As it turns out, thinking of an escape plan is really hard. I had 3 days until the summit, and it was clear that the real reason why I always had an attendant next to me was to make sure I didn’t leave.

I mean, who knows if I’m in another state or even another country? How did they even get me out of the hospital? They’ve gotta have a ton of money and connections, so do I even have a chance? Should I just book it? The thoughts swirled in my mind as I relaxed in the chrysanthemum garden, which was quickly becoming my favourite hangout spot.

“Are you alright, my lady? I hope I’m not disappointing you…” Morian murmured, her head bowed low. She was sort of like a small puppy, and it made me feel bad.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s just…a lot to take in, that’s all.”

“Um, how about a snack? Would you like a chocolate bar to calm your nerves?” She somehow materialized milk chocolate bars and a few bags of gummies, and I had to wonder just what exactly Angeline told her. Of course, I did still take the snacks.

“Say, you’re trying to cheer me up, right?”

“Yes, of course, Lady Vivian!”

A devious smile spread across my lips. “Then, let’s play a game.”

“Oh, of course! What kind of game?”

“Hide and Seek. You’ll close your eyes and count to 100—no, um, 300, and I’ll hide. You just have to find me.” This is a cult, so she might not know a game like this…right? God, I hope so.

“Uh, I’m not supposed to let you out of my sight, my lady.”

“It’ll be fine! Just this once?”

“Oh, alright. Just this once. 1…2…3…”

Dang, she’s counting fast. Sorry, Morian, I hope you don’t get into too much trouble.  I booked it.

Beyond the garden, past the pond I didn’t know they had, across the thick brush and forest, as far as my legs could take me, I ran like hell. I ran until I got to the black gates, which seemed to go on forever left and right. My guess was that they surrounded the entire estate.

The gates were old but well-kept Victorian style wrought iron fences—you couldn’t see a spot of rust even if you squinted—and they were nearly twice my height. Peering through the bars, I could only see a thick fog, a pale grey that contrasted sharply with golden light covering the grounds. It looked like another world was out there.

Chains kept the entrance locked in place and I could only stick a single arm through even if I sucked in my breath. I tried climbing and, after falling for the third time, quickly realised that wasn’t going to work. Ok, new plan.

I searched the forest and the pond for any way to get over, and, by some stroke of luck, I managed to find a ladder by a small shed. Dragging it back to the towering fence, I laid it up against the bars. It shook like hell, which I’ll admit, made me want to quite the plan all together, but I made it to the top.

No going back now. That thick fog loomed beneath me, and a faint sense of uneasiness crawled through my chest and seized my shoulders. My gut told me I was about to make another bad decision. Well, what’s the worst that could happen? I’m not gonna die from a ten-foot drop.

There’s a moment when you’re stepping down stairs in the middle of the night where you realise that you’ve miscalculated—a missing step that trips you and the shockwave of confusion that barrels through your body afterwards. That’s a lot what it was like.

The force of the air whipped around my face as I fell. Whisps of thin raindrops grazed my skin. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t breathe.

“Fucking shit! Shit! Fuck! Jesus Christ! Buddha!” The words tore themselves from my throat between wretched shrieking. I was calling for gods. I was calling for mercy. Fuck, am I going to die a second time?