Escape

Chapter 8

Do-yoon jolted from his bed. He looked anxious. His body was shaking from the nightmare he had gone through with Tae-sung last night. He didn’t know what time it was. Until Martha came in, looking so worried. 

Martha brought him porridge and water when Do-yoon broke down into tears. 

“M-martha, I-im s-scared,” Do-yoon said and pleaded. “P-please, p-please, h-help―hic hic.” He added, “I-I d-don’t w-want to go back t-there.”

Martha put down the food tray on the bedside table. She looked back at the closed door. Then she wrote something and showed it to Do-yoon. 

“Pretend to nod and get the food tray.” 

“I’ll see what I can do to help you.” 

“Mr. Lee was very moody this morning. He left for now. But he’ll be back in the evening.” 

“I’ll come back with your dinner and check the pocket of your shorts later when you shower.”

Do-yoon seemed to understand what Martha was implying. He bobbed his head. He took the food tray and ate his food like he did. 

Martha went out for a moment to check if Da-won was still around. She knew that there were only two guards during the day shift. And the other two guards arrived before 7 p.m. It looked like luck was with them. Since she was able to send his weak brother to the province before working at the villa. 

Do-yoon finished his food and was waiting for Martha on his bed. He wasn’t chained. But in his mind, he wanted to escape.

A few moments later, Martha came back bringing him a new set of clothes. She placed it beside Do-yoon. Then Martha showed him what she wrote.

“Take these clothes and take a shower.”

“There’s a map with instructions, a watch, and a small torch in your pocket.”

“Do you still remember when we went for a walk? There was a small placard sign, Stream River.” 

Do-yoon dipped his head. 

She wrote again.

“You can escape by following that path.” 

“Read the rest on the map.” 

Do-yoon agreed. Martha tore the page and ate the paper. She chewed and swallowed it. His eyes were dazed. And Martha beamed with a smile. 

Later in the afternoon, Do-yoon pretended to help Martha. The two guards roamed around the vicinity as scheduled. Da-won wasn’t around. It was a perfect bite to escape. 

After dinner, and before Martha left, Do-yoon gave her a warm hug. She was like a big sister to him. He whispered how grateful he was for knowing her and for staying by his side. How thankful he was for not feeling lonely. Martha was his life saver. 

And Martha gave him a good tap on the back and told him that everything would be alright. 

Do-yoon went back to his room. He took the clothes that Martha prepared for him and went into the bathroom. Took a shower. After that, he took a folded piece of paper out of his pocket. It has a drawing map and instructions. 

Once I leave the house, these guards will likely be outside. Since they knew your body clock. 

Make the pillow like a human in your bed and cover it with a blanket by 9 p.m.

You must leave the room as quietly as you can. Go downstairs, and there’s a back door kitchen. It’s locked from the inside, so you’ll be able to get out. 

Count 30 steps ahead before you switch on the torch. And that is your pathway to the stream river.   

It would be dark, but the moon would be your guide and light. Find this Gazebo on the other side of the river. 

Once you find it, cross the river and walk ahead. A tall steel gate would welcome you, so trespass. I mean, climb over, and look for a back door. 

Stay there, and you’ll be safe, whoever finds you. 

Good Luck, Do-yoon. Let’s cross our paths again. 

Do-yoon smiled as he tore up. He followed the instructions well and was able to escaped and crossed the stream while the guards waited for Tae-sung to arrive. He stopped himself at the tall metal gate. How am I supposed to climb this? He was looking for every possible way to cross over the gate. He used the torch to look for any metal to step on, and when he did, he looked happy. 

Okay, now let’s climb up. 

He bit the end of the torch case in his mouth as he climbed up. When he got down, he looked around. 

Luckily, this house didn't have dogs. 

He gazed up at the bright moon and thanked it for its guiding light. He walked straight on the garden pathway and found himself at the back door. 

He wondered. How does Martha know there’s a back door here? He looked back again. And the bright moon shone over half of the part of the manicured garden. So this is a garden. 

Do-yoon tried to open the door, but it was locked from the inside. 

Martha said I should wait here and I’ll be safe. But, what does she mean by that? 

He leaned against the side of the door and slid down with his knees curled up as he embraced it. 

It’s cold. Will I be able to get through the night? Though his heart felt relieved. I’m glad... I escaped from Tae-sung. I now understand what he meant by touching me when I turned 18. He was preparing me for how those omegas should do such things with the alpha. 

