My eyebrows twitched at his hypocrisy. Clumsiness? CLUMSINESS? He’s royally mocking me. I don’t want your apologies. There’s no sincerity in them, no genuine empathy, just words strung together to form a perfectly calculated sentence.


    I no longer wanted to fight him; I had to save my strength. Even though my urges were pushing me to tear his throat out. So, I put the wooden case containing the vials back into my bag and adjusted it on my shoulder, determined to leave this place.


    — It’s nothing, I pretended coldly.


    There, beyond this wide-open door, the dark abyss was waiting to seize and swallow me. I bit my lower lip. It’s too late to turn back. Run or die.


    — Won’t you get into trouble for helping me escape?


    After all, he had prepared a meticulous plan, providing me with tools and instructions that would be invaluable. Even now, I questioned his intentions. He had nothing to gain from getting me out of here, unbeknownst to the matriarch and patriarch. I wanted to convince myself that what mattered most was that he was helping me and that I would never have to see him again, but one phrase kept running through my mind. Felix never did anything unless it benefited him first.


    — For someone who distrusts her brother, you seem quite concerned. Unless your fear is actually about my intentions?


    I flinched. He knew. Of course, he knew.


    — I’d rather make sure you won’t betray me at the first opportunity.


    — Rest assured, that’s not in my plans. It’s more advantageous for me, as well as for you, that you escape.


    With a wave of his hand, my adoptive brother invited me to plunge into this dark tunnel. I lingered for a moment, staring at his face. Maybe, deep down, I wanted to engrave it in my memory before definitively closing the chapter on him and the others. I didn’t always understand the conflicting feelings I had when he was around. A mix of animosity and brotherly love that I wished would disappear.


    I grabbed his cold hand, which he offered me gracefully, to step over the tunnel entrance. His skin warmed at my touch. Somewhat nostalgic, he murmured near my ear:


    — I’m going to miss this intoxicating warmth… but… have a safe journey.


    He paused briefly before continuing:


    — Don’t get lost along the way; the world outside may be far more terrifying than this manor.


    The outside world. A universe I had never known since the moment of my birth. All the knowledge I had came from the books I had read.


    — A new identity, for a new life, my dear Rose.


    “Rose.” This new name marked the beginning of an adventure beyond this prison.


    Felix disappeared behind the massive door, and its slam made me jump.


    Now, I am alone.


    I had already been walking for a good ten minutes through this tunnel, which resembled a sewer. At least, it smelled like one. The deeper I went, the more the light bulbs flickered, until they eventually lost their glow. The corridor was getting darker and darker. I didn’t really know where it led, and part of me kept in mind the possible betrayal of Felix.


    I wonder how long this passage has existed. They haven’t manufactured light bulbs in a long time.


    The tunnel was divided into three distinct sections. The right bank, where I was, the left one, and a blackish stream emanating a terrible stench. I made sure to stay close to the wall to avoid falling in. The defective pipes above my head were supported by stone arches. The dim lighting cast brown and orange hues on this squalid corridor, which seemed endless. Only the dripping water from the arches and my boots’ steps echoed.


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    I kept thinking about Felix, whom I had left at the manor. I clenched my fists, encased in black fabric gloves.


    Maybe he won’t say anything, but this family has spies everywhere, and the estate is monitored. It’s only a matter of time before they realize I’m gone. All of this adds extra stress. I’m venturing into completely unknown territory; it’s been years since I spoke to anyone outside the manor.


    I was scared. Afraid of not being able to anticipate what would happen once I got outside. Afraid of facing a world more horrible than anything I had known so far. Could the outside truly be as terrible as my brother claimed?


    The zipper of my canvas bag slid open. I retrieved the compass. It was far from modern technology, but at least it had no tracker. Opening the lid, a holographic map of the city I was in, Achnologia, projected before me. A blinking red dot marked my position; and if I slid my finger a little further, I could reach that other green dot indicating the smuggler’s location. The tunnel I was in was represented by a thick line. The exit was only a few meters away—this was no time to relax.


    I snapped the lid of the precious object shut and buried it back in my bag. That’s when a gust of wind from the depths shattered all the bulbs.


    — And there it is, now I’m in the dark…


    I had no other light source, so I decided to use one of my abilities. My eyes closed for a moment until I felt an energy similar to tempered vapor surround me. I opened them, glowing like amber crystals meant to see in the dark. A scruffy, shaggy rat brushed against my leg to join a cluster in a corner. There, a putrid stench assaulted my sensitive nostrils, which I quickly covered with my arm. Eyes shining, I approached the gathering of rodents, which scattered at the sight of the light. What they had been hiding immediately came into view, and chills ran down my spine. My body began to sweat, my heart pounded against my ribcage at the sight of the decaying corpse before me. As I tried to step back, my foot slipped, dragging me into a puddle of water. I couldn’t look away from those rotting scraps of flesh clinging desperately to the bones. One of the rats discreetly snatched an eye and scurried away with its prize. My muscles heated up, making my sweating worse. I was hungry. I was ready to pounce on that disgusting flesh and devour it. Saliva soaked the sleeve of my sweater. Just thinking about it disgusted me. But this diet I had imposed on myself was starting to take its toll. My urges were resurfacing.


    Unable to bear it any longer, I grabbed my bag, opened the secret pocket, seized the box with the engraved rose, and poured an entire vial down my throat. The blood trickled down my tanned neck as my senses gradually calmed, my thirst quenched. On the ground, I stared at the emptied vial. In the open case, there were still nineteen left. I had to last until my next stop, where I could finally breathe.


    Summoning a shred of courage, I resumed my journey through this stinking hole, careful not to step on bones by accident. The more I thought about that corpse, the more I wondered if it was yet another victim murdered by the matriarch or the patriarch.


    The wind was growing stronger. I was nearing the exit. Filled with hope, I sprinted toward what I thought was the outside light and slammed into a door that felt incredibly heavy. On tiptoe, I could glimpse snippets of the outside world through a small barred window. My excitement surged.


    Finally, I’m almost there!


    With both hands pressed against the iron wall, feet firmly planted, I pushed the massive door, which slowly slid open and gave way. Before me, a city of light and music. A wave of happiness washed over me, my eyes squinted with joy, holding back tears, and I couldn’t suppress the smile that had vanished for so many years.


    — So, this is freedom? I whispered.


    END OF CHAPTER 2