[~Song Recommendation: Animals by Maroon 5~]
"What?" She exclaimed in horror.
"You heard me," he sounded dead serious. Layla gulped down the heavy lump that she was holding for quite some time and instead of answering him back, she cut the call without thinking twice.
"Wa-Was he serious? I-I can't…" She choked at her words as she could easily fathom what her master was insinuating. Picking up her phone, she rushed toward the cupboard where she just stuffed her belongings this morning.
"I can't stay here… At least I have to try my best to escape from this place," she mumbled while she busied herself in packing up her handbag. She recalled Rubina's words.
'There is a change of shift for the guards at 1 AM; There is a small window when there are no guards present at their spots as the new guards take some time to arrive whereas those who were on duty just leave the place right away after getting exhausted. Also, security is fairly weak in the backyard.'
"It's just ten o clock… I need to remain awake; I can't miss this opportunity no matter what happens!" She muttered underneath her breath as she kept pacing around the room. The phone rang once again but Layla ignored it. She won't hear another word from him.
"How inhuman he can be?" She mumbled before she remembered Mayra's words from the morning about how she disrespected her as a 'whore'. It seemed she was right all along and Layla cursed herself for not catching the hint in her words.
Her feet started aching by all the march she was undergoing, so she decided to take some rest by getting comfy over the bed. Bending her legs she sat down with her back resting against the bedrest and she prayed to the dear almighty to keep her awake although her eyes were already giving in after working hard for the day.
*******
Layla's eyes were trailing off every time she forced them to remain on. A sudden lightning bolt reverberated in the night sky shuddering the ground alongside. Layla jolted awake as her heartbeat paced up; her eyes glanced up at the wall clock. It was half past twelve.
"Okay then… I need to escape from the back door," she mumbled as she set foot outside her room, her eyes wandered around the hall to find not a single soul. Picking up her handbag where she managed to stuff as many items as she could she glanced back once to notice her suitcase lying in the corner.
"I'm sorry Mom; I can't carry this while escaping…" She felt sad as Elysia gifted her that on her eighth birthday.
She descended the stairs prudently to not make any kind of noise as her eyes kept prying around her surroundings. Reaching the last stair she was about to set her foot off to the ground floor when she heard someone's voice that was advancing her way by the passing seconds.
Layla crouched down before taking a few steps back reaching the landing of the staircase but her eyes remained glued to the ground floor and soon she noticed a guard passing by the staircase further into the mansion. He seemed to be engrossed in an intimate call with his lover.
"Enjoy your time mister… Better video call her but please don't return anytime soon," she mumbled before she gradually stepped down and almost rushed to the back door without checking her surroundings.
Unlocking the door, her vision wandered around the area but she was unaware of the pair of eyes that caught her action. The downpour had already begun along with the thunderstorm creating the atmosphere chilling. But Layla had no choice; if she wanted to escape there was no other option than to drench herself.
"Okay… I can do this." She said with absolute will and set her foot off the mansion. The chilling winds along with the ice-cold water welcomed her arrival and in no time she started shivering.
She looked everywhere trying to find if there was a place where the walls were low but to her dismay, she couldn't find any. As her vision traveled further, she could only see the forest behind the maid's quarters but no way she was taking that path.
'Í don't think anyone would be desperate enough to guard the place by getting drenched outside. Maybe I should try to escape from the front…' she mumbled. The possibility of her getting caught by the CCtTVs did cross her mind but she didn't back down.
'I haven't got any choice; I need to do this…' She continued to walk along the length of the mansion while her vision wandered around for any threat. But she was unaware that a person was following her all along maintaining a safe distance.
She admired the beauty of the mansion which was standing out with the designer lights adorned all across its exterior. The downpour increased further making it difficult for Layla to maintain a distant watch but she continued dragging herself towards the front.
Thankfully there wasn't any guard to keep a watch on her in that heavy downpour. She reached almost the front of the mansion when her eyes caught sight of a part of the fence that wasn't much high.
Her skirt drenched in the rain proved to be a hurdle while she climbed the cemented fence but just as she was about to climb to the top someone caught her leg and before she could comprehend anything that person dragged her down.
"Ahh…" She screamed in panic while anticipating the fall. Soon she fell flat on her knees and pain engulfed her senses. Gazing up she noticed Mayra staring back at her with a smirk covering her face.
"Mayra… I-I—"
"Shut up bitch! I knew it… You're running away after stealing something valuable from the mansion." She growled at her not even letting her speak for once.
"No! Mayra listen…" Mayra caught her hand before giving it a tug to make her stand on her feet. Layla winced in pain and suddenly she kept dragging her towards the front guardhouse.
Layla struggled to free herself but failed miserably. Her voice quivered as two guards rushed towards them with a curious gaze. Soon Mayra introduced herself along with revealing to them Layla's failed attempt to escape.
She closed her eyes as hot tears trickled down her skin contrasting to the chilling rains. A guard came forward to hold her hand but everyone paused at their steps when a car entered through the gate with its roaring engine and came to a halt before them.
"Leave her…" Layla opened her eyes when she heard a man's husky voice and soon the hold around her hand loosened.