Escape Plan: Her Decision

Laila could feel her heart slowly beating and was about to stop any moment. Before she fell into darkness, she saw how the white light came from Seira's hand followed by a thin thread rushing into her, flowing like a series of small waves directing to every part of her body until her mind became clear.

Seira suddenly felt dizzy after pulling out her hand. Air seems to be hard to inhale. She gently punched her chest and shut her eyes in an attempt to ease her condition.

"Mother, wake up! Mother—Ah!" Mary screamed.

She wanted to tell Mary to lower her voice but she cannot seem to find her voice. Luckily, the sound of the rain was loud and dominating the forest.

Anyone would feel the same shocked expression of Mary when the person that was supposed to be dead suddenly gets up and gasps for air. Laila grips her chest, standing up to easily grasp for air. After her breathing became stable, she quickly held her stomach, searching for her wound but she didn't feel any gashed of wound. She slowly glanced at the woman struggling to stand up.

"What did you do to me? Who are you?" she questioned, completely bewildered at what just happened to her.

"I will explain later but we need to find someplace to hide. It's just a matter of time for them to find us" Seira picked the bag on the ground and unsteadily ran again. Her hand seems to be on fire and burning. She bit her lower lip to suppress the pain. She expected the aftereffects but she never thought that the pain was twice as much as before.

Soon after, a sadistic laugh came from behind. Without a pause, she turned around holding Laila's arm, but she didn't see anyone. The laugh came again. She shudders to the sound. It is a roguish and hair-raising laugh.

Adrenaline surges once again in her body, pumping her feet to move faster while pulling Laila with her.

All of sudden, a body came in contact with Laila causing her to lose her balance and fall with her together. Her body roughly came in contact with the damp ground. With a groan, she pushed herself up and turned to her left.

A man was on top of Laila, roughly shoving Mary away from her.

Seira ignored the pain of her body, picking the rock she took a hold of; strongly hit the man's head "GET OFF OF HER!"

The man with thin, sunken, and red eyes fell to the ground. Suddenly, lightning thundered down. Blood was flowing from the man's head.

Laila holds her neck, gasping for air. Her hand was securely holding her daughter who was behind her. She picked another stone, readying herself to hit the man one more time.

"You must be Seira, Seira Lacresia right?" The man weakly sat on the wet ground, trying his best to open his eyes. "Those two will be saved if you willingly surrender yourself…….. woman" the man stated before he fell again with his eyes closed to the muddy surface.

Seira stared at the unmoving body of the man for a second, absorbing what he said until a hand held her wrist.

"Let's go Seira," Laila said, gripping her arm.

She reluctantly nod; picking up the bag and ran again with Laila in the front.

They ran straight ahead without a pause. Ignoring the constant tripping and stinging pain of their wounds. Their body screams pain and urges them to stop but the three continue to run without any destination ahead. The rain fell hard at once. The raindrops made for them to keep their eyes open. Water flows down making the ground even more slippery.

Seira stopped in the middle when Laila hold her arm "I can't run anymore, Seira,"

"Give Mary to me, I will carry her" she extends her arm; lifting Mary but her arms bulge downward. She looked down at her hands. It was shaking uncontrollably.

Laila looked at Seira. The moonlight shone to them as if it was offering them a light. She takes in Seira's condition. Her white hair was messily scattered, sticking in her face. Her face has some small wounds. She glanced around, in hope to find some decent hiding place. It was impossible for them to find the way out because of the rain. She also has no strength to run. Her eyes caught sight of the hole in the side of a big tree. Vines and grass were covering the hole that looked like a bunch of vines filling up together.

"There, we can hide there" she mumbled, tugging Mary and Seira towards the vines.

Laila went inside first followed by Mary who was quiet and biting her nails. Seira tried to bend down; slowly fitting herself to the hole but the remaining space was not enough for her.

"Come on Seira, you can fit in here" Laila urged.

She looked at Mary who was staring at nothing in particular; biting her nails while tears were flowing in her cheeks.

"Those two will be saved if you willingly surrender yourself…….. woman"

"Why? Why did you suddenly ask us to leave Laila?" she asked, staring at the rather unusual radiant moon in the sky.

"I saw a poster of your face covered in your scarf on Frank's table at the brothel and the guard who was asking for you at the Parton Station was having a conversation. The guard knew your name and asking Frank to take him to you in exchange of 100 gold coins, so I rushed here to take you and Mary with me to escape"

"Why did you do that?"

"What? Trying to save you?" Laila chuckled "I may not show it but I consider you as my younger sister and it is the least thing I can do for you, for taking care of my daughter. I also feel that these days Frank will do something to Mary, so I just act early"

A small smile appeared on Seira's lips. "Thank you" she looked at their hiding place. There's no way for her to hide. If she stays in the place, they will definitely discover it. She was grateful for the kindness of Laila but she was aware that the men's main target was her. If they were seen with her, the probability of them getting in danger was higher. It was her problem in the first place.

Closing her eyes for a moment, she faced Laila and Mary, holding their hands between her cold one "I will confuse them and lead them away from the two of you. So hide her until morning. Billy will surely look for me here"

"What are you saying?! Are you crazy? What will you do if they catch you?!" Laila countered; shaking Seira's shoulders.

"They won't. I'm….. I'm a fast runner" she fake smile "So….. survive this night and leave this place as soon as possible. Take care of Mary. Spend a lot of time with her"

She made up her mind, she will run away from the two to save them if and only if something will happen to her.

"Where are you going Seira?" Mary asked, still playing her fingers.

Tears welled up on her eyes. She hugged her tightly, kissing the side of her head "I….. I will just find another hiding place" she cupped Mary's face "You know how much I love you right?"

Mary nodded, hugging her back "I love you too Seira, come back here okay? Mother and I will wait for you"

"Seira, you don't need to do this. You will—"

"I need to"

Seira give the bag to Laila who was hugging Mary "Take care of Mary"

She takes a step backward; facing Mary and Laila. And with a deep breath, she turned around and ran wherever her feet directed her.