Escape

Chapter 7

Will lead my through the labyrinth of hallways, and I followed like the tamed little dog I was supposed to be all these years. A few times he looked back at me, but I kept my gaze fixed on the ground. Will had said that we were going somewhere, but where was that?

Finally nearing the front of the building, where I knew my way around, I felt some of the stress leave my shoulders and a deep breath released from my lungs. Hugging my arms, I looked up at Will, and he looked down at me. "It'll be alright," was what his lips were saying, but his eyes reflected fear and uncertainty.

The main lobby was dimly lit, a little table lamp providing the only source of light. Marshall and a few other guards stood at the entrance, faces hard and expectant. Marshall looked me over and whispered orders in a guard's ear, who took off down a different hallway. Will and his dad exchanged glances, and discussed something, their voices just low enough that I couldn't hear them.

The guard returned carrying what I guessed was an outfit for me. Taking the clothes, I followed the guard to a small powder room where I could change.

I changed quickly. The outfit was my size, but that wasn't surprising because every outfit I was handed was specially made to fit me. I haven't ever had a choice of what to wear, and everything I've ever worn has been the standard white, grey, and black. Pretty dull.

Looking down at myself, I had to admit I kind of liked this style. The black tank that showed off my arms made me look extremely puny and weak, but the matching black pants - that were a awesome mix between skinny jeans and leggings - made me look like some bad-ass chick. I smiled, and strapped on a pair of black sneakers on top of a thin pair of socks.

Since there still were still no mirrors anywhere, I had to do a little estimating of what my hair looked like. And trust me, without a good helping of conditioner it felt like something died on top of my head. Oh well.

I walked out of the bathroom, and the guard lead me back to the huddle. Marshall looked me over again, and nodded with approval. Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw Will also checking me out, but quickly turned away when Marshall gave the orders to leave.

Marshall started towards the door, and the scanning device quickly beamed over him, opening the only exit in the building. He walked calmly outside, and I happily followed, but the door slammed shut before I could take a step out. The guards behind me snickered. Of course, we had to play the "Oh she's too small, the door can't open for her. Oh, she's not allowed outside, she's our prisoner," game.

I rolled my eyes, turned around and thrust up my hand, but Will caught my arm before I could give the bitches the infamous finger. "A..." he warned me, and slowly slid his hand down my arm, letting it go. I looked down at my feet, trying to keep my anger contained. He had called me my fake name. It was nothing more than a label. It felt like someone was slapping a tag on me and shouting '25% off today!'

I waited for him to step onto the pressurized plate with me, and I angrily stormed out the door, not even glancing around at the scene around me. Well, maybe I did a little.

I thought it was beautiful during the day, but damn, nature had a way with looks at night. Everything glistened in the moonlight - from the freshly cut grass to the little rose bulbs that shot out of the ground. The anger within me vanished, a happy, contempt feeling replacing it. A smile pulled at the corners of my lips, and I felt the sudden urge to escape into the fields of endless greenery and never come back again. But obviously with the situation at hand I would have looked like a lunatic going off on my own in the dead of night.

I followed Marshall down a little path made of pavement that hugged the building. Not even caring who watched, I started to skip. Literally, skip. Like a little girl who just convinced her dad to buy the new My Littlest Pet Shop toy after having a two-hour hissy fit. I didn't know what came over me. It felt like years of joy and wonder smacked into me all at once, and my emotions got the best of me.