But what do omega and alpha mean? He scratched his head. He tightened his braces on his curled-up legs. As his eyelids began to fall. He fell asleep from the tender hush of the cold breeze. 

When Tae-sung arrived at the villa, he looked sober and went straight to Do-yoon’s room. He came in and stood beside the edge of the bed. He called Do-yoon’s name thrice, but to his surprise, he was conversing with a human pillow. 

“Do-yoon ssi?” His eyes grew wide, and he furrowed his brow furiously as he gripped the pillow. His heart palpitated madly, seeing that Do-yoon was gone. Do-yoon had escaped. 

Tae-sung threw the pillow and rushed down the corridor and the stairs. He grabbed Da-won’s gun behind his back. 

BANG!

He shot the first guard. Da-won looked shocked. What the fuck?!

“Where the fuck is Do-yoon?!” Tae-sung exclaimed. He looked enraged in front of them. 

The second guard was shaking and pleading. He said, “Boss, Do-yoon was sleeping upstairs when we checked.” 

“You fucking idiots! He escaped!” Tae-sung said aloud as he gritted his teeth.  

BANG!

He killed the second guard. 

“Boss, calm down!” Da-won stopped him, but it was too late. 

“Find him now! Or I’ll fucking blow your brains out!” Tae-sung shouted. He looked hysterical and obsessed. 

Da-won instructed the guards who came with them to search for Do-yoon’s whereabouts. 

“AGH!” Tae-sung became erratic. He started smashing the things around him.

Cracked on the table. Scattered soil from the plant pot he threw. And two dead bodies of the guard he killed were lying with their blood flowing on the floor.

He held his head with a gun on his left. 

Boss―Da-won gulped. He couldn't stop Tae-sung from going rampant. He knew… that if he stopped him, everyone in the house would die in vain. If his father finds out what he did, he will be sent back to the psychiatric hospital. A hell that he will never be able to escape again. 

***

The birds were chirping and a few flew above the villa. Trees rustled with pleasantness as the wind embraced the backyard garden. 

A man in his 30s was wearing a plain shirt and cotton pants, was limping toward where Do-yoon was. Do-yoon was still asleep on the cold cemented floor. The guy looked stunned and wondered why a dirty young man was lying on the backdoor floor. Yet the ray of sunshine kissed Do-yoon’s forehead and his cheeks. 

How did he get in here? I’m sure I didn’t leave the gate open. The guy pondered. 

Do-yoon's eyelids moved from the shadow above his face. He blinked his eyes. The guy stepped backward. When Do-yoon realized that he had escaped from Tae-sung's hands, he jerked up. And a drool dried out on his left chin. 

“Hey, kid, how did you end up here?” He asked in a polite tone. 

Do-yoon rubbed his eyes to have a clear view of the guy’s face. His eyes widened. “Ah, Ah,” He held his neck. Trying to put the words together. “H-help,” his face looked despondent. Then he remembered that he had brought with him a pen and a pad. “Ah, Ah,” he took it out from his left pocket and wrote down something. He showed it to the well-toned guy who looked like a beta. 

“I’m Do-yoon. I’m half deaf and can’t talk well. I ran. I escaped from Tae-sung. Please help me. I don’t want to go back there.”

His hands were trembling.

If he says Tae-sung, isn’t he Sir Lee’s half-brother? The man thought and said, “I’m Song. But how did you get in here?” He asked again. Do-yoon, read his lips. He swallowed from his throat and said, “I-I c-crossed the river f-from T-tae-s-sung h-house.” 

Song's eyes were in disbelief. He asked, “Then who told you to come here?”

“M-martha,” Do-yoon said as he cowered. 

Martha? Song pondered for a moment. If it’s Martha, could she be someone who used to work here as a housekeeper? 

Do-yoon pleaded by grabbing his cotton pants as he panicked, “P-please, p-lease, h-help me.” He was about to cry. 

Song felt sorry for him and said, “Hey, don’t cry. I’ll try to talk to the head of the house.” His tone was kind, adding, “But it’s not for me to decide if he wanted to help you or not.” 

Do-yoon looked doomed. He let go of his hand. 

Song sighed. “Stand up and follow me, kid.” He turned his back on Do-yoon as he walked. 

Do-yoon looked hopeful. He got up and followed Song behind.

Then―