The Sweetest Obsession

8: shadows and silhouette

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ALANISE

The night of our escape was as quiet as any other. But tonight, the silence held weight—a final breath before the plunge.

Max had been unusually calm all day, as if something in the air had lulled her into a false sense of security.

She smiled more, kissed my temple without her usual force, and even let me be alone for a few moments after dinner.

It was an eerie calm that I knew wouldn't last. She believed I had finally submitted fully to her, and I let her believe it.

But the truth was, tonight would be our last.

Jen, Shane, Maila, and I had quietly confirmed everything during the brief moments we were alone. Jen had the stolen keys tucked away in her pocket.

Shane had memorized the guards shifts, and Maila had hidden supplies in a bag under the kitchen counter. We all knew what we had to do.

All that was left was the timing.

Max was already asleep, her arm draped lazily over my waist. I held my breath, listening to the sound of her breathing.

I slowly slid out from beneath her arm, careful not to wake her. My heart pounded in my chest as I tiptoed to the door, easing it open just enough to slip through.

The hallway was dark, and I could hear the faint murmurs of the guards stationed outside.

Shane had been right about the shift changes—they were switching over, which meant we had a small window.

I hurried down the hallway, meeting Jen at the end of the corridor. Her eyes were wide with fear but resolute, her hand clenched tightly around the stolen keys.

"Ready?" She whispered, her voice barely audible.

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. "Ready."

We moved swiftly, sticking to the shadows as we made our way to the others. Maila and Shane were waiting for us near the kitchen, their expressions tense but determined.

Maila had the bag of supplies slung over her shoulder, and Shane was already holding one of the exit doors slightly ajar, ready for our break.

The clock was ticking.

"Now or never" Shane muttered, her eyes darting toward the guards post near the main entrance.

I took a deep breath and nodded, signaling to Jen. She quickly moved to unlock the door leading to the garage, where we hoped to steal a car and make our escape.

The key clicked in the lock, and the door swung open with a faint creak.

Too loud.

We all froze, hearts racing, but the guards didn't seem to notice. We were still in the clear.

"Let's go" I whispered, pushing the door open further and stepping into the cold night air.

The garage was dimly lit, but we could see the outline of a few cars lined up against the far wall.

Max's prized black SUV stood in the corner, and I couldn't help but smirk at the thought of driving it out of here.

But then came the faint sound of footsteps. Fast, approaching footsteps. My stomach twisted. The shadows was nearing.

Jen's eyes went wide as she mouthed, "Bilis!"

Maila quickly tossed the bag into the backseat of the SUV, and we scrambled to pile into the vehicle.