Page 2 of Devlin

Her eyes narrowed. “Why are you here? What did you do?”

“Nothing,” he said bitterly. “That’s just how it is. My father’s way of keeping control.”

She took a step closer.“I don’t deserve to be here,” she whispered.

“Yeah?” Devlin asked, even more curious about her now.

She slumped her shoulders.“I guess I do know. My father stole from yours and I guess they thought by nabbing me, they’d lure him back here,” she said.

He could see the fight draining out of her already. It pained him to watch. “What’s your name?” Devlin asked.

“Krista,” she said. “And you?”

“Devlin.”

They sat in silence for a moment, the only sound their breathing and the distant drip of water from somewhere deep within the basement.

“We need to get out of here,” she whispered fiercely. “Both of us.”

He admired her determination, but he knew better. “It’s not that simple,” Devlin said.

“It has to be,” she insisted, her eyes blazing with defiance. “I can’t just sit here and wait for whatever they plan to do to me and my dad.”

Devlin felt a spark of hope ignite within him. Maybe, just maybe, with her fire and his knowledge of the estate, they could find a way out. He leaned closer, lowering his voice.

“All right. We’ll find a way. But you must be smart about this. No more shouting. We need to stay calm and think,” he told her.

Krista nodded, looking determined. “Agreed. So, what’s the plan?” Krista asked.

Devlin took a deep breath, his mind racing. “First, we need to learn the patterns of the guys assigned to guard us. When they come, when they go. We find a weakness, a moment we can exploit.”

Krista’s face hardened with resolve. “And then?”

“Then we make our move,” Devlin said, feeling a surge of hope he hadn’t felt in a long time.“Together.”

****

The opportunity finally arose—a crack in the guard’s routine they had waited for. Devlin was ready with a piece of broken plywood they’d discovered in the basement. While Krista distracted his father’s man with pleas for more water, Devlin brought the plywood down on the grunt’s head, knocking him out in the process.

Dropping his weapon, Devlin and Krista moved swiftly out of their prison. Devlin’s heart pounded in his chest as they climbed the stairs to the kitchen. The door had been left open by the grunt. Freedom was so close, he could almost taste it.

But then, disaster struck. Another of his father’s men entered the kitchen spotting them instantly.“Hey! Stop!”

Devlin’s pulse quickened.

“Run!” he hissed to Krista, shoving her forward.

They sprinted out of the kitchen door, leading them to the estate’s garden, the sound of pursuing footsteps echoing behind them.

After a few twists and turns, they skidded around a corner and found the garden gate which led to the street. Devlin knew it was their only chance.

“Go, Krista!” he urged, pushing her toward the gate.

She hesitated for a fraction of a second, her eyes wide with fear.

“It’s not too late, Devlin. Come with me!” she pleaded.

“No, there’s no time. Go, now!” he insisted.

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