“Fuckin’ bastard,” I cussed under my breath, flashing the middle finger at his door.
Less than a second later, I picked up my pace again. My feet pounded against the red carpet that floored the steps as I descended the long, curved stairs.
I’d barely made it to the kitchen when something caught my eye in the living room. A car key was carelessly tossed away on a coffee table.
I froze in place, recognizing who the keys belonged to. Hilda.
She was the housekeeper.
I didn’t know housekeepers owned their own vehicles until I arrived here. But she wasn’t the only domestic staff that had a car in this mansion. The chef and the chief maid both had their own rides as well.
Honestly, I was shocked the first time I found out. I didn’t think it was a thing. But I was wrong.
There were two explanations for this. It was either that he got them the cars or that he paid them well enough to afford them. Either way, it was admirable.
Since I already knew what Hilda’s car looked like and where she often parked it, a daring thought crossed my mind.
What if I grabbed those keys and made a run for it? What’s the worst thing that could happen? This was my chance to attempt a prison break.
Don’t be stupid. The plan is dead on arrival,my voice of reason chipped in.This place is a fortress. It’s swarming with guards. How’re you gonna get away?
Guards.
I glanced at the wall clock and remembered something crucial. During the early days of my stay here, I’d once tried to find a pattern in the way the guards operated. I found a loophole in their shift routines.
I wasn’t 100% sure about my thesis. But based on the intel I’d been able to gather, security was often slack during these hours.
I can do it.
No, you can’t. This is a bad idea. Need I remind you that you have absolutely no idea how vast this forest is? You could get lost. Or worse!
I shoved the negative thoughts to the back of my mind and drew a deep breath. My hands flew into my hair, deftly styling it into a messy bun.
Then, I made the boldest move I’d ever made in my life. I dashed toward the coffee table.
In a jiffy, I snatched the keys and sprinted through the living room. Luckily, the door was open. What were the odds? Too focused on the mission, I didn’t stop to think.
I ran outside, sprinting with all my might toward the garage where Hilda’s car was parked. The cool wind whipped against my face as I moved, the crescent moon hanging somewhere in the sky.
At the press of a button on the key holder, the vehicle beeped to life. I saw it parked separately from the others and hurried over. Everything was happening so quickly, and my heart was pounding loudly.
I got in, started the engine, and drove away. With nervous glances over my shoulders, I checked to see if anyone was following me. But to my surprise, no one was. I floored the vehicle down the serpentine driveway, fingers tightening around the steering wheel.
When I got to the gates, I expected them to be locked and was already figuring out how to leave the compound. But fortunately for me, they was only closed. Not locked.
I slammed on the brakes, rushed out, and parted the gates just enough to let my vehicle pass through. Once that was done, I returned to my car and drove out of the estate at high speed.
“Woohoo!” I screamed, ramming against the steering wheel in joy.
What had seemed like an impossible task turned out to be a piece of cake. With my headlights on, I accelerated on the lonely road snaking through towering trees.
“You did it, girl!” I rejoiced, laughing. “You escaped!”
Did you, though?
I wanted to ignore the voice, but it wouldn’t shut up.
Think about it: Shouldn’t you have drawn someone’s attention by now? You stole a car, the key to which just so happened to be sitting on the table.