Escape

Damien's parting words echoed through Liam's already terrified brain. He didn't protest as he was harshly dragged from the dining room to the confinement of the same bedroom. He tried to walk quickly as he was dragged by Hazel but the throbbing pain in his lower back made him falter in every steps and he tried to not wince in pain from the nail piercing grip Hazel had on him.

"Keep shut and don't give us trouble" Hazel said with cruel glint in her eyes. Behind her followed one of the bodyguards.

"Ah Hazel don't be so rude, look at the baby boy, he will be a good bitch am sure"! leered the man.

"You better be right Matthew, I don't have time for kiddie tantrums. Listen here whore you better behave or else I know ways to tame horny bitches like you." Said Hazel approaching menacingly towards Liam.

Liam cowered in fear. He lowered his head and simply nodded yes resigning to his fate.

"We couldn't hear you, Do you think I should stay for a while to teach him manners?" Matthew said licking his lips.

"Don't be an idiot Matthew, for now he is untouchable, you can play with him after the boss is done, be a patient dog you might just get your bitch in heat." Said Hazel smirking at the trembling terrified boy.

Liam watched the duo leave shutting the door firmly and plopped on the floor in utter despair. He folded his knees and brought them to his chest and hugged himself tightly rocking back and forth.

I cant stay here, I cant stay here, I cant stay here, Liam repeated over and over again. He didn't realise how long he sat on the same position rocking himself murmuring the same sentence.

Merida entered the room with Liam's lunch on a tray. She saw the pitiful figure on the floor and her heart ached for the boy. She quickly placed the tray on the side table and sat herself beside Liam hugging the boy tenderly in her arms. She felt the tremors going through Liam's body as Liam sobbed.

"Have faith sweetheart, be strong, you will get out of here, please get a grip on yourself. I know its hard, I know it's painful, I know its cruel, but you have to hold yourself together Liam, that's the only way you will survive". She gently wiped Liam's tears and held Liam in her embrace till she felt the exhausted boy go limp in her arms.

Mental and physical trauma wore out Liam and he fell asleep in the arms of the first safety his brain deduced.

Sighing, Merida gently laid the boy on the floor. She didn't want to wake him up not even for food, instead she wrapped Liam in a blanket and provided Liam with a pillow. Covering the food on the table she silently left the room.

A groggy and disoriented Liam woke up with a jolt. Even his sleep was plagued with nightmares. His terrified eyes tried to gauge his surroundings. The room was already dark. He slowly got up and moved towards the window and parted the curtains. The outside was dark with bright lights illuminating the front porch. He saw two guards idly chatting amongst themselves. Another two lazily strolling, laughing with each other.

I cant stay here, I cant stay here. His previous mantra came back to his mind. I need to escape. I have to escape. Slowly timidly he walked towards the bedroom door and tried to pull it open. To his sheer surprise it was unlocked. He pulled his arms back as if burned by the door handle. His brain warning him that its a trap. He didn't know how long he stood there silently looking at the door.

No, he had to take this chance. At least he would try and get himself out of this hell, he cannot just sit back and wait for those cruel people to come and torment him. He needed to take this opportunity. Slowly, holding his breath he inched the door open. God must be on his side as he couldn't hear any sign of life on the outside.

Carefully he stepped outside and closed the door. The click of the door sounded eerily loud on the empty corridor.

Keeping his back against the wall Liam tentatively took steps towards the ornately designed staircase. He was on the third floor he realised peeking from the railing.

As Liam reached the bottom of the staircase without hindrance Liam felt a little brave. Merging himself with the shadow he looked at the many doors on the both side of the corridors. He didn't become confused as his goal was to reach the main lobby which was fairly easy to locate. As he was about to move, his heart almost did a double take.

Hazel was standing giggling flirtatiously with one of the guards as the said guard fondled her breasts out in the open. Liam started trembling and shaking. He vividly remembered Hazel's warning. If caught he would be in a world of pain. He shuddered at the thought.

Get a grip Liam, he told himself even as he heard approaching footsteps from opposite direction. He was trapped from both sides. He needs to hide and quickly do so. Without further wasting time he slowly opened the nearest door and went inside. He didn't get the time to fully close it when he heard outside voices just in front of his door. Through the small crack he heard the guards and hazel speaking.

"Hazel, baby, I really wanna have a taste of that kid. That bitch is purposely alluring me with his hot body. I can't wait to take a bite" whined Matthew.

"Get in the line bustard, I wanna take the first dig on that hole. Hazel you already owe me a favour. It's time to clear those and we call it even". Said another voice to Liam's horror.

