My Parents Locked Me Up, So I Snuck Out.

Chapters 31-35

Chapter 31: Mina's Choice

As they approached the mountains, Mina's thoughts turned inward. "I've been running for so long... but what if I'm always running? What if there's no end?"

She watched as Kana and Nande led them through the thick trees, their footsteps silent on the forest floor. They had a plan, a destination—but Mina's heart felt heavy.

"I left one cage, but am I just walking into another?"

That night, as the group rested, Mina stood at the edge of the clearing, staring out at the dark sky. She thought of Ashia, of Haru, of the sacrifices they'd made for her. "They're doing this for me... but I don't even know what I want anymore."

Chapter 32: The Road Ahead

The next morning, they set out for the safehouse. The road was long, the mountains looming in the distance. Mina walked silently beside Ashia, her thoughts a whirlwind of doubt and fear.

But as they reached the top of a hill, overlooking the valley below, something shifted in Mina's heart.

"This is my life now," she thought. "Running, hiding, but still living. And maybe that's enough."

She turned to Ashia, who gave her a small smile. "We'll keep going," Ashia said softly. "Until you're truly free."

Mina nodded, a small spark of hope flickering inside her. "Maybe one day... we'll stop running."

Chapter 33: The Hidden Tree

The morning after the group had rested near the mountain, Kana and Nande led them deeper into the forest. The trees were thick, towering above them, and the sound of birds echoed around.

Ashia frowned as they approached a massive tree with gnarled roots twisting out of the ground. "Is this... it?" she asked, her voice skeptical.

Kana grinned mischievously. "Oh, just wait." He knelt down by one of the roots and started fiddling with what looked like a piece of bark.

Mina, standing close by, raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing?"

Nande smirked and stepped forward. "You'll see." She nudged Mina with her elbow. "You trust us, right?"

Before Mina could answer, there was a low rumbling sound, and the base of the tree slowly split open, revealing a dark passage leading underground. The group stared in shock.

Ashia blinked. "You've got to be kidding me..."

"Ta-da!" Kana said with a dramatic wave. "Welcome to our little secret."

Chapter 34: The Underground Haven

As they descended into the passage, the space opened up into a large underground room lit with lanterns. Old furniture was scattered around, and there was even a small kitchen in the corner.

"This is incredible," Haru said, running his hand along the stone walls. "How did you find this place?"

Kana chuckled. "We didn't find it. We built it. Well, most of it, anyway. Nande did the heavy lifting."

Nande smirked, crossing her arms. "He's lying. He cried when he got dirt in his shoes."

"I did not!" Kana protested, glaring at her. "It was a rock. A sharp rock. You wouldn't understand."

Mina couldn't help but smile. It was the first time in a while she had felt something other than fear. "Maybe this won't be so bad," she thought. "Maybe... I can actually feel normal here."

Chapter 35: Making Plans

Once they settled in, the group gathered around a large wooden table to discuss their next steps. Kana spread out a rough map of the area, marking potential safe routes and hidden paths they could use if they needed to escape quickly.

"We've got enough supplies here to last for a while," Kana explained, pointing to one of the tunnels on the map. "This tunnel leads to the other side of the mountain, where we can get fresh water. And this one—"

"Leads to freedom?" Mina interrupted, her voice quiet but filled with hope.

Nande looked at her, her expression softening. "Not yet. But we're working on it."

Ashia nodded, tapping her finger on the table. "So what's the plan? Do we stay here forever? Or do we keep moving?"

Kana leaned back in his chair, grinning. "Who says we can't do both?"