THE HIGH-RISE HEART

narrow bed, and her head was throbbing with pain. She tried to sit up,

me sort of cell. The walls were made of cold, gray stone, and th

g she had been imprisoned. Her last memory w

outside her cell. The door creaked ope

s voice dripping with malice. "Yo

oarse from thirst and fear. She tried to s

ou should have stayed out of this, Alic

and left, leaving Alice

ing with thoughts of escape and revenge. She knew

cold stone walls and floor. She stumbled upon a small, rusty

footsteps again. This time, it was a wo

d, her voice dripping with condescension. "I hope you

Lady Wagner chuckled and continued, "Don't worry, dear. You'll be

left, leaving Alice feelin

venge. She knew she had to get out of there before it was too late. An

She was given barely enough food and water to survive, and her

pe, no matter what it took. She started to explore her

one. It was tiny, but it was something. She started to work on it

she didn't give up. She kept scratching, kept digging, un

ands bleeding and sore. She squeezed through the ope

e started to run, she heard the sou

hest. She could hear the footsteps getting closer and close

d. It was a door, slightly ajar. She pushed it open

y high walls. But she saw a gate, sl

voice behind her. "Alice, stop!" It was A

umping as fast as they could. She reached the gate a

she had left the Wagner empire and their estate be

t she was in a small town. Sh

figure watching her from the sha

eep running, keep hiding. The Wagner would s

cked inside, hoping to lose Ashley in the crowd. She ordered a coffee

rner, eyeing her suspiciously. He was dressed in a black suit

able. "Alice Wagner," he said, his voice low

agner henchmen. She tried to stay calm, but her voice was sha

Alice. You know exactly what I'm talking about. And yo

looking for an escape route. That's when she saw him - a tall,

d over to him. "Hey there," she said, tryi

her with a raised eyebr

ose. "I need to ge

help me. she said with tears ro

spreading across his face. "Well,

d they made a run for it, leaving the

rush of adrenaline. She didn't know who this

gh pedestrians and dodging cars. Alice'

chman, Alice heard a voice behind her. "Yo

hley's furious face. The stranger pulled her

car screeching to a halt beside them. The strang

ed, as the car sped

cing. She peeked up to see the stranger dri

her voice shaking with numero

ng at the corners. "Someone who's goi

ight, leaving Alice wondering if she'd jus