested in my plight. I was utterly alone, and each step seemed to carry me deeper into the forgotten parts of the city.
Then, just ahead, I spotted it—a massive, weathered door, looming like a silent guardian against the night. It was dark and imposing, the wood worn and splintered, framed by walls cracked and chipped with age. A strange pull urged me toward it, an inexplicable curiosity that cut through my fear. Without fully understanding why, I reached for the rusted handle and pushed the door open.
Inside was nothing like I'd expected.