No going back

Sitting in the flowerbed, in her mud stained ballgown, looking back to the castle & hearing her mother call her name, Elizabeth knew she couldn’t go back. This was time to leave, for real this time. Tired of being bound by restrictions and control Elizabeth knew escaping from her current life, required faith, strength & courage. Elizabeth started running her hands through her tightly held ringlets and putting her hair up in a tie, meant she could run without her hair in her face. Tears falling from her face, she reached into her corset dress to pull out her little black book, she read over her pages again, nodding in agreement, as if the pages were giving her the pep talk she needed, the comfort, the strength & reassurance that she needed to flee. This book had been Elizabeth's most prized possession, this was her like bible, her manifestation book of secrets and plans. The book no one knew of, her only sense of freedom she has had, kept hidden for years under the floorboards in the castle. Her executed plan for freedom was finally in action. Putting the book back into her corset, like a crystal to a bra, she wiped away her tears and let out a huge sigh, as if breathing out all of her burdens and worries. Elizabeth looked around for her little Tigers Eye crystal she left in the mud, then started digging into the mud until silver started appearing through the earth, she pulled out scissors & smiled. Taking her scissors she cut the bottom of her dress, so that she could run easy without the ballgown being a trip hazard. She learnt this on her practise escape run, long dresses and running don’t go hand in hand. It was the reason for her capture, so she knew this had to be executed differently. With her ballgown cut to knee length, Elizabeth buried her scissors back to her usual spot, in case she needed them again one day. Elizabeth liked to think she was strategic, staying steps ahead meant she was smarter than her mother and one step closer to a life she desired.

One last glance back to the castle, hearing her mother call her name again, and then Elizabeth broke into a run. Once they spotted her for sure the dogs would be out. Her heart was beating so loudly she was sure her mother would hear it. Spills of colour passed her eyes as she ran through the most beautiful plot of land. To the public this was the garden of dreams. To her this was another means for her mothers manipulation. Her mother controlled even the land she ran, with every piece of land controlled and manipulated, each inch of soil counted, with herbs, plants, food & fruit trees.

All she needed to do were make it to the shrubs to stop and breathe, and so far - no spotlights or barking dogs. She knew over feeding them would have made them sleepy and less alert. Suddenly the small lights appeared outside the castle shining over the front door, alerting her that someone was outside. ‘Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit’ she thought as she ran even faster, after 10 minutes of solid running, Elizabeth made it to the shrubs, which were long and thick, and meant she could breath and rest for five. No dogs barking meant she had made it, almost. She pulled out her little black book. Catching her breath she started looking in the soil for her little red stone she had placed strategically, but it was gone. Elizabeth started digging at the soil and clawing at the Earth in desperation. She was wasting valuable time that she didn’t have. This was meant to be clothes to change into. She had placed leggings and a cotton hoodie into a waterproof bag and buried it, but it was gone. When she passes the gate she will be easily detected when the newspapers and media splash her face everywhere as missing. She’ll be easy to spot a mile off. She places her black book back into her corset, and decides to think about her attire later once she's over the gate. She has little time to execute this, it’s getting darker and she needs to reach the gate before she can’t see the gate. Elizabeth scrambles to her feet, wipes her muddy hands over her ballgown, and runs. The outside lights illuminate the whole of the garden, so she runs back quickly to the shrubs. The barking appears and Elizabeth runs. She is a fair bit away from the castle that she has time to run and make it. Running through the open expansive grounds for another 10 minutes and finally the gate is in sight, the barking grows closer and closer, as if they are literally behind her now, and she knows this is her close to failing again. Her mother for sure will be running too, like always.

Elizabeth reaches the gate and looks back to see the dogs in sight. They are closer than she thought. She climbs the gate, the dogs approach and bark viciously up at her. She knows if she falls, they will drag her by the feet back to the castle and like last time, will be covered in cuts and grazes. She slowly climbs as the dogs jump up and bark, causing the gate to wobble. She gets to the top and instantly jumps down to the ground at the other side. Laying on the ground, pain fills her whole body but she knows she cannot stay here. She’s made it this close to freedom it’s time to get as far away from Castle Pentley as possible.

“Elizabeth”

Elizabeth looks round to see her dad standing there. She remains silent and shocked at how calm his voice sounded.

“Elizabeth quick” as he picks her up and pulls her into the forest beside the castle. Elizabeth becomes even more confused, was he helping her?

“Elizabeth you need to listen to me. I have been waiting for this day for years now and I knew I had to do right by you when this day comes. You know how much I admire your strength & courage and I’ll always stand by you. You’re 21 and I feel it’s time you have the life you deserve. I need to stay here, for your brother. Please take this...

Peter hands over an envelope and a small satin drawstring bag. It contains everything you need to start new, and also, this...

Peter hands her the waterproof bag she buried.

“You need more than 1 pair of leggings and a hoodie, I’ve added a vest, shirt & an extra jumper” Elizabeth held him and cried.

Her mothers voice grew closer and Peter and Elizabeth both nodded. “I need to go,” Elizabeth whispered.

“Please keep in touch only after 11PM” Peter smiles.

Confused by his words she nods and runs as her mothers voice draws even closer. Peter runs into the forest to hide and Elizabeth runs the opposite way through the darkened forest growing distance between her and Pentley.

She runs for what feels like hours until the darkness sets in and she can’t see behind or infront of her. Edging out of the forest towards the moonlight, she sits down and pulls out her waterproof bag to put on a jumper. Inside she finds a mobile phone and a note...

“Dearest Elizabeth,

Please proceed to contact myself by text message. I have your number. Inside your phone, you’ll find mine. My phone will be on silent, only call or text after 11PM once your mothers had her nightcap and turned herself down for the night. I keep this under the floorboards, just like you did with your little black book. You’re definitely my daughter & I’m proud of you.

Peter

Crying and smiling it all made sense now. The lights that came on during her run, was him leaving the castle to catch her. He removed her hidden waterproof bag to add the mobile & he clearly knew about her little black book. Reaching into her envelope she pulled out $20,000 and started crying, this was the only thing she needed to help her start over in life. Inside the satin drawstring pocket which contained 2 large diamonds, which she knew was her dad's way of saying if you run out of cash and need more, these can be sold to help you. Smiling, she lay down on the grass, pulled out her little black book & pen and started writing...

‘My plans after Pentley’