Sara nodded solemnly, her eyes flicking towards the grandfather clock that ticked away the hours in the hallway. "I'll make sure the back gate is unlocked," she promised, her voice low and urgent. "But you must be quick and quiet. The guards change shifts at 7 PM. You have to be gone before then."
Evangeline felt a surge of hope, her eyes shining with gratitude. "Thank you, Sara," she whispered, her voice choking with gratitude. "I'll owe you my life."
Sara squeezed her hand gently. "Just promise me you'll be careful," she said, her own eyes misting over. "Once you're out, don't look back. Run as fast as you can and don't stop until you're far away from here."
Evangeline nodded, her mind racing with the possibilities of freedom. "I promise," she whispered.
The next day, after lunch, her heart pounded in her chest as she waited in her room, her eyes glued to the clock.
The hands ticked away, each second feeling like an eternity.
Finally, the hour hand reached the number 6, the evening came. It was time.
Evangeline took a deep breath and stood up from her chair, her legs feeling like jelly.
She smoothed out her dress, trying to calm the tremors that raced through her body. She knew she had to move quickly.
"Sara," she called out softly. The maid appeared at her door, her eyes filled with a silent understanding. "It's time," she whispered.
Sara nodded, her expression a mask of calm.
She had packed a small bag for Evangeline the night before, filled with small amount of snacks.
"Remember the plan," she whispered. "You go to the back of the mansion. The gate will be unlocked. I already made sure of it."
Evangeline nodded, her eyes wide with fear and hope.
She took the bag from Sara and clutched it tightly to her chest. "Thank you," she murmured. "Thank you so much."
Sara nodded, her expression serious. "You need to be careful," she said, her eyes scanning the hallway before she opened the door of the backyard for Evangeline. "And remember, if anything goes wrong, if you're caught—"
Evangeline interrupted her, her voice firm. "I won't be," she said, her determination unyielding. "I'll make it out."
Sara's eyes searched hers for a moment before she nodded. "Okay," she murmured. "I'll be praying for you."
They both knew the risks involved. The mansion was a fortress, and Vincente's reach was long. But the promise of freedom was too tantalizing to ignore.
She made her way to the garden with Sara, The air was still, the only sound the distant murmur of the fountain and the rustle of leaves as a soft breeze danced through the trees.
"Now," Sara whispered, her eyes darting around nervously and saw no one there. "You need to go."
She bid goodbye to Sara with a quick hug.
Sara had told her to stick to the forest route, and she did, her eyes scanning the horizon for the back gate.
She saw it in the distance, a sliver of hope in the otherwise impenetrable wall that surrounded her.
The gate was a simple wooden affair, painted a dark green that blended almost seamlessly with the foliage.
To her immense relief, it was unlocked, just as Sara had promised. She pushed it open slowly, the hinges groaning softly in protest. She slipped through, her breath catching in her throat as she stepped into the alleyway beyond.
Her heart hammered like a drum in her chest as she glanced back at the mansion. Praying to God not to get caught.
Her legs felt like lead, each step an agonizing effort as she stumbled through the dense underbrush, her white dress torn from snagging on the thorns and branches that reached out to claw at her.
It was already night, full moon in view and she had been running for hours.
The moon cast a silvery glow on her surroundings, illuminating a path that wound through the dense forest.
Her breath came in ragged gasps, her lungs burning with each inhalation.
She had never been so tired, but the fear of being caught by Vincente's men kept her moving.
The mansion was very far away from the city in some town with very few houses and she didnt want to go to them what if they inform the Don about her.
They cant be trusted. Then to her relief she saw lights from the street in the distant.
Her once pristine white dress was now a sad imitation of its former self, stained with dirt and thorns.
Long brown hair fell in tangles around her shoulders, the once sleek locks now a wild mess from her frantic escape.
Her brown eyes, were now dull with exhaustion, the fear of what could happen if she was caught never leaving her thoughts.
Evangeline had stumbled into a small, deserted clearing, miles away from the Castellanos mansion.
The moon cast a pale light over the landscape, revealing tall, ancient trees that stood sentinel around her, their gnarled branches reaching out like skeletal hands.
The air was cool and crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and pine needles.
The night was eerily quiet, save for the occasional hoot of an owl and the distant howl of a coyote.
Her muddied dress clinging to her like a second skin as she stumbled through the underbrush.
Her bare feet bruised and bloodied.
Her legs burned with every step, muscles screaming in protest as she pushed herself to keep moving.
Her breath came in ragged gasps, her chest heaving with the effort of escape.
The quiet street was a stark contrast to the chaos in her mind.
She stepped out of the forest, the cool concrete feeling foreign beneath her tender feet.
The moon cast a silver glow over the pavement.
Her hand rose tentatively, fingers splayed in a silent plea for help. She had never felt so exposed, so vulnerable.
Each breath she took was a silent scream for salvation, each exhalation a prayer that a kind soul would pass by.
Her posture was that of a lost child, shoulders hunched and eyes wide with fear.