Chapter 41: Finding Safety
After hours of running through the forest, the group finally reached a small, secluded clearing near the base of the mountain. Kana signaled for them to stop. "We'll rest here for a bit."
Mina collapsed against a tree, her chest heaving with exhaustion. "How... how do they keep finding me?" she whispered.
Ashia sat down beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "We'll figure it out. But for now, we just need to keep moving."
Nande, who had been scouting ahead, returned with a grin. "Good news. There's a cave not far from here. We can hide there for the night."
Kana chuckled. "See? Everything's fine."
Mina looked at him incredulously. "Fine? We've been running for hours!"
"Details, details," Kana said with a wink.
Chapter 42: Laughter Amid Chaos
That night, as they gathered in the small cave, the group managed to find moments of humor despite the chaos. Haru had burned their dinner over the fire, turning what was supposed to be soup into a charred mess.
Nande grimaced as she tried to eat it. "This is... terrible. Haru, what did you do?"
"I followed the recipe!" Haru defended himself.
"Sure," Kana teased, grinning. "If the recipe was 'set everything on fire.'"
Despite the danger that lurked outside, they all found themselves laughing—loud and full of life. Mina smiled, feeling a warmth in her chest. "Even in the worst moments... there's something worth holding on to."
Chapter 43: Moving Forward
The next morning, Kana and Nande gathered the group to discuss their plans again. "We're running out of places to hide," Kana said, his tone serious. "We can't keep doing this forever."
"So what do we do?" Ashia asked, her brow furrowed.
Nande spoke up. "We find out why they're still chasing Mina. There has to be something more than just her family wanting her back."
Mina looked up, surprised. "You think... there's more to it?"
"Has to be," Nande said, nodding. "Otherwise, why go to so much trouble?"
Chapter 44: The Decision
As they packed up camp, Mina thought about what Nande had said. "There has to be more. But do I really want to know?"
She glanced over at Ashia, who was helping Haru pack their supplies. "What if I find out something I don't want to know?" Mina whispered.
Ashia looked at her, her expression kind but firm. "You'll never know unless you try, Mina. And whatever happens, we're with you."
For the first time in her life, Mina felt like she wasn't alone. She wasn't just running anymore—she was moving forward, and she wasn't doing it by herself.
"Maybe this is what freedom feels like," she thought, a small smile forming on her lips.
Chapter 45: The Light in the Skirt
It was a quiet morning in the cave as everyone went about their usual routines. Mina, feeling a bit more at ease after the previous day's escape, was getting dressed when Haru suddenly froze.
"Uh... Mina?" Haru said hesitantly, staring at her skirt.
Mina blinked, confused. "What? Is something wrong?"
Haru scratched the back of his head, looking a bit uncomfortable. "I don't know how to say this, but... there's a weird light coming from your skirt."
Mina's eyes widened in shock. "What?!"
Ashia, noticing the commotion, rushed over. "A light? Where?" She knelt down beside Mina, inspecting the fabric of the skirt carefully. And there it was—a faint, blinking light hidden beneath the material.
"Oh no..." Ashia muttered.
Mina felt her stomach drop. "How long has that been there?!" she thought, her face turning red with embarrassment.
"What is it?" she asked, her voice shaky.
Kana, who had been sitting nearby, looked over and smirked. "Looks like someone's got a secret admirer."
"Shut up, Kana," Ashia snapped, before turning to Mina. "It's a tracker."
Mina's heart raced. "A tracker? You mean... they've been following me because of this?"
Haru nodded, frowning. "That explains why they kept finding us so easily. It's been on you the whole time."
Mina's face flushed even more as she stammered, "I didn't know! I swear, I didn't—"
Ashia sighed, standing up. "We'll figure it out. But first, we need to get rid of it."
YOU ARE READING
My Parents Locked Me Up, So I Snuck Out.
AdventureMina Yamada has lived her entire life in luxury, but her golden cage is far from perfect. Kept isolated by her wealthy, controlling parents, Mina isn't allowed to speak to anyone, explore beyond a few restricted streets, or ask questions about her p...
