Anachronistic: Endless Masquerade

32 | On Top of the World

- 32 -

Lilith flung open the cover and flipped quickly through the pages. They became more wrinkled and creased as she drew closer to the book's midpoint. She was searching for something she already knew was there. But even though she had memorized the words years ago, she needed to see them in print. Only then would they give her the courage to go through with what she had already decided on.

        It tugged at her heart to see exactly how much damage had been done to her favorite book the night she left home. Something so important to Lilith and Joshua had thrown it to the ground and stepped on it. But the story lived in her heart. It would always be with her.

        Cold tears struck the open page. I'll make sure it's the same for you, Dad.

        Turning back to the text, Lilith found the passage she had been looking for.

╔═══━━━─── 🌸 ───━━━═══╗

The last of [Lilith's] hope had faded away. In the sixty years since the prison's construction, not a single inmate had escaped. Sure, A few had avoided their execution by taking matters into their own hands. But the 'Iron Coffin' had more than earned its nickname. Once inside, death was the only freedom. Yet [Lilith] still thought she could be the one to break free. To weaponize their complacency, and end the prison's reputation.

        With just another week she could have done it. No, four days if she hurried. But if what [Pandora] told her was true, she was to be moved to a new facility in the morning. He had said they wanted her to be closer to the execution grounds. With more than a month till execution day? What a load of shit. They must have found her out and now they were moving her before she could execute her plan.

        [Lilith] pressed her head against the door. "I'm out of time."

        [Pandora] reached his arms through the bars and wrapped them around her. "I'll be coming with you. I'm with you to the end. We can still enjoy the time you have left."

        She pulled away from his embrace. Maybe if she hadn't wasted her time with him she could have escaped. How much time had she spent longing after the person set to kill her? Her head fell into her hands and she berated herself. How could she blame him for this? So what if he was Galmurian and she was Olexan? The sins of a nation couldn't all be laid at the feet of every Civilian. She had already decided not to let lines on a map get in the way of her love for him.

        No more secrets. It was time to finally tell him everything.

        [Lilith] drifted back to the far wall. To the spot she had spent so long trying to conceal. "[Pandora], There's something I need to show you."

        "What is it?"

        She pushed against the stone, the way she had hundreds of times before, and it slid aside to reveal the passageway behind. She gave her best attempt at a smile to [Pandora] but she knew it was weak and distorted. What would his reaction be? Would he run off to tell a superior? Maybe he would kill her, thinking she had finished the tunnel out.

        "Let me come with you."

        A bitter hand grasped at her heart, wringing out the joy his words brought. [Lilith] was sure now that he didn't care who she was, or where she was from. He loved her. But they had missed their chance to leave.