Where We Love Is Home

Chapter 1

"Charity begins at home, but should not end there"  - Thomas Fuller

CHAPTER 1:

It was turning out to be the worst day in Mia's life. She hadn't slept at all the night before thinking of the bloody mess Wes had come home in. They said he was attacked by the Penningtons, for no reason other than the senseless enmity between the two families. She didn't like the sound of it. At all. This sounded like the beginning of yet another era of bloodshed and hatred between the Blackburns and the Penningtons, and it just wasn't worth anything in the world. 

But the upcoming violence appeared to be the least of her problems now. She was more worried about all the violence that would be directed towards her in the much nearer future if someone caught her now. 

She had heard a rumor in the morning that the Blackburns had captured a Pennington girl to take revenge on the attack on Wes and that she was being kept in a cell in the basement.Mia wasn't supposed to know about this. After all, if it wasn't for the tattoo on their shoulder's, she and her brother Zac would've been as much a part of the Blackburn family as the servants who worked in their household. But somehow she came to know about it. Not just about the capture, but also about the Blackburns plans for her. And it didn't sit well with her conscience that an innocent girl was about to be raped and tortured to death just because of the last name she bore. Mia had to do something about it and that was exactly what she was doing now. She was making her way down to the basement.

It was lunch time. The servants were busy in the kitchen and the dining room. All members of the house except the security outside all exits and the basement were eating. She had made sure of this when she went down there to make an excuse for skipping lunch. She didn't know how she did it, but somehow luck was on her side and she had been able to steal the master key for all locks in the house from Wes' room. Not that anyone doubted her, as she kept a profile so low that she was almost invisible to the rest of the house. Except Zac of course. She now planned on letting the girl out and somehow letting her escape through the side door where there was only one guard during lunch time.

Nearing the basement, she saw Dean, a vigilant guard she hated almost as much as she hated Wes. He was a pervert who she knew would not hesitate in taking advantage of her if he got the chance, and she was worried he would since he was fast becoming one of Wes' closest companions. So far, she knew he didn't do anything because she knew one dirty secret of his that she always held as leverage. His secret affair with one of Wes' mistresses - Kayla.

Approaching Dean, she saw him looking up at her with confusion. She tried her best to keep a calm face despite her fast beating heart and told him the lie she had carefully prepared.

"Kayla wants to see you. She is waiting in the room by the left staircase. She says now is her only free time this week."

To her relief, Dean looked like he bought the lie. He should, as this wasn't the first time Kayla sent the message through her. But now, his facial skin wrinkled with worry, he said the exact words she had been hoping to hear.

"But I can't leave this door unguarded. What will I do now?"

She suppressed her urge to beam at him and said, "I will stay here for a few minutes if you want. You can give me your phone and I'll call Kayla if there's a need."

Thankfully he was unsuspecting, and nodded gratefully. Handing her his phone, he quickly walked up the stairs and she couldn't help but let out a happy sigh once his silhouette rounded the corner and disappeared. But her relief was short lived. Just thinking of the daring task she was about to do got her heart beating hard against her chest once again and the blood draining from her face and hands. 

With shivering hands she pushed the basement door open. It was dark inside but she did not have any time to waste. In the light through the open door, she made her way through the room until she reached the first cell. Putting her ears to its door she heard sobbing and ragged breath coming from inside. She took the key, and with fumbling hands, she opened the cell door and the girl fell silent inside.

There was a slight creak when the door opened. The sound cut through the eerie silence and Mia gasped and shut her eyes as an involuntary shiver ran down her spine. The enormity of her actions was just dawning upon her and she felt an increasing urge to turn around and run away. But she didn't. She had swum too far out into the sea to go back. She had to follow through with her plans.

She opened her eyes and looked into the cell. There was barely any light in there but she could make out a petite figure curled up into a ball by the corner, visibly shivering. Looking at her, Mia knew that she had to take charge or she wouldn't get the girl out in time.

"Come."

She whispered but she realized it sounded too harsh as she watched the girl gasp and curve up into a tighter ball. Mia held out a hand and tried more softly. 

"Come. I'm here to help you escape. You have to trust me."

This time the girl looked up at Mia hesitantly for some time. Then she slowly sat up and took Mia's hand. She stood up on her wobbling legs and Mia led her out of the basement.

Out in the light Mia could see that the girl was around seventeen. She had bruises all over her face and arms and her eyes were red and puffy.  Her dirty blonde hair was wild and sticky and her thin frame seemed to be struggling with holding herself up. Mia quickly ushered her out into a corridor that would lead to the side door. They had to move fast before someone caught them but Mia had no idea what to do about the guard outside. Reaching the door, she gently opened it with the key and looked out while shielding the girl behind the door.

Outside the door she saw the wall that ran all around the house. There was a door like gate a bit to the left of the door and the guard was standing to the right facing the other side. There was no way other than to take the risk of running out through the half opened gate.

She turned to looks at the girl. “You need to take the risk and run out through the gate, but once you get through it close it and lock it from the outside with this.” Mia handed her the key.

She nodded and got ready to run. Mia wished she could escape along with her because now she knew she would almost definitely get caught for this. She shivered at the possible consequences she would have to endure. But she couldn’t go now, not without her brother.

The girl smiled thankfully at her before turning around and dashing out of the door. But to Mia’s horror the guard noticed her as soon as she started running. There was a split second of hesitation from the guard. Mia watched in horror as he got ready to run after the girl. No. She couldn’t let this happen, not after she got things this far. She knew now she would get caught whatever happened now. So she did the first thing that came to her mind. She jumped on top of the guard.

He stumbled down in surprise but he was far too strong for her. He pushed her away but she climbed on top of him again and bit down hard on his cheek. But he grabbed hold of her hair and pulled her away by it. He stood up and and pulled her up by the hair with him. But even as her eyes filled up in blinding pain she sighed with relief. She had just seen the girl shutting the gate from the other side. Now whatever the guard did, the girl was safe. She closed her eyes in content and let herself faint from all the stress.

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~Siva.