To Be Us

Chapter Three

I remembered Niah telling me to keep quiet, not to voice my opinion while my father was meeting the townspeople. And I tried, honestly, to keep my lips sealed, but I couldn't watch Christian and his wife in despair when I knew for a fact that we had guards lazing about right this second.

"My Lord." I say, bobbing into a curtesy quickly. "I am sure we can spare just one or two guards." Horrified looks from everyone in the room greeted me. Except for four faces. Two of these, the bakers, were grateful glances hidden as well as they could. The other two were full of rage, and hard to pick the angriest of the two; Niah and my father.

"You are dismissed." He hissed through his teeth gesturing at the bakers. A maid ushered them out the door. He turned his full attention towards me, almost shaking with rage.

"Father -" I start, in attempt to defend myself.

"You were told to keep quiet, Bailee. It is not up to you to decide whether there a spare guards. That is my job."

I nodded, counting down to the moment when my father exploded into a ball of fire aimed directly towards me.

"You need to act like the daughter of a Lord! That means you obey the lord!" Now he stepped towards me, I would have retreated if it weren't for the shoes and dress I was trapped in. I didn't need to trip and prove my father more correct.

"WHY CAN'T YOU BE MORE LIKE LOUISA? SHE'S THE PERFECT DAUGHTER!" I winced.

"WHY DON'T YOU MAKE HER HEIR THEN? IF SHE'S SO PERFECT, WHY DO YOU NEED ME HERE?!" I yelled back now, tears streaking down my face. Hot, angry tears.

"Get out of my sight. You are no daughter of mine. No one speaks to the Lord like that." He says, turning away from me.

I run from the room, tears still falling down my face. I stopped only to take off my shoes, and continue to the stables. Fortunately for me, the stable boy was absent from his post. There was no one to see me flee from the mansion that was my prison.

I find my horse, Ali, and attempt to mount her. Wearing a dress it was impossible. I tear the thin fabric at the knee, and rip the sleeves off. Finally, I was free from its clutches.

I successfully mount Ali and ride off into the woodland, towards the ocean. There was no way I could go back to Orona House, my own father had practically banished me. I didn't care.

I had escaped my prison.