His name was Nathaniel

21

The moon cast a silvery glow over the quiet streets as Adaliya and Lola crouched behind a hedge near Nathaniel's mansion. Adaliya's heart raced with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. They had planned this carefully, but the unexpected sight of guards patrolling the estate had thrown a wrench into their plans.

Lola adjusted her dark hoodie, her face set in determined lines. "We'll have to find another way in," she whispered. "They're more alert than we thought."

Adaliya nodded, swallowing hard. "What if we get caught? I don't want to make things worse for Nathaniel."

Lola gave her a reassuring glance. "We won't. We just need to be smart. Let's head around the back. The security's less intense there."

They moved quietly, staying close to the shadows. The mansion's imposing structure loomed above them, its windows dark and unwelcoming. They crept along the edge of the property, carefully avoiding the paths where the guards' flashlights swept periodically.

Reaching a less visible side of the mansion, Lola found a small service entrance, one that looked less guarded. "Here," she said, pointing to a window that was slightly ajar. "If we can get through here, we should be able to make it to Nathaniel's room."

Adaliya swallowed her fear and nodded. They managed to slip through the window and into the dimly lit corridor beyond. The air inside was cool and stale, a stark contrast to the crisp night outside.

The two girls moved swiftly, avoiding the areas where they could hear footsteps or voices. Adaliya's heart pounded in her chest as they navigated the maze of hallways. They had to move quickly; every sound seemed amplified in the silence, every shadow a potential threat.

Finally, they reached the door to Nathaniel's bedroom. Lola signaled for Adaliya to stop and stood watch, her eyes scanning the corridor for any sign of trouble. Adaliya took a deep breath, her hands shaking slightly as she turned the handle.

The door creaked open, and Adaliya stepped inside, her breath catching as she took in the room. It was opulent and impeccably decorated, a stark reminder of the world Nathaniel was trapped in. But her attention was quickly drawn to Nathaniel, who was standing by a large wardrobe, looking fragile and disheveled.

His eyes widened in shock as he saw Adaliya. "What are you doing here?" he exclaimed, panic evident in his voice. "You shouldn't have come!"

Adaliya's heart sank at his reaction. "Nathaniel, I had to see you. I was worried sick. I need to know what's going on."

Nathaniel glanced nervously at the door, then back at her. "You don't understand. It's too dangerous. My father—"

Before he could finish, Lola burst into the room, her eyes wide with alarm. "Someone's coming!" she hissed urgently. "We need to hide, now!"

Adaliya's eyes flew to Nathaniel, who looked torn between his panic and a desire to protect her. Without hesitation, Lola grabbed Adaliya's arm and pulled her toward a large wardrobe. They scrambled inside, Lola pushing Adaliya in first before squeezing in beside her.

The closet was dark and spacious, the scent of fresh laundry and slightly lemon heavy in the air. Adaliya's breath came in quick, shallow bursts as she tried to calm herself, her mind racing with fear and confusion. They could hear footsteps approaching, muffled voices growing louder.

The door to Nathaniel's room creaked open, and Adaliya could hear someone enter. A low, authoritative voice spoke, it was Greg's. The tension in the closet was palpable as they waited, barely daring to breathe.

After what felt like an eternity, Greg's voice was heard speaking softly, "Nathaniel, are you all right?"

Nathaniel's voice came back, strained but relieved. "Greg, thank God. I didn't expect you here."