His Prize

Chapter 10: Escape Day (Part 1)

I wake up on my own for a change. It's early morning. Sunlight shines over the blankets covering me. Today's the day I'm going to be allowed in the living room without that stupid chain. I'm both nervous about going to the clinic and excited that I'm nearing my escape.

Alex must still be sleeping. I know I'm locked in this room, so I decide to stay in the cloud bed. I stretch out in every direction. My feet still don't touch the end. This thing is huge. I curl up, wrapping the blankets tightly around me and snuggling into the pillow. When I'm free again, I'm going to miss this bed.

My excitement builds as I hear his footsteps. This must be the first time I'm actually looking forward to seeing him. I jump out of bed, unable to wait any longer. While I do love the bed, despite what Alex thinks, there's no way that I'd give up my life for luxurious furniture.

The door creaks open, and he flinches, surprised to find me standing there.

"Look who's all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, for once," he teases.

Look who's not hungover, for once. I keep that comment in my head, not wanting to blow my escape plan. Though he deserves none of it, I decide to be polite to try keep him in a good mood. "I'm just excited that today's the day I'm going to be free."

"Woah, hold your horses. I'm only allowing you to be unchained in the living room, not releasing you into the wild."

"Yea, that's what I meant," I say with a small smile, not wanting him to become suspicious.

He just stares at me, his eyes roaming up and down my body. I look away and hug my stomach, feeling more and more uncomfortable by the second.

He breaks the awkward moment with one of his orders. "Go shower. I'll make breakfast."

I hurry past him.

Looking at the shower kills the good mood I was in. I take deep breaths, trying to remain calm. My stomach is turning at the thought that I'll have to be naked for a few minutes.

I hate that I feel like this. I hate that he did this to me. He messed me up, and I bet he doesn't even care. My anger boils thinking of him, of what he did, of what he is doing to me, of what his kind did to my family. No amount of warm beds or nice food will ever make me forget.

Though, I am glad he decided to treat me better. How stupid and shallow does he think I am, expecting me to bow at his feet and call him Master? What a joke.

I use my rage to distract me from showering, getting it over quickly.

As usual, I stare in the mirror in an attempt to calm down. Though not from anxiety this time, but hatred instead.

I cannot let my anger screw this up. If I want to escape this place, I need to be smart, not emotional. If I had let emotions control me in the past, I'd probably be a slave to some human colony.

I was lonely when living in the ruins, and it was tempting to give in to those emotions. But I didn't, I was smart, I followed Michael's advice, 'never trust anyone'. And It worked.

I finish up with my bathroom routine. I place the razor on the kitchen table and take my seat.

I play with my hair while waiting for breakfast. It's soft – very soft. That shampoo is amazing. I make a mental note to take it with me when I escape.

Alex places my breakfast plate in front of me.

I'm delighted to see pancakes. I have to stop myself from digging in, remembering his reaction from the last time. Following all these stupid rules is killing me. I just need to hold on for a couple more hours, a day at most.