Chapter 13

Gwen started wheeling away the empty trolley out silently before Zezi's voice stopped her.

"Hmm, Gwen?"

"Yes, my Lady," there was a determination in her eyes like she was ready to keep on her act even if it would kill her.

"I need a book and a pen or pencils, anyone. It is boring not doing anything in here all day."

"That?" Excitement sparkled in Gwen's eyes. "I'll get it for you. Are you perhaps a writer or an artist?"

"Both, if stick figures are considered exquisite art and if short bedtime stories are considered powerful books."

"Oh you are so funny, my Lady," Gwen chuckled uncontrollably. "I'll tell my kids and husband about this. They sure would love it."

"They sure would."

"Anything else?"

"No, that will be all."

Gwen gave her another bright smile before wheeling the empty trolley out and closing the door. Immediately, Zezi saw the door closed, she sucked in a deep breath. She didn't even know that she was holding her breath all that while.

The long marks she saw on Gwen's hand flashed in her mind and she shivered.

She had to get out of here real soon and that book and pen will come handy in mapping out her escape.

Whatever had happened back in that hallway was none of her business to find out. Her one and only business right now, was her escape plan.

Gwen had brought her the things she asked for quickly, the moment she left, Zezi locked the doors and got down to work. She immediately started mapping out each hallway she could remember and connecting them together. What she remembered wasn't enough though, because the more she tried to fix up a way that she could leave, the very fact that she didn't know a way that led outside except through the front door, was a big hole in her plans.

She quickly went down to the kitchen and had a small chat with the kitchen staff. They were all friendly to her as usual. They were even happier that she had been the one to strick a conversation with them first. She tried to twist her questions in a way that she wouldn't be suspected. Her primary aim was to know if there was any way out but the conversation proved futile. Although they hadn't suspected her, their answers didn't help her at all.

One even suggested that if she wanted to go on a tour round the kingdom, that she should ask the King and he would readily oblige.

A suggestion she had passed off with a nervous smile.

Knowing that nothing would come out of this, she had rushed back up to her room and gotten back to her plotting.

Page after page and it was all the same. She tore out the pages, crossing out the plans that led to a certain failure. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She couldn't stay here, she knew she couldn't stay here.

She sat down and continued plotting again, scribbling down everything she could remember madly. Her eyes danced with desperation as her hands tightened on the pen. She heard Gwen call out for her but she refused to answer the door, her presence would only distract her and she really didn't need that right now.

Soon, Gwen was gone and it was silent once again.

She stood up, her eyes squinting while she roamed around the room. Trying to see if there was something that she could remember that would help her plans, but there was nothing.

A cry of desperation rang out from her throat then. She reached out for her book and flung it at the door, then fell on her kneels, next to the bed, and wept.

"I want to go home," she mumbled to herself, her voice choked with tears. She drew the pillow close, like it could fill up the hallow void that was growing in her. "George, I want to go home. Oh, Mira. Oh my daughter. I want to go home. I can't stay here, I don't want to stay here."

Her hands flew up to the mark on her neck, finding comfort in it, but somehow, it wasn't enough.

She cried ceaselessly to herself till her body was shaking from how hard she was crying. Then she heard her door creak open and her eyes flew to the door immediately.

The door was firmly shut.

Zezi stood up, her body swayed from weakness and her eyes ached badly but she forced herself to walk up to the door. She flung it open but there was no one there, even the hallway was empty.

As she locked the doors, confusion settled in her stomach.

Someone had definitely been there and she was sure it wasn't Gwen.

She turned the locked in the door, tried the handle to ensure it was shut. She remembered locking the door before too.

The person that had been here must had definitely had a key and she couldn't think of anyone who that could possibly be except the King.

When she woke up she found herself in a broken state. Papers littered everywhere, her body aching from the awkward state she had fallen asleep in.

She sprung up immediately and started fixing it. Gwen or anyone would be here any minute, and she didn't want her walking in on this. When she was done, she went to the bathroom and freshened up.

It didn't take long for her to get out. With a towel wrapped around her, she tried to search for the gown that would fit her mood today. She was determined to put herself in a productive mood. Being sad and desperate like yesterday would only cloud her judgement. Escaping was no easy and fast game.

Soon, the knock came.

It must be Gwen with the trolley again. She closed the wardrobe to get to the door quickly. She turned the key and unlock the door.

"Just set the table while I find something to wear, I'll be real..." the words died in her throat at who she saw.

It wasn't Gwen.