𝒟𝑒𝒶𝓇 𝒥𝓊𝒹𝑒,

╰┈➤ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟔

𝙹𝚞𝚕𝚢 𝟹𝟷𝚜𝚝, 𝟸𝟶𝟶𝟷

𝙰𝚝𝚕𝚊𝚜

I was going to leave.

I was going to escape.

As I lay there, plotting our route to freedom amidst the imaginary constellations overhead, I couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty gnawing at me. It wasn't just about me anymore; it was about getting all the kids out of here, away from this place that felt more and more like a prison every day. How was I going to pull this off? The details eluded me, dancing just beyond my grasp like elusive shadows in the night.

Yet, I refused to believe there wasn't a way.

A sharp knock on the door shattered my trance, and I turned to see Reuban standing there, a hesitant expression on his face.  He held out a glass of water and a bottle of pills, likely from Tommy. I observed silently as he made his way over to the small wooden table stand in the corner, carefully placing the pills down before joining me on the bed. Reuban and Tommy had been visiting my room a lot more frequently since...since...

I shuddered as the images flooded back, vivid and visceral, each blow a cruel reminder of my vulnerability, of the fragility of life itself. The taste of blood lingered on my tongue, metallic and bitter, as I struggled to push aside the suffocating grip of fear that threatened to consume me whole. I closed my eyes, trying to shut out the memories, the pain, the fear.

I hated how much it still affected me.

I hated how I still felt his hold on me.

I hated it all.

Reuban hesitated for a moment before speaking, his voice barely above a whisper. "How are you holding up?".

Breathe in... Breathe out... Inhale in... Exhale out

Don't let Reuban see.

I forced a weak smile, shifting to sit upright in an attempt to reassure him. "I'm fine," I replied, though we both knew it was far from the truth. He didn't press further, choosing instead to sit beside me in silence. I cherished moments like these, because even though we wouldn't speak, the quiet understanding between us spoke volumes. In the stillness, there was solace, a fleeting respite from the chaos that engulfed us.

As if Reuban could read my thoughts "I know it's not easy," he murmured, his voice soft. I turned to look at him, finding him lost in contemplation as his gaze fixated on the scars tracing his own arms and wrists.

"I'm going to get us out of here, Reuban. All of us," I said, determination lacing my words.

Reuban didn't say anything, but a newfound flicker of hope danced in his eyes, quickly overshadowed by a wave of concern. "Atlas," he began, his voice tinged with apprehension, "you know the risks. We've tried before, and... it didn't end well".

I reached out, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You did, Reuban," I acknowledged, "But this time will be different. We'll plan, we'll be careful. I won't let anything happen to any of us".

He sighed, resignation evident in the slump of his shoulders, knowing that he couldn't sway my decision. "I trust you, Atlas," he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Just... be careful, okay?".

"I will", I smiled.
___________________

Time slipped by, Reuban eventually left for his room, leaving me to mull over our escape plan. Knowing that Tommy's involvement was crucial, I quickly scribbled a note asking to meet up with him. I slipped the note under Tommy's door, urging him to meet me as soon as possible to discuss our strategy for getting out of this place.

Returning to my room, I sat on the edge of the bed, anxiously waiting for a response. The minutes dragged on, each passing second feeling like an eternity as I replayed our plan over and over in my mind. Finally, the faint sound of footsteps approached my door, and I held my breath, anticipating.
___________________

When the clock finally struck midnight, I stole away to the kitchen, ensuring that every creak of the floorboards didn't betray my movements. I darted glances over my shoulder, half-expecting someone to emerge from the shadows and catch me in the act.

In the stillness of the night, every sound seemed magnified, each creak and groan of the old house echoing like a warning. My palms grew clammy as I waited, the seconds stretching into agonizing minutes that dragged on mercilessly. The silence was deafening, broken only by the erratic thumping of my heart in my chest.

In the kitchen, the soft glow of moonlight filtered through the windows, casting eerie shapes across the room. I glanced at the clock, the ticking of its hands mocking me with each passing second. The minutes felt like an eternity, each one stretching the bounds of my patience to their breaking point. Where was he? He should be here by now?

I waited...

and waited...

for what felt like forever...

but he never came.