The Touch

Chapter 7 - Blind Bird, escape

Wednesday morning I woke with a new surge of energy that I had not had for a very long time. I went over the plan again and when the doors opened for breakfast I was ready. I ate my breakfast like it was the last meal I was going to have for a very long time. I hid a roll of bread and a juice box in my large sweatshirt pockets so I could have them for my dinner later. I knew I had about ten minutes before everyone else would have left the hallways and would be headed into the bathrooms. I would then have to rush to the laundry chute and make my way down quickly.

I stripped my bed and waited. Beads of sweat started to cling to my forehead so I wiped them away and tried to calm my rapidly beating heart. I took a few deep breaths in and out and waited.

The corridor went quiet and I could hear the taps in the bathroom running. The time had arrived and I was ready. I quickly made my way down the hallway with my sheets feeling my way against the wall, mapping out in my mind where I was heading. I had some clothing in a plastic bag and had wrapped them up in my sheets so that they wouldn't make a sound or be seen when I dropped them down the chute.

Arriving at the linen chute I listened to the hallway for noises before lifting the lid of the chute. I knew this was going to be very dangerous so had to make my way down carefully. I sent my sheets down and then grasped the sides of the chute entrance. It was only slightly bigger then I was so there would be just enough room for me to place my hands on each side of it and climb down with the help of my feet on each side of the chute walls. I worked my way down slowly and had to be careful of slipping. If I slipped then I could slide down the chute too fast and may be heard in the laundry room when I came out. I was still not one hundred percent sure whether the laundry was vacant. I knew they were at breakfast but I didn't know if there would be anyone left working still. The chute was slippery and I had to use all my strength to get down quickly. Twice I nearly lost my footing but I managed to regain my position and continue. It was taking longer than I had predicted but when I came to the end of the chute I could hear that the room was empty of staff.

I grabbed my plastic bag out from my sheets and felt around for the door to the underground garage. The door was located at the end of the room but it was locked. I searched around next to it for the key and found it hanging up under a shelf. My heart was beating rapidly as I unlocked it and moved slowly into the garage. From the vision I received from the laundry girl there were several cars parked and the florescent lights flickered above making fizzing sounds echo around the concrete walls. I moved towards the sides of the garage as I didn't want to be detected out in the open and made my way to the front cars parked nearest the gate. I could feel the fresh air outside blowing in through the gates and it felt wonderful. It was amazing to feel that I was only a few feet away from freedom and I placed my hand out briefly to make sure that I was in the correct position nearest the gate. I sat down behind the car and prayed that someone would hurry up and come through the garage. I felt that I now had a chance of freedom but there was still a wall standing in front of me.

Ten minutes must have past and I knew I would only have a few minutes before someone would check on me. I clasped my hands together and prayed to anyone that was listening to please help me escape.

I nearly leapt back when I heard the gate starting to rise and the sound of a truck coming in. There were only a few steps until I was free and I just had to wait until the gate started coming down again. Once outside I would have to make my way down the forest area I remembered seeing as a child, then after that I would run as far away as I could possibly go.

The gate was coming down and I inched towards it. I was careful to keep down low so that I wouldn't be seen.

Hands pulled me back at the last minute and I screamed. I could feel a tall broad man which I assumed was a guard standing behind me and he pulled my arms back behind me so much that they hurt. The gate came down then clicked closed and my freedom was once again taken away from me. I screamed and kicked my heels back to try and hurt the guard but he didn't let go and I knew I was too weak for him.