𝑺𝒊𝒍𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕

𝐄𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐭

Chapter Twenty: Escape to Desert

Gill's eyes widened as he processed Vasisth's words. The remnants of his dream still lingered in his mind, the scent of lilies and the warmth of Anamika's imagined embrace. Pushing aside the surreal images, he focused on the urgency in Vasisth's eyes.

"What do you mean, untangle ourselves and escape?" Gill asked, trying to shake off the drowsiness that clung to him after the vivid dream.

Vasisth's eyes darted toward the seemingly solid wall behind them, her expression grim. "Gill, there's more to this prison than meets the eye. I overheard the guards discussing a secret passage hidden behind that wall," she whispered urgently.

Gill's eyes widened further, the remnants of his dream now overshadowed by the stark reality of their predicament. "A secret passage?" he repeated in disbelief.

Vasisth nodded, glancing around cautiously before continuing. "Yes, and it seems to lead directly to the desert outside the electrical fence. If we can find a way to untangle ourselves from these restraints, we might be able to use that passage to escape."

Gill furrowed his brow in confusion. "Wait, how were you eavesdropping if you were supposedly asleep?" he asked, a note of scepticism in his voice.

Vasisth scowled at him, her eyes narrowing. "You're questioning me at a time like this?" she whispered sharply, making Gill regret his inquiry. "I was awake, but I kept my eyes closed due to the pain. You're lucky I overheard their conversation. It might just be our ticket out of here."

Gill, still feeling a bit guilty, whispered an apologetic, "I'm sorry, Vasisth." However, curiosity got the better of him, and he couldn't resist asking again, "But why would the guards discuss such sensitive matters in front of us, even if we were supposedly asleep?"

Vasisth let out a frustrated groan, putting her head on Gill's shoulder. His heart raced at the proximity, but before he could savour the moment, she looked up at him with a seething expression. "One of them had doubts. What if we were to discover the secret passage?" she explained, her anger evident. "The other guard dismissed it, saying it's not possible. They are confident the passage is so well-hidden that we wouldn't get a whiff of it."

Gill opened his mouth to inquire further, but Vasisth cut him off, her tone impatient. "And before you ask any more questions, I was snoring to make them believe I was asleep, and you were snoring louder than anyone in the room. So, stop questioning and start focusing on our escape plan."

Gill, realizing he had pushed his luck, closed his mouth, ending his attempt to question with a pout.

Gill, observing Vasisth's focused gaze on the solid wall, couldn't help but voice his thoughts. "I think he's using that wall as a cover for a secret escape route. If there's any emergency from our government, he could take hostages and make a quick getaway directly from his chamber," he suggested, his voice hushed but determined.

Vasisth nodded in agreement, her eyes still fixed on the wall. "How are we going to untangle ourselves from these restraints?" Vasisth asked, her voice tinged with frustration. She pouted slightly, making Gill briefly entertain the thought of kissing away her worries. However, he quickly shook off such distractions and scanned their surroundings, determined to find a solution.

Gill's eyes darted around the dimly lit cell, searching for any objects or tools that could aid their escape.

His eyes fell upon a small table in the corner, and he hurried over, crawling because his legs were still tied. Among the various items scattered on it, he spotted a discarded piece of metal, sharp and jagged.