Dowager's pride

The Escape Plan: Chp 16

Few minutes after my morning bath,, Tito cam to see me. I was so angry at him. "Ari how have you been holding up?",he asked. I just looked towards the huge windows, "why do you care?". He sensed how cold I sounded. "did i do something wrong Ari?". I couldn't believe this guy. I whirled around to face him. I gasped. "you mean to tell me that you do not know what you did tito?". He just shook his head. This was so unbelievable. " i cannot believe you tito, you say that you came here because of me. I am starting to think you came here for your own selfish reasons". That seemed to hit him hard.

"Ari, you know that i would never leave you. I'll always be there to help and protect you...", i cut him off with a frustrated scream, "that's a lie, you have been to busy being the duchess' errand boy...", he felt offended and tried to stop me but i wasn't done yet. I was too angry and frustrated by the whole situation. "i have been locked up in here and not once did you think of me or even come to visit me". He came closer to me and i raised my chin up defiantly, "Ari," he said, "it's not like that". "then how would you explain how it's like huh", i shook my head. "i trusted you, risked my life for yours and this is how it'll end for me??" his face morphed to one of pain. He came closer and held me by my arm, careful not to hurt me, "what do you want me to do Ari, anything I'll do it just don't push me away". I gulped and said stiffly while looking at him directly in the eye. "I want you to help me escape tito, that's all you could do for me. Help me get out of here", i tried hard not tosob. Tito looked a little scared but then he resolved and said "fine, we'll leave tonight". I nodded in agreement. Finally, I will get out of here.
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That night, I dressed in the maids clothes Edna had brought for me. "Are you sure you won't get caught miss", Edna had asked. "I'll try not to Edna, i have to be able to get out of here,I must". She nodded. "ok then, I'll put the door guards to sleep while you meet Tito in the scullery". I felt touched that this stranger had helped me willingly. "thank you so much for what you are doing for me Edna". She just smiled and walked out of the room. An hour later, I heard a knock on my door and immediately i knew it was time for me to get my freedom. "Tito", I called. "come on Ari, let's go",he replied. I got out and found Tito. He took my hands and we crept past the sleeping guards and past a huge stair wall that leads to the scullery. The castle was silent. Everyone had retired to bed except the night guards that we dodged every few second. Finally, we got to the scullery. "This is where i'll leave you", Tito said. I became apprehensive, "won't you come with me Tito?". He shook his head. "it'll be suspicious and it'll only make matters worse for us. You will have to go alone Ari". I gave him a big hug before finally turning to leave. "there will be guards at the watch tower so you'll use the shadow as a cover and you'll have to pass through the chimney". I have done worse things so, this is nothing. I hugged him one last time before climbing up the chimney.
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I came out to the top of the roof, it was so high up but it was now or never. I slowly walked until i got to a part where there were hays packed into a heap. I held my breath and jumped into it. I noiselessly got down and crept into the dungeon through a small barred postern gate. This place reminded me of so much pain.

I was finally able to get away from the palace grounds and into the forest. It would be hard to find my way around this huge forest but what can i do really, i have to get far away from the castle as soon as possible.
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I woke up to the sounds of dogs and men. I had stayed in the forest for three days totally lost. Hunters. I sprang up from where I laid and hid behind a tree. I could hear the distant sound of the men's voices. Suddenly, i heard a low growl not very far from where i was hiding. "easy boy". I heard a hunter say. "it seems, Fletcher here has found us something good". This isn't good. I felt so weak and haven't eaten in a while, this can't be happening.

The dog kept coming closer, i knew that if I didn't run now,, i'd be dead and so, I ran. " hey there was someone in the bushes follow him".They had mistaken me for a boy because of the cloak i was wearing. The other hunters began to run after me with their dogs. I was getting weak and tired. "don't let him go away". I could hear the string of commands that were being dished to the fellow hunters. Just when I was about to give up, I saw a clearing with a gate. The gate was open so i ran inside and met myself in a village. The hunters still followed. I saw an open hut and so i ran inside. I watched as the hunters went past me through some openings in the hut's door. Once i was sure that they had gone, I breathed a loud sigh and slumped to the ground. "who are you?" A voice came from somewhere in the hut. It was dark. I just realised. "I.. I am um...",I stuttered. "you're a fugitive".The voice barked. I became afraid. Suddenly a very hefty man was towering above me. He grabbed me by my collar and literally lifted me up the ground. The he crashed me hard into the door. That, sent me flying through the door and into the open village.

Pain shot through my back, that was hella painful. He came to me again and grabbed my neck and lifted me up. The air was being blocked and I couldn't breath. Suddenly, someone yelled. "don't kill her, she is wanted by the Duke alive". I turned to see where that statement came from. It was from a petite woman in rags with tattered straw coloured hair. The hefty man's grip began to loosen and i'd rather die than go back there. I clutched unto his hand so that he could continue to strangle me. He looked at me like i was crazy and flung me unto the ground and before long some other villagers came over and carried me away with both my hands and feet tied to each other. "from the frying pan into the fire". I thought.