Amira's Escape

Chapter one: Running Away

Amira envisioned her ideal life. The sweet melody of birds chirping by her windowsill, and the faint sound of a boiling kettle would wake her up. Her mornings would consist of picking berries, feeling the fresh grass beneath her feet and admiring the sweet flowers her sister planted on their lawn. She would breathe in the mixed scent of the trees,flowers and woodland animals, wearing a small smile at her simple life. 

She would live in a quaint house, decorated with her mother’s trinkets. Her sister’s potted plants would be seen on each table, all of them green and full of life. Her father’s fishing nets would be tucked away in one corner, whilst his guns would proudly hang on stands. 

In this life, her mother would be a seamstress. Making different clothing for a boutique shop that she’d work for. Her father would be busy by the dock catching fishes or in the woods, hunting for rabbits and deer. Amira would be busy in the kitchen, making pastries and dreaming of becoming a known baker. Her sister Valencia would be tending to her plants, with a happy hum.  

She opened her heavy eyes and sighed, trying to cling on to those happy thoughts. Her ideal life would remain a fantasy. As long as she was Amira Lacost, the daughter of a wealthy family, she could never be seen with a dress full of flour. Her father despised the mere thought of her working in the kitchen rather than working on being a proper lady. She was the girl who could never live up to her mother’s example, her father made sure to remind her that everyday. 

She knew that she could never escape this life, nor the judgemental eyes that came with its society. She would hear their whispers of how ‘silly’ and ‘preposterous’ she was. Amira needed to accept that her life would stay this way. She’d always be the black sheep of the family, the so-called ‘imperfect’ one, and nobody would try to defend her. They would all be too scared to stand up to her father.  

If anyone ever knew about her father abusing her, nobody would bat an eyelash. He’d ask them a price and give it to them, for the sake of keeping quiet. She’d be trapped in this life. Unless she ran away from home of course, maybe her problems would finally feel far away. 

She knew that if she left, she would never be welcome back into her home. She’d finally be free from her father’s insults and harsh slaps. If Amira could experience just a short period away from home, she’d take that chance. She wanted a break from everything. 

“Do you really have to leave Amira? I know that father isn’t treating you fairly, I'll miss your pastries and corny jokes.” Valerie said, gently pressing a soaked cotton ball to Amira’s wounded cheek. 

Amira winced, but did nothing to stop her sister. She had dragged her into their room after father pushed her out of his office and slammed his door. He acted as if he didn’t land a punch to her face before that. She willed herself not to cry in front of him when it happened, knowing that he’d only taunt her for being so weak. 

Being unlike her mother, despite inheriting her looks.

Everyone told her that she was a carbon copy of her mother, but when she looked in the mirror, she knew how wrong they were. She didn’t bear her mother’s carefree smile. There wasn’t an ounce of happiness in her eyes. All she could see was pain. 

“I just need a break Valerie,” coughing when her voice came out hoarse.”I’ll be back before you know it.” She stifled a sob as she remembered the string of events that made her father angry. 

Amira wanted to ‘dress to impress’ her father. She knew that this party was a big deal for him, so she tried to look her best. She found her mother’s heels and decided to wear them to the party. Amira was excited with how formal she looked and couldn’t wait to make her father proud. 

A few seconds after she walked in the ballroom, she tripped and fell into one of her father’s business partners, soiling his shirt with the champagne he held. He paid no attention to it and waved it off, her father thought otherwise. He excused her from the party and dragged her into his office, calling her an incompetent brat. His temper rose when he saw her footwear, and said that she didn’t deserve to touch any of her mother’s belongings, including the hairpin that Amira constantly wore. He landed a hard blow on her cheek, cutting it open with his gold ring. 

“I’ll cover for you in case father starts questioning where you are. I’ll tell him you caught a cold from last night’s ball.” Valerie said, snapping Amira out of her thoughts. 

“Thanks Valerie.” 

She pulled her sister into a tight embrace and tried her best to soothe her aching heart. 

After that, her sister insisted that she bring several items from the kitchen with her, to make sure that she wouldn't starve while she was away.0 Amira made sure to bring the lightest pans, sharpest knives, sturdiest spatulas, spoons, ingredients and spices. 

She started regretting bringing so many items. Her backpack felt like a ton of bricks against her back as she stared at her mother’s grave. The words ‘You will be missed’ engraved onto the hard rock. She covered her tear-stricken face, and focused on tracing the small wolf symbol on the stone. 

“I wish you were here mom. Father wouldn’t be so angry with me because he would be busy looking for the finest gifts to give to you from across the world. I miss hearing you argue with him for buying such expensive items. You would tell him that he could’ve used the money to buy food for the children on the street, or to make Valerie and I happy instead.”

Amira sniffed, setting down a red rose and a pink orchid. She hugged her mother’s grave, hoping that if she hugged it hard enough it would bring back her mother. She wanted to feel her mother’s warmth once more, but she was empty handed. Only feeling the cold stone pressing on her aching cheek. 

Amira flinched when she heard a branch break, her eyes darting to the trees.She locked onto a pair of yellow eyes with an intense gaze. The trees revealed a black snout and rows of white teeth. 

A wolf, here to make me suffer the same fate my mother had. 

She got up and ran, ignoring the nagging feeling that she had to look back. Her things clanked as her heavy footsteps pounded through the snow. A hand grabbed a hold of her waist and lifted her. She froze and felt the person remove her backpack and start walking. She struggled to break from his hold, reaching for her backpack to slow him down. 

She screamed and kicked his chest, only stopping when the man hit the back of her head with something hard.She didn’t know how to fight, let alone escape a kidnapper. Her head hung and her eyelids drooped from the impact on her head. Her mind ridiculed her for thinking that she would ever be free from her old life. 

She ran away to escape her problems, only to run into another. It felt like an endless maze with no way out. The winds grew colder and the snow fell even harder, blocking her view of her forgotten backpack. She internally laughed at herself for thinking that she’d get away with running. As her body went limp, Amira could only think to herself. 

Maybe I should have never left.