𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐓 𝐓𝐄𝐀 ✔︎ (ongoing)

|21| escape

For what feels like hours, I lie in the darkness with nothing in my mind but hope.

Hope that someone will come and rescue us.

Hope that I will gather up all my courage and rescue us.

Hope that we will win.

Maybe it's not so bad. This can't be a punishment because I'm all alone and I don't need to face Richard. Or Charles.

However, I'm starting to worry about Sam. Unlike Marina and Sara who are watching TV and eating sweets, Sam might be suffering as much as I am.

Another hour passes until I feel like I might fall asleep. Suddenly, a key gently twists in the lock.

It can't be Charles. Usually when he locks and unlocks doors, he does it aggressively.

This twist of the key is slow, gentle and almost soundless.

I sit up, eager to know who it might be.

For the first time in hours, light enters the basement and the faces of three people are gazing down at me.

"Francisco!" Sam cheers and runs down the stairs, helping me up.

"How did–"

"Sara and Marina were in Richard's room and found a stash of keys under the bed all labelled," he explains. "They freed me from my cell and I knew you're in the basement because I was eavesdropping on Richard and Charles who were having a conversation right outside my cell."

We get out of the basement and I squint at the quantity of light. To my surprise, Sara and Marina are laughing with Jenny.

"Jenny? What are you doing here?" I ask.

"Shush, I'm going to help you all escape," she whispers. "You need to be quiet now. Anyone could be passing this room."

Jenny doesn't waste any time, quickly leading us through a maze of dark corridors and hidden passages.

Her eyes are sharp, her movements swift and silent. We follow her without hesitation, trusting her to guide us out of the mafia compound and into freedom.

As we silently follow Jenny, I can't help but feel a sense of unease. This place is more than just a simple hideaway for the mafia. It's a fortress, built to withstand any sort of attack or infiltration.

I shudder while thinking what horrors lie hidden within its walls.

This building must have been bought ever since Richard landed in Morocco. He's filthy rich so of course he wouldn't think twice when spending money on such a large building-- and whatever else he's hiding.

My thoughts are quickly interrupted by a sudden silence. Jenny's hand shoots up, signalling for us to stop and listen.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up as I strain to hear anything in the dimly lit corridors.

Suddenly, Richard's booming voice echoes through the corridor. He seems to be on the phone with someone.

"Yes, yes. Charles is doing his job very well, Sir. Yes, I'm sure you are proud of him, he hasn't let you down a jot. Sorry, did you just ask if he's had any conversation with Jenny yet? No, Sir, I never seem to see any kind of interaction between them." A pause. "Very well. I'll do my best to make them work together whenever possible. May I ask why?" Another pause. "Wedding next week?"

I glance at Jenny as tears form in her eyes. Why is she getting forced to marry someone she doesn't want to? She's not much older than us, probably around eighteen. She should be able to choose whoever she wants.