Soft Addiction

a's

staff that were too busy preparing breakfast to notice my presence. Soon the guards will be changing shifts, and nobody will notice as I escape. I had timed everything perfectly. The cool morning air hit my face as I stepped outside. I moved quickly, sticking to the shadows and avoiding the main paths. My heart raced as I approached the old gardener's shed, where I had hidden a ladder. It was my only way over the mansion. With trembling hands, I set up the ladder and went down, my breath coming in short, sharp gasps. I could hear voices nearby, but I didn't dare look up. I was at the top of the wall and paused, looking out at the world beyond. Freedom was just a few feet away. I took a deep breath as I quietly went down the ladder. I was a few feet away from the ground. When I heard a voice call out my name. "Ella, what do you think you are doing?" It was Alessa, my stepsister. "Dad, Ella is trying to escape," she shouted, running back to inform my dad. I knew she was going to tell on me, and I just needed to hurry up. I took one last deep breath and jumped, landing safely on the ground. I could feel a sharp pain on my wrist, but this was not the time to be weak; I knew soon the guards would come after me. I ran immediately, my feet pounding against the ground aggressively as I put so much distance between myself and the mansion. I ran down the narrow alley, making my way to the woods. My breath coming in rasps and gasps. The sound of the guards heavy feet pounding the pavement echoed behind me,