The Price of Love

◆ 15 ◆

Tommy was waiting for me in the bedroom. The lights were off so only the moon provided light, bright enough to see his profile outlined like he was glowing. The curtains had been ripped from the balcony doors to reveal the chained padlock on the handles. Suddenly I wished we had taken our chances with breaking the glass instead of getting the keys, but it was too late anyways. My skin felt like it was covered with a layer of filth and there was a bitter taste in my mouth, but the thought of freedom was slowly overbearing any feeling of ill will.

We were so close.

"Did you get it?" Tommy strode over as soon as I stepped in through the doorway, clutching my shoulders. His fingers bit into my skin as he stared at me wildly, his head a halo of light from the moonlight streaming in. "Daphne, oh my God, answer me! Did you get the keys?"

Wordlessly I held them up, dangling the ring from one finger. Tommy let out a choked gasp as he pulled me into his embrace, clearly relieved. I didn't blame him. I had had my doubts, too.

"We have to go, Tommy. I have a feeling Caius didn't quite fully believe my false intentions." I said, handing the keys to him. 

Tommy nodded as he went over to the padlock and began trying to find the right key. There was about 15 keys in various shapes and sizes, so it would take a while. As he was doing that, I went to the closet and pulled out the shirt and jeans I left in there previously. My stupid ass was not going to run 5 miles in a dress and heels. I slipped out my clothes and put on the new ones, instantly feeling better with the coverage. Throwing the heels inside the closet, I found sneakers and yanked them on quickly as Tommy finally found the right key. He hurriedly moved the padlock and chains off the handles, putting them on the bed so it wouldn't make noise as I tied my hair into a ponytail.

The balcony doors opened outwards, letting in a biting chill from the night air. Making sure the bedroom door was locked behind me, I walked over to Tommy, who was standing in front of the marble barrier looking down.

"Okay, it's not a big drop. We can make it without ropes," He said quietly. Tommy turned to me, his eyes bright with something akin to excitement. More like panic, really. I was feeling the same, my heart pounding. "We can do this, Daphne. I swear to God we will make it out of here alive. Are you ready? You go first."

Terrified out of my mind, I glanced down. About 10 feet or so down, just 4 if I could maneuver myself into hanging from my arms before dropping. There was a soft landing of grass beneath, which looked positively black in the dim light. Nerves or not, however, there was no time to waste.

I was safe all my life, until now. I enjoyed safety, I took comfort in knowing that my heart was a shield and nothing could pierce my armor. But bones could be broken, I was human through and through. And now there was none of that protection, nothing to guide me except my mother's love. I loved safety, but I loved my mother more. That was the mantra I repeated as I swung my legs over the railing, standing on the open ledge. 

Tommy grabbed my arm and eased me down until my legs dangling in the air. With my heart in my throat, I let go. The barest second of whistling wind caught my hair and then....thud, a crash, I crumpled to the soft grass. A dull ache encased my leg from the unwelcome jolt, but my brain was haywired for the treeline only, pain be damned.

I stood up, bouncing a little to regain some blood flow. My chest felt constricted and my fingertips numb without circulation. But more or less we were okay, and that was the important part. Tommy put himself through the same maneuver, dropping to the grass beside me. I offered him my hand and held it here, refusing to let go.

50 meters to the treeline.

We looked at each other, with bright eyes and fearful hearts, and then we began to run.