Escape

(Flashback - 9 years ago)

(Last day of December - Part 1)

"Hannah!" I heard Aunt Emily's voice.

The staff who walked me to the room removed my blindfold and left us.

"Auntie..." I slowly took steps to her and hugged her. I felt so exhausted.

This was the second time that they let me see Aunt Emily. The first was when I begged them and cried so hard. The woman who seemed to be the head permitted me on the condition that I would behave and always obey them. I did nothing to disappoint them.

I just wanted to see Aunt Emily desperately.

We were in a plain white room. It was the same as my room but the only difference was it had no mirror on the walls. I saw the huge mirror in my room when they once removed my blindfold after I agreed on their terms not to do anything bad. At first, my hands were tied but when I said that I would follow their orders, they decided to undo it as well. I did everything they want as long as they would let me see Aunt Emily.

Every time we were done with all their tests and activities, I always felt so tired. My whole body felt like it was punched and kicked and it left me unmoving. I just wanted to sleep after.

"What have they done to you?" Aunt Emily gently touched my face. I saw tears forming in her eyes. She cried as well the last time we met.

"You look so thin... oh Hannah!" She hugged me tightly and cried once again.

"How could they do this to you? You are just a child. They are so heartless!" She sobbed uncontrollably.

I tried to speak but I felt really weak. I just wanted to rest for a while.

"I know you are tired. Just take a nap while I am with you." I heard Aunt Emily say. My vision started to lose its focus. My eyelids drooped and finally, I decided to close my eyes for good.

I badly wanted to talk to Aunt Emily but I didn't have the energy to do so. Darkness enveloped me once more...

-----------------

"Hannah..."

I opened my eyes and I saw Daddy and Mommy smiling over me.

"Daddy... Mommy..." I reached out to them but they suddenly turned into bubbles. Fear crept in me and I frantically called out to them. Why it was so dark in here?

Then I saw a glimpse of light and ran towards it. I ran so hard until I ran out of breath.

"Hannah, wake up..." I heard a faint sound of a female voice coming from the light.

When I finally reached the light, it blinded my eyes that I could not see anymore. I was so frightened knowing I wouldn't see Daddy and Mommy again.

"Hannah!"

I jerked up and saw Aunt Emily on my side. I was lying already on a bed. I was panting so hard that I could not focus on where I was.

Then I realized that I was still in the white room with Aunt Emily.

"What is it?" I could see that she was so worried.

"I saw Daddy and Mommy..." So, it was all a dream.

"But they just disappeared." I softly said. It was just a dream but it felt so real. The pain still felt so real.

Aunt Emily took my hand and squeezed it.

"It was just a bad dream, Hannah. I am here. I will not leave you." She assuringly said.

"I don't want to go back to that room again," I whispered. I shook my head and trembled. I didn't want to feel the hurt all over again. I just couldn't take it anymore.

"No, Hannah. This time, I will not let them hurt you again." Aunt Emily touched my hair and softly caressed it.

"We will get out of here." I heard her say before she stood.

She knocked on the door and the staff who was guarding outside opened it a bit.

"My niece wanted to go to the bathroom." Aunt Emily said.

I was confused.

"I'll take her there." The staff answered.

"She wants me to walk her there. Please let me go with her. I am so worried because she's so weak. Please...." Aunt Emily plead.

"Fine. I'll take you both to the bathroom." The staff finally said.

"Thank you." Aunt Emily walked back to me and helped me get up from the bed.

I didn't have an idea why Aunt Emily said that I wanted to go to the bathroom when I didn't even say anything about it. Though I was still wondering, I just followed her.

It was the first time that I saw the hall outside. It was all plain white. It felt like I was walking in a hospital.

We followed the staff when she turned right and finally went inside a comfort room with four cubicles.

Aunt Emily walked me to the first one and gently pushed me to sit on the covered toilet.

"Wait for me. And close the door." She whispered and looked at me with her serious eyes.

I nodded. I remembered when she said that even if I didn't understand I should obey her at all cost.

She closed the door and I locked it in.

I saw her footsteps from below the cubicle door. She was walking toward the sink.

"I think the faucet is not working." I heard Aunt Emily say after a while.

I saw the staff's white shoes walk towards where Aunt Emily was.

Then suddenly I heard a loud noise like something slammed on the sink. I heard a grunt and another loud thud. Then everything went still.

I saw a body slumped on the floor. It was wearing a white suit.

Then suddenly someone knocked on the door. I was startled.

"Hannah!" It was Aunt Emily.

I immediately unlocked it and saw Aunt Emily breathing hard. There was blood on her plain blue duster. I caught a glimpse of the staff lying on the floor.

Aunt Emily blocked my view.

"We have to get out of here now!" She grabbed me and pulled me to run.

My heart was beating fast because of fear and anticipation.

We ran into the hall while desperately looking for the exit. Aunt Emily looked around with wild eyes. I could sense her fear as well. What if someone caught us?

We turned left and right wishing we could see the way outside. We were still lucky not to bump with anyone at the moment.

Just as we finally saw a fire exit ahead of us, a man wearing a white suit with a clipboard in his hand suddenly emerged from one of the rooms. Aunt Emily pulled me to one of the open doors and quickly entered it.

I heard Aunt Emily lock the door as soon as we were inside. We were both panting hard as we sat down on the floor. She was holding my hand tightly. I felt her body was shaking as well. We were both scared.

She just sat there trying to get a grip on herself. My eyes were trying to adjust in the darkness. We didn't know where we were now.

I looked at Aunt Emily on my side. I could still hear she was breathing hard.

Could we really escape from this place?

I really hope so...