"Tch tch tch...men, always horny. Don't worry you will each have your turn. It's been long since we have had a fresh meat like that. Though after the boss finishes with him I don't know what would happen to the poor kid." Said Hazel in mock sympathy.

Liam heard booming laughters slowly fading down the hallway as the trio walked away. Liam released his breath he himself didn't know he was holding.

No, he wont be a chew toy for those people he had to help himself. I can't stay here, he again repeated firmly in his head. Cautiously he brought himself out of the room he was hiding in. His alert eyes surveyed the surroundings and finding no imminent threat he gradually took steps towards the main door.

Unfortunately when he reached the main door he saw that though it was wide open two armed guards were stationed on each side and there was no way he could pass them without anyone noticing.

Think Liam, think, he desperately urged his brain as he heard footsteps approaching him again. Quickly Liam ducked down and crawled away from there as he entered a second hall way away from the main entrance, the footsteps approaching nearer. Without further ado he opened the nearest door and entered quickly. As he straightened himself he froze on the spot.

"What are you doing here?" Merida asked him, her eyes almost bulging out from her socket in trepidation. "Shit never mind!" she said as she dragged Liam and hid him behind a huge pile of what seemed to be dirty laundry as almost at the same time the door opened and two maids walked in idly gossiping.

As soon as the maids saw Merida, one of them asked her with concern, "are you alright Mer? You seem out of colour?"

"N..nothing am fine", Merida mumbled. Her brain is working 100 miles a minute. The rational thing for her to do was to alert the guards and hand over Liam. But will that be a right thing to do? Liam's vulnerability had tugged her heart in an unknown way almost reminding her of her son whom she lost in disease. Liam was too innocent and naive. He would never be able to survive Damien's cruelty. She also heard whispers of how Hazel was collecting money to pimp Liam to the highest bidder after Damien was done with him. No she needed to protect this precious boy.

As the two women attempted to grab the dirty laundry Merida almost shouted "stop"! Curious the other two women looked at her.

"I will finish up here, why don't you two go to the kitchen and finish dinner? The boss will be back soon'.

The women looked at each other somewhat relieved that a chore had been lifted of them. They gladly thanked Merida and left the laundry room.

Merida took a deep breath and lifted the dirty clothes exposing the quivering boy.

"Mer.."Liam began.

"Hush now boy, we don't have much time...do as I say if you want to escape." Even as she said she started stacking loads of clean folded clothes on a huge trolly covered in white cloth.

"Get inside and don't make a single sound" said Merida in a rushed voice.

Liam nodded mutely and climbed on the lower rack of the trolly and Merida deposited more laundry over him obscuring him completely. Liam closed his eyes and prayed to God. Holding his breath he made himself as small as possible. Then he felt himself move as the trolly started rolling pushed by Merida.

With a hammering heart and unsteady steps Merida wheeled the trolly outside. At the entrance she spotted two armed guards who nodded seeing her but didn't try to stop her as they knew Merida was distributing clean, washed uniforms to the outhouses which housed guards and maids.

As she crossed the threshold Merida released her breath, a little confident now she moved faster towards her intended direction.

"Stop'! She heard a commanding voice. Composing herself she slowly turned.

'Yes sir," she timidly answered looking at the angry face of one of the guards. "Shit" she internally cursed, it had to be Matthew, what are the odds to that!

"Last time my uniform still had stench you stupid lazy bitch, do you think you can handle simple tasks of washing clothes or do you want me to get your beautiful daughter in law?" Sneered Matthew.

"Nn..no sir, I will make sure they are perfectly done this time"

"Good, now off you go" said Matthew slapping her bum.

Gritting her teeth Merida slightly bowed and walked away as fast as she could. Just before reaching the outhouse she took a turn and wheeled the trolly in a blind spot where cameras couldn't reach.

"Get out, you are safe for now", whispered Merida.

Liam slowly untangled himself from the pile of clothes and emerged outside, his eyes wide, his breathing heavy due to rush of adrenaline.

"Wh..where am I?"asked Liam.

"This is as far as I can take you, but the entrance is only 200 yards from here", she said pointing the correct direction. "Lay low, stay hidden amongst trees, I will try to distract the guards"

"I..I... I don't know how to thank you" Liam stammered with tears of gratefulness in his eyes.

"Hurry now boy, don't get caught, that would be enough,"said Merida misty eyed.

Liam watched as Merida disappeared through the winding path towards the entrance and he followed her in tentative steps by keeping himself hidden behind the tress standing on both side of the cobbled path. He could see the main gate, he could see Merida chatting animatedly with the guards, laughing casually as the two guards followed her leaving the gate unguarded.

It's now or never Liam thought as he rushed towards the gate and pushed the smaller door on the gate open with both of his hands. When the well oiled door opened silