Six

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She leaned against the locked bathroom door. Holy crap. I have to get out of here. She surveyed the bathroom. Toothbrush and toothpaste on the sink, clothes and towel folded neatly on a stool by the shower. Once she managed to regulate her breathing she stepped away from the door. She brushed her teeth twice, desperately removing the 3 day film from her teeth and tongue. Gross. She moved quickly, time was not a luxury she was use to. Washing her hands before rinsing her mouth and toothbrush, she pulled a hairband from her wrist and quickly pulled her hair up into a tight but messy bun. She used the bathroom and quickly changed clothes. There was a window over the toilet and that would be her way out. She'd have to squeeze to fit, but she'd make it.

She forced the window open. Closing the toilet seat she climbed up pulling herself out of the window. She didn't just jump out, she wasn't sure how high she was or if he had dogs protecting the property. So instead, she pulled herself to stand on the windowsill taking in her surroundings. Woods....great. I saw this movie before, everyone dies, and the girl running in the woods either gets eaten by wolves or the by the freaks that live in the woods. Focus. How far out were they?

She turned pulling herself higher, climbing onto the roof. Her movements were crisp and clean, without hesitation or straining.  You wouldn't have guessed watching her that she had been bed ridden for three days. She crouched looking in all directions. No dogs were patrolling and it appeared to be clear for the moment. She looked up at the stars through the trees. One of the, no the only, good thing her father taught her was surviving if lost in the woods. It was the one thing she'd hoped she'd never need, but her father drilled into her.

Deciding to go North, she crept as quietly to that side of the roof looking for her best way out and off of this roof. She made a short and impressively almost silent leap to a nearby branch before leaning back and flipping down to her feet.  She stood dead still listening for other movement before running.

Nicholas watched her from the shadows of the trees, he knew what she would do before allowing her to go alone into the bathroom. Her physical strength was admirable. She'd healed so much since he brought her to his home. True she had slept quite a bit, but from what he could see she was completely healed.

He nodded to Amber who was standing two trees to his left. She began following Nicolette, keeping a distance, and moving in complete silence. Her mind was clear as she ran, thoughts of what was behind her was not important at the moment, what was in front of her was her focus now. Even in the dim lighting she didn't slow down her pace, planning her path, jumping over limbs most would stumble over. Once she felt there was enough distance between her and the house she slowed. Now thinking on all that had happened.

Nicholas. Mysterious Nicholas. Obviously this man, gorgeous as he was, was too impressed with himself. He obviously had Amber fooled, though she wasn't really sure what that relationship was. Were they lovers, siblings? It didn't matter she was not going to be his next toy. Not simply because he wanted it. And she wasn't sticking around for him to manipulate her mind. Who does that?! Nic slowed to a stop, regulating her breathing until she stood silently listening to the woods behind her.

Amber stopped, pulling herself behind a tree watching silently. Nicholas stopped behind her, leaning his head around her to watch Nicolette. They were still eight miles to the nearest town. He was curious how far she would run before stopping. She had all ready run four miles at this point. She closed her eyes listening to everything around her. Animals off in the distance, everything was filling her senses.

The woods did such strange things to her. She couldn't explain it, her mother tried to explain it as she was tapping into the spirit of the forest. All Nicolette knew is that she felt more alive when she was here.

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