His name was Nathaniel

25

Nathaniel had spent weeks meticulously preparing for this moment. Every night, he'd run through the plan in his mind, refining each step until it was flawless. He'd memorized the guard rotations, mapped out the least traveled routes within the mansion, and carefully gathered what little he would need for the journey. He was ready, or at least he kept telling himself that.

Tonight was different, though. Tonight was not just another one of his secret midnight escapades; it was the final escape-hopefully, the last time he'd ever have to sneak out of the Donovan estate. The thought alone made his heart pound in his chest. He couldn't afford any mistakes. One misstep, and everything would be lost.

Nathaniel's hands trembled slightly as he finished packing the small bag he had prepared. He had thought of escaping through the servants' entrance, a route he had used many times before. But tonight, he chose a different path, one less obvious but potentially more dangerous-the wine cellar. It was often overlooked by the staff and guards, its dark, damp corridors a labyrinth that led directly to the outside, just beyond the reach of the estate's iron gates.

Taking a deep breath, Nathaniel pulled on his coat and slung the bag over his shoulder. He quietly opened the door to his room and peered into the hallway. It was empty, just as he had anticipated. He moved quickly but cautiously, his footsteps barely making a sound as he navigated the familiar corridors. When he reached the entrance to the wine cellar, he hesitated for a brief moment. His hand rested on the cold metal of the door handle as he listened for any signs of movement.

The silence was deafening.

With a final breath, Nathaniel turned the handle and slipped inside. The cellar was exactly as he remembered-dark and musty, with the faint scent of aged wine permeating the air. He maneuvered his way through the rows of barrels and bottles, careful not to knock anything over. As he reached the far end of the cellar, he found the small, hidden exit he had discovered years ago. It was nothing more than a narrow door behind a stack of crates, barely noticeable unless you were looking for it.

Nathaniel pushed it open and was immediately greeted by the cool night air. The familiar scent of freedom filled his lungs as he stepped outside, into the moonlit garden. The estate loomed behind him, an imposing shadow against the starry sky. But he didn't look back. He couldn't. Instead, he moved forward, quickly and quietly, slipping through the narrow gaps in the estate's security and into the woods that bordered the property.

He ran. He ran like his life depended on it, his heart pounding in his chest with every step. The path was rough, and the trees loomed ominously around him, but he didn't slow down. He couldn't afford to. Not when freedom was so close, just within his grasp.

As Nathaniel neared the secluded location where they had agreed to meet, he slowed his pace, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He scanned the area, searching the darkness for any sign of Adaliya and her parents. The silence of the woods pressed in on him, each second stretching into an eternity.

And then he saw them-Adaliya and her parents, standing by a small car parked in the shadow of the trees. The sight of them filled Nathaniel with a mixture of relief and anxiety. He quickly made his way over to them, his heart still racing from the run and the fear of being caught.

Adaliya's face lit up the moment she saw him, but there was an undeniable tension in her eyes. Her parents stood close by, their expressions a mix of concern and urgency. They had been waiting, anxiously scanning the darkness for any sign of him.

"You made it," Adaliya whispered, her voice trembling slightly as she rushed to his side. Without thinking, she pulled him into a tight hug, her arms wrapped around him as if she was afraid he might disappear if she let go.

Nathaniel held onto her for a moment, savoring the warmth of her embrace. But the panic still gripped his chest, and he quickly pulled back, his eyes darting around the darkened woods. "We need to go," he said, his voice low and urgent. "Now."

Her parents were already moving, opening the doors to the car and ushering them inside. Nathaniel slid into the backseat beside Adaliya, his heart still racing as they pulled away from the secluded spot. He watched the trees blur past the window, the reality of what they were doing finally sinking in.

Adaliya's father drove quickly but carefully, navigating the narrow, winding roads that led away from the Donovan estate. Nathaniel could feel the tension in the car, the unspoken fear that they might be followed, that they might be caught at any moment. The farther they drove, the more his panic began to subside, replaced by a cautious hope.

Adaliya reached out and took his hand, squeezing it tightly. "We're going to make it," she whispered, more to herself than to him.

Nathaniel didn't respond. He couldn't. All he could do was hold on to her hand and pray that she was right, that they really would make it, that this would be the last time he ever had to sneak out of the mansion, the last time he would ever have to look back.

As they drove deeper into the night, the looming shadow of the Donovan estate faded into the distance, swallowed by the darkness. And for the first time in his life, Nathaniel allowed himself to hope that freedom was within reach.

But as the car sped down the empty road, he couldn't shake the feeling that their journey had only just begun-and that the real challenges were yet to come.