Her Escape

Sometimes, you need to take a step back and look at the whole situation to find the right solutions. - @miss_polarity

**Sorry, a late update.

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"Ella, wake up," Melissa says as she nudges and, afterward, puts away a few strands of hair cloaking Ella's face. "Well, honey, I know you are conscious. Desist from playing sleeping beauty. Your father just finished filling up the forms. You should open your eyes now."

A second of doubt clouded Ella as she does not want to go back home for some reason. As always, she wants to avoid any interaction. But to her dismay, everyone serving the household will be there to celebrate her discharge.

And on that note, it reminds her of them—of what they have done to her.

She might not have spoken a word since, but she remembers all of their sins to her. She forgives, but she never forgets. She forgives, yet until they know whatever they should be sorry for, she will not stop seeking justice nor being cautious before them.

Out of fear, she becomes indecisive about whether to wake or not. Nonetheless, she slowly opens thy turquoise eyes. She sees the whiteness and cheeriness of the ceiling although, when it travels to Melissa and Anthony, as well as Sean, Caber, Felicity, and Malykith, it becomes dull. She gets up to her buttocks.

Anthony takes an audible breath. "Get on this." He said while propelling the wheelchair in Ella's direction. "You could have been able to walk properly on your release if you had not stepped on splinters, Ella. Even so, I am happy." He announces, quite displeased by Ella's irresponsibility. Otherwise, he wholeheartedly ended it with regard.

He guides his daughter on the chair. Just as everyone else ready themselves to leave, Kenneth pounds and unceremoniously slides the door breathlessly. He went inside the room along with Kim, who stands perplexed by Kenneth's action.

His gander snakes from the irreproachable polished, wooden floor, then to Ella's bandaged feet to her dull vehement blue orbs, and lastly, to Anthony's baffled countenance.

"Sir–" He started downrightly. "I mean Tito Anthony. We–we have a problem." He said as he gasps for air. "The stockholders of your company, they are coming here."

"How—"

Melissa sharply turned to her husband. "Anthony, I thought you told no one."

"Yes, honey. Yes. I–I speak the truth. I have not said a word about our daughter. To no one, not even mother-in-law."

"It—"

"My apologies for interjecting, sire. Please, they are on their way. What do you intend to do?"

"They are not supposed to know anything about this." Melissa voiced a brusque remark.

"Yes. Yes, honey. Everyone, hurry along." He solicitously drives the wheelchair in a hurry.

But along the way, Caber, along with everyone behind Anthony and Melissa, skid to a halt.

"Dad? Mom? Why are we marching to the hospital's front?" Caber says in confusion.

"Because that is where our car is parked, yes?" Melissa pronounced the obvious.

A furrow forms both on Caber and Sean's brow.

Sean interposes Caber and Melissa's exchange. "No. I meant yes, mom. But—"

"Learn from me, dunderheads." Anthony unconsciously retorts from too much excitement on the action. It took him seconds before he realizes what he just said. He turns to them without hesitance. "I have not said something, have I?"

Everyone decides to put up a bluff and altogether shook their heads to support Anthony's pretension.

"All right! Let's go on then." He started to course the path towards the entrance. And strange enough, they found not a soul in the Reception Area: no hospital receptionists, nurses, guards, nor guardians of the patients.

"What are you waiting for—the sunset? The sun will not set at six in the morning." Melissa says.

All of them tread into the lobby. And in no time ey stood still in the middle of the hospital's serene forepart.

"They might have most of the equipment a hospital should have but, they surely have not heeded to the development of their exterior."

Ella's mood clouds with distress upon hearing her father's comment on the hospital's exterior.

There is notably nothing wrong with their surroundings. Plants are all lined up and grouped based on kind and color, respectively. Likewise, the trees are perfectly trim, and no leaves nor grasses can be seen or trodden.

Upon exiting the august garden and otherwise, the frivolous ground—at least for Anthony—they perceive their cars almighty parked before them. The drivers of each one swung their door open in unison.

From the car at the center came out Mister Soller and in his right is Teddy—the bright, shy man in black (on Chapter 6). All of them curtsied to their young sires, young lady, madame, and sire.

Soller comes forward to their direction as well as the household's assistant driver. They bowed once again.

"Sir and madame, you must be tired. Please walk along. I will take care of young lady, Ella." He greets them with a big smile.

Melissa bents down to her level. "Ella?" Afterward, she positioned herself next to her daughter.

She utters while caressing Ella's pure visage. "I am so proud of you, dear. So much. We will have you rest at home for some time to let your wounds heal, then you can go to the mall to shop, to the salon for a new hairstyle, or wherever and whatever you want to do. Just promise me you will be a good girl, all right?"

"Thank you, Soller. Take good care of my princess." Anthony impels the chair towards Soller to have him lend the handle of Ella's wheelchair.

However, the chair suddenly ceases motion. Before Soller could reach, Ella attempts to control her chair and get it out from her father's grasps. She deliberately drives her little car in one direction.

****

"Alas, when have you entertained the idea of visiting your sister, eh?" Cindy starts off the conversation third-quarter of their ride to St. Luxe Hospital.

Alexandra stays focused on the road and never quite bespeaks a hint of disportment for Cindy's nonstop talking.

"Ella will be discharged today. I mean, what is the sense, by the way?"

"For a month, all she has done was sleep and then eat, then sleep again, then eat, then sleep, eat, sleep, eat—the never-ending routine of the sick."

"Just saying: you will be caught red-handed by no one if you visit or take a glimpse of her, you know. She will not even realize you two are in the same hospital."

"And it is not like she is the Evil Queen. She does not hold any enchanted mirror to hunt you nor cares about your whereabouts." She points out.

Upon hearing not a single response again, she continues her speech. "You are perfectly 'safe' to vis—"

"We're here." Alexandra interrupts her.

Cindy pronounces an insentient note. "Oh, I see you parked already."

"Yes, you see." AL replies a rejoinder.

"Oh-ho. Do you truly see what I see?" Cindy articulates chesty while looking straight through Alexandra.

"Obviously: my reflection," AL enunciates bluntly. She was about to turn to open up her door, but Cindy gets hold of her.

"Anything else?" Cindy raises an eyebrow.

"Cindy, I do not have time for your games. We have to get to school on time."

"Answer thy question, Alexandra." She insists.

AL growls in aggravation. "A part of the windshield. The door and the front door window behind me. That is all."

"Oh well, you are as dense as ever." Cindy averts her eyes as she lets out a long, loud breath. "You are going to have a visitor. Might as well give her a warm welcome."

"Huh?" She expressed befuddlement.

Cindy points outside with her mouth. Alexandra reluctantly turns towards the direction where her friend points at with her mouth.

"That's—"

Suddenly, the inside of the car becomes stuffy.

"Oh no, you've got to be kidding me. Why is Ella heading towards our direction?"

"Hm," Cindy shrugs. "Who knows."

"It seems she is the one to visit you all along. I say you should get out and welcome Ella. Right now." Cindy puts an end to their conversation.

Still, in an immobile state, Cindy tries to hustle AL harder as the latter tightly clutches onto the steering wheel.

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