Chapter 9 The First Escape Attempt

• The gunshot rang in my ears, piercing and shocking. My heart raced as I hurried to the window, pulling back the thick velvet curtain slightly to look outside. The estate grounds were dim, with shadows elongated beneath the soft shimmer of the moonlight. I wasn't able to identify the source of the noise, but the muted yells of the guards validated my greatest anxieties—something was going on. Something hazardous.
• I turned away from the window, breathing in short, sharp puffs. This was the time to run, if there ever was one. The disorder outside would serve as an ideal diversion.
• I took a coat from the closet and draped it over my shoulders, disregarding the shake in my hands. My strategy was straightforward: escape from this room, steer clear of Alexander’s men, and discover a means to leave the premises. Easy in concept, unattainable in reality—but I needed to give it a go. The idea of remaining here, under his influence, filled me with a rush of sickness. I couldn't allow this to be my existence.