Escape Plan: Saving Laila

Throughout the dinner, she tried her best to show that she was not affected by the vision of Mary. The moment she made sure Mary slept, she locked herself in the bathroom. She was feeling unsettled as she felt that her dreams for the last four days, her disturbing feeling and Mary's nightmare are all a sign that something will definitely happen. Leaning on the door, she shut her eyes.

"Stop thinking about it Seira" she mumbled to herself.

With an uneasy feeling, she went back to the bed and tried to sleep.

In the middle of the night, Seira slowly gets up. Her feet hit the cold floor. She hadn't slept a wink. She was just staring at the ceiling, wondering and worrying at the same time about herself and Mary if the vision would really happen.

After raising the blanket on Mary's neck, she went to the kitchen to drink water. Just as she was about to put water on the glass, sounds of keys ring from the outside. A shadow creeps in the threshold of the door. She didn't open the lights as the moonlight was unusually bright and the lamp from the balcony was enough for her to see her path.

Without conscious thought, she put down the glass without making any noise. She takes a step towards the door; taking a hold on the vase in the cabinets. With her heart pounding, she watched the doorknob twisting, getting ready to hit anyone who would appear behind the door. The door produces a little sound of creaks.

"AHHHH" she screamed, flinging the vase but a soft and small hand held her wrist.

"Seira! It's me, Laila!"

She shakily searched for the lightswitch and turned it on. Laila looking disheveled stepped inside the house. Her hair was messily scattered all over her face, her clothes were soaked in water; sticking in her body like a second skin. Thick muds stained her dress and boots.

"What happened to you?!" her eyes widened in the untidy appearance of the woman. She peeked outside the door and saw that it was raining. How come she didn't notice it?

Cold hands touched her shoulders "We need to leave right away Seira, there's no time. They're on their way here!" Laila exclaimed in panic.

Seira wanted to ask who and what on earth was happening but she held herself back. It can wait. She seldom talks with Laila but she was aware how the woman was eager to protect her daughter and that was her sole reason to trust the woman at the moment. Nodding, she ran to her room.

"Mary, Mary, Mary wake up" she gently tapped Mary's shoulder. She was about to lift her when Laila beat her.

"I will carry her" her voice was in raw panic.

She briskly opened her closet; took out the important documents of her and Mary and some clothes, putting it in the bag she first lay hold of.

"Let's go, let's go. Faster!" Laila ordered, peeking at the window.

She shakily opened her drawer and took out the small wooden box; placing it inside the bag before following Laila who was already descending the stairs, wearing a coat she picked in her bedside table.

Laila and Seira ran outside without any umbrellas.

"We will take the forest Seira" Laila shouted as loud as she could to fight the sound of the rain.

Before they entered the forest, Seira looked back and terror instantly struck her body. Frank and some deadly looking men along with the guard who accused her for being a thief were casually walking not so far away from them. A lightning suddenly struck, giving a small quick light for her to see the faces of the men. And there's only one thing she saw in them, a wicked and villainous smile plastered on their faces.

She held Laila's arm and pulled her to run even faster. Muds splash in her white dress and brown coat in every step she takes.

She seldom wandered in the forest but she still knew the way out. If she remembers correctly, there's a pathway at the end of the forest. The houses in their area were so crowded that there was no route for them to take. They cannot go to Billy's house and ask for help as his house was near the gateway.

'BANG'

A gunshot can be heard from a distance, echoing through the forest. Seira scurried while holding the bag in her right hand. She has no idea if they are taking the right path as it is so dark. Their only source of light was from the moon. The rain was making their situation even worse.

She didn't know how long they were running. Her feet are aching already from the constant tripping from puddles and hitting stones. The burning pain in her skin adds up to her frustration. Her wounds scrape over and over again to the twigs.

Suddenly, a loud splash from her back made her halt her step. She abruptly turned around, only to find Laila on the ground and Mary kneeling by her side, sobbing. "

"What's wrong? Laila?" She put down the bag and crouched in front of Laila, helping her to get up from her feet. Her voice was trembling from the cold and mostly fear for the three of them.

"I can't run anymore, sorry" Laila weakly put her hands to the side of her stomach.

Seira raised her hand. Her fingers fluttered nervously when she tried to inspect Laila's stomach, trying to discern how badly he was injured.

"Oh my god!" she put her hand to cover her lips. Tears welled up in her eyes as she glanced up. "You were hit by the bullet a while ago?"

Laila smiles sadly and nods, confirming her assumption. She shakily tore her dress and moved closer to her to tie the cloth in her stomach. Her once dress that reached her ankle was now only extending right above her knee.

"How come the bullet hit you in this dark?" she questioned in disbelief; folding the cloth and outstretched her hand to tie the cloth but a cold hand stopped her.

"It was someone's ability. I'm sure one of Frank's goons has the ability to precisely control objects. That's why you need to leave. Take Mary with you, don't mind me and leave in this instant" Laila said between her breaths.

"No, no, there's no way I am going to do that. So let me tie this up to you okay? We are leaving this place together" she tried again but Laila slapped her arms.

"I will die any moment now. I will just slow you and Mary down, so leave and run as fast as you can please. Please Seira"

"No one will die tonight. I don't know what is happening but shouldn't you be the one pushing yourself to survive as much as possible?! You owe Mary a lot" Seira half yelled. Tears continuously flow down to her cheeks. "You will going to take care of her, so stop talking about you dying"

She shakily tied the cloth around her stomach and hooked Laila's arm to her shoulder, ushering her the way. But as they were going to take another step, Laila collapsed.

"Mother!" Mary scurried towards Laila and hugged her.

Seira painfully watched the mother and daughter scene in front of her. Laila is lying on the ground. At the back of her mind, she knows that what she is trying to believe was her form of convincing herself. The wound was too deep and Laila seemed to have already lost a lot of blood. She stared at the blood mixing with mud water flowing in their way. She clenched her fist, looking at the heartbreaking scenario unfolding before her eyes. Mary was crying while holding Laila's head to her chest. Suddenly a small voice echoed in her ear.

"Please take care of them"

She looked up at the dark sky, letting the rain touch her face for a second. These two were both important to the person that saved her before. Maybe it was time to return the favor.

She put her palm to Laila's wounds.

"What are…. are you doing?" Laila said faintly. Her eyes fluttered every second.

"I am saving you and Mary" she simply replied before a white light came out from her palm.