Project GoldCrest ✓

Chapter 51

Charlotte

"Where's the water..?" Mickey looked amused when I got inside the room.

"How are you going to get to Fountain Falls?" I asked as I opened my closet and pushed away some clothes. I was looking for my emergency backpack. I'd prepared it for when we'd have to go to Hue Castle, and I'd hid it below all my clothes, at the very bottom of the closet.

"Chloe is waiting for me to appear just outside of the community. Why are you asking?"

"I'm coming with you," I said, not looking at him. I pulled out the bag and closed the closet. "Where you go, I go."

"Wait, is that your emergency backpack?" He sounded surprised. "What's wrong?"

"They know you've escaped. I just heard my mother on a call. We have to go now," I managed to get out without shouting.

At that, Mickey stood up from my bed and wore his backpack on his shoulders. He went to the window and opened it again, wider this time, preparing to leave.

I wore my backpack too, then went to my nightstand to pull out my wallet.

I realised that I hadn't closed the door when Maddie suddenly appeared in her PJ's looking very confused.

"Charlotte, what's going on? What are you doing?"

I looked at Mickey first. "Go. I'll follow you in a little while." He's the person who had to get away after all. But he shook his head. "Damn it, Michael. Please go!"

"Charlotte, mom wants to talk to you. That's why I'm here. Why are you leaving like this?" She crossed her arms. "I'm going to tell mom."

"Please don't." I walked closer to her after taking my phone. "Madelyn, look. Come with me, okay? We have to leave this house. For our own safety."

She looked bewildered, "Why?"

"Our parents are bad people. So we have to leave," I said, desperately trying to get her to believe me. I wish I could tell her more right now but there was no time. "There's no time for you to pack, we have to go. We'll be fine. Just trust me and I'll explain everything later."

Maddie was quiet, probably trying to make sense of what I was saying.

"I don't understand."

"There's no time, Madelyn. Please," I begged.

She suddenly looked sure of herself. "No. I'm not going. I don't know what the hell is going on, but I'm not going with you."

I felt like cold water had been poured over me. So I just walked over to Mickey and prepared to go out through the window. But Maddie was still standing at the door.

"I won't tell mom, I guess. But only for you," she said.

This made me feel a tiny bit better. "Thank you. Take care, Maddie. I love you. I'll come back for you." At least I knew mom wouldn't do something bad to her, which made me feel a bit better about this.

With that, I left my sister and escaped with Mickey. Which was another big deviation from our escape plan. I'd have to think about how to get Madelyn to our side. But all of this after we leave this damned place first.