Today is the day.

The day that I can escape this horrible place. I've never been happy here. And if I have been it would be wrong. So wrong. I can't stay here, with Quinn, Xavier, or Francis. It was wrong to stay here with criminals. And I needed to escape.

How convenient that Francis is going away today too.

I weakly sat up, as Xavier entered with a plate of fluffy pancakes with strawberries and cream on top. I weakly smiled as he put the plate beside me and stood there, as his eyes scanned my dull face and narrowed his eyes at me.

"What's wrong?" he asked curiously, raising an eyebrow.

Letting out a weak chuckle, I waved my hand slightly. "Rough night." I sighed, trying to reassure him but he didn't seem convinced. His eyes lit up with what looked like a thought, the corners of his mouth tugged up and looked at me, humour dancing in his eyes.

"You're going to miss him aren't you" he teased, and I could feel my heart sinking even deeper now.

Looking out the window, I see people preparing the vans, loading them with weapons. I looked back at Xavier and gave my best smile.

"Yep." I sighed and stopped poking at my pancakes and ate them instead.

He nodded, looking content and did a little bow before walking out.

"We'll be back by night," he stated before completely closing the door, and I was left by myself.

From what I'd gathered, all Francis's best members were going to be there, along with himself. I will have guards at the door, but I know how to lure them away from me and trap them. They're leaving at midday, so I have a few minutes to get ready.

Even though my window was placed on the side of the building, the driveway was huge, so I had a good view of the whole scene.

I sighed as I placed my pancakes down and went to my wardrobe to look for things to pack. Clothes, water, and that are all I could get. I got dressed in a grey hoodie and easy-to-run-in leggings, then some runners.

As I leaned back on the pillar of my old bed, I took a deep breath in and out. The outside was silent and as I side glanced at the window, I could see all the cars were gone from the driveway, only some remaining given the winding road.

As the air was thick with my stress and silence, I could hear the men talking to each other and I walked over to the door, placing my ear on it to hear better.

"Boss said that she might try running for it so when she comes out, one of us has to be beside her at all times," one grunted and the other mumbled in agreement.

Action time.

I creak the door open, and they both jump but relax as they saw it was just a small girl. 'How much harm could she do?'.

"Sorry, but I'm going to have a shower, just a few more minutes until we go," I say and they both look at each other, then back at me. Still wondering whether they could let their guard down yet and I put both of my hands up jokingly.

"Don't worry, I can't escape. All of the windows are locked!" I laughed but after that, it was silent again. They were both standing there and eying me up and down, so I ended up just leaving without saying anything else. It's obvious they don't know what to think of me, but I intend to keep it that way.

As I closed the door behind me, the tough guards both audibly sighed making a devious grin appear on my face as the plan was now rolling on.

I turned the shower on in the bathroom and put a towel on my bed. I closed the bathroom door but left it ajar slightly. Let's just hope that they do what I planned.

I hid behind the wooden door that hid me in the wardrobe.

"Can you boys get a towel for me? It's on the bed," I shouted and heard stifled mumbles, but I still couldn't hear them come in. "Now!" I ordered and sure enough, there was the sound of the door opening followed by two pairs of footsteps. Perfect.

"The blue towel?" one of them said nervously and I chuckled to myself.

"Yes! Put it on the counter!" I yelled, trying to make it seem like I'm talking over the sound of water.

Both cursed to each other, and the footstep sound changed from being on carpet to tiles, launching my signal.

Running out of the wardrobe and grabbing one of my sticks that I had broken off brooms, I slid it in between the door handle, jarring the door closed on the other side. I finally burst out laughing as the men started banging on the door.

Finally completing phase one, I grabbed my backpack in one hand and the remaining broomstick in the other, walking out of the room calmly. As I exited the room into the corridor, I put the broomstick into the door yet again, giving them another obstacle to face after they broke down the bathroom door.

I booked it down the hallways, which were thankfully quiet for the important mission everyone seemed to be attending. I remembered the way to the pool room from yesterday and saw that there was a door that led outside, not seeming to have a look. Holding my breath, I guessed I had gotten the right door and smiled when I saw the blue waters.

The door was unlocked so that's when phase two commenced.

Get the hell out of here.

I ran.

I had passed the empty halls of the mansion, trying every door that lead to the outside that I could.

And finally, the pool room door opened as I tried and I could feel my heart pump harder as I stepped outside. I felt free. It wasn't the same when Francis was there, I was free to do whatever I wanted, and now, I had to run.

The shock I had before was long gone and I could feel my heart pumping with adrenaline. It was a matter of life and death, if I was to get caught, it would be the end of me and I didn't want to die, not yet.

I took off my shoes, deciding that they would only slow me down and started to take off from the mansion, the tiles of the mansion disappearing as I cross the soft grass of the beginning forest.

Tall oak trees started to become more familiar as I cross the land. And the branches become thicker, and the sky darker as the sun begins the hide behind the hills.

Roots of the trees suddenly become visible on the ground as the trees become more common and my legs became tired quickly as I had to cross over roots and bumps in the land, but it was too late to stop now.

It didn't matter that my legs were tired and felt like they could fall off at any second.

It didn't matter that the oxygen in my body was drained.

I just needed to get away.

I could imagine Francis's face when he returns home, only to find me gone from my room and mansion. The rage he felt would be horrid. My mind begins to spin so much that I must stop. I felt bile rising in my throat as I bent to the ground in tiredness.

Sitting on the ground now, I looked at my surroundings to see that I had passed most of the thick forest and it had started to thin out. As I look back from where I came, it seemed that I had run so far that I couldn't see the mansion through the trees and over the hills.

I gulped down half of the one water bottle I had, not wanting to waste too much but as the cold liquid glided down my throat my knees buckled to the soft grass that had come back after a while of running on spiked pebbles on the ground. I sighed to myself, the cool wind brushing against my face.

It'd been a while since I'd had time like this by myself, and I was enjoying it, but also worried for my life at the same time. If Francis finds me, he'll torture me, kill me probably. And if someone from the gang finds me, they'll turn me in.

I can't. Can't stay with him. Can't live this life. It's unnatural for me to be with him. All of it. The thought of him appearing in my mind again was enough to make me get up again, ignoring my quivering hands and shaking legs

2 more hours after being on the run and I now drowning in my tears. I had to keep moving though. The sun was now disappearing, a crescent moon replacing it, meaning that it would be night in no time and Francis would be back. And now I'd come to the end of the big hill that only showed more forest. It was impossible to tell where I was.

I must've gotten so far, that I hadn't even seen it when I was with Francis. Francis... no! I slapped myself to bring myself out of my trance but regretted it as I saw that the beige skies fade into a navy blue.

As soon as the moon is completely up, it will completely black out here, I'll be like a sitting duck. It would be dangerous to go on without being able to see and possibly get hurt.

Quickly forming a plan in my head, I carefully walk down the steep hill and from far away I can see a large lake.

Maybe it would be good to stay there for a night? As I quietly walked to the lake that was probably the only thing visible because of the glistening of the shining moon. I arrived at the water source soon enough and stood there, staring into the reflection of myself.

Past my reflection, I could see that the lake was deep, extremely deep. I dropped the bag next to me and was about to sit down when a loud sound echoed through the woods, the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

It was close.

The gunshot was close.

My mind was running and frantic, but when I tried to move, my body refused and was racked with fear. I knew I wouldn't be able to run forever so why did I even try in the first place?

It wasn't long before footsteps were heard behind me but I didn't turn around, nor make a sound. I only stared at the blue waters that reflected me and caught my tears. It was the next moment that I could feel his presence behind me. It was bold and strong but gave me the courage to stop shaking and stand completely still.

"Angel." his voice was dark, not a hint of emotion in his voice. It gave me the confidence to move.

As I turned around slowly, just as I met his eyes with mine. I felt myself fall.

The second gunshot was unbearable for me to hear from the white ringing in my ears, mixed with the pain pooling in my leg. I looked down at my leg, looking through the black dots in my eyes.

I had been shot.

Thick blood was oozing out of my leg and drooling down my thigh. But before I could look back at the culprit, my legs buckled, letting me fall freely backwards.

I heard faint yelling, but the ringing was surrounding my head as I closed my eyes.

And the last thing I remembered was feeling the cool water submerge me fully. Drowning deeper and deeper into the endless depth.