I ran for a long while, until I couldn’t run anymore. My legs ached, and my breath was short. I fell to my knees, putting my hand on my chest, trying to calm myself. I couldn’t help but think about what they would do to Adam, once they found he had helped me escape. What would happen to my siblings? Would they be sent to the church orphanage, or would the catholic nuns take them in as their own? My mother had written in her will, that only the best would be deserved for the children if she were to die young. Hopefully, there was enough money for the kids. I heard a shuffle in the brush beside me. I stood up and looked through it, only to find a rabbit. My lantern was running out of wick, so I tore a swatch of fabric off of my dress. Once the lantern was fixed, I took off again. I couldn’t run anymore, so I paced myself briskly. The sounds invaded my ears and I was nervous for fear of my life. Stories of bears and big cats were told in the town, and although I’ve seen wild animals, I didn’t want to encounter any. I walked till dawn, going through only a couple of small villages. I was tired, hungry, and scared. I wanted anything to rest. The next town I found had a boarding house for girls with no parents; you could stay for a while, or stay for a day. This was what I had planned to do. The home was small and rundown, but it would have to do. A woman inside showed me to a room and brought me some soup. I finished my breakfast and laid down for a nap. I was asleep instantly.
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I awoke to men yelling.
“Where is the girl?” they asked. I went to the door and looked through the keyhole. The priest was there, along with some others from my town. I backed up against the back wall, trying to find someway to get out. The only way was the door, but I wasn’t going to go out there. I heard stomping down the hall and I stood still, not breathing nor taking my eyes off the door. The stomping stopped out the door, and I heard whispering. In the 5 seconds I had, I managed to slide under the bed and pull the cover over the space.
“She’s not in here father.” Someone said.
“To hell she isn’t.” the priest said. I heard his footsteps get closer and they stopped next to the bed. He kicked the cover aside and somebody leaned down to look under the bed.
“She’s there!” he said, then pulled me out by my arm. I stood there as people looked at me in disgust.
“Bring her to the horses and lock her up in the carriage. She is on death sentence when we get back.” The priest said. They pulled me along, and I didn’t fight. I was thrown into the carriage with the doors locked so I couldn’t get out. Without warning, the men hopped on the horses and I was set off to my doom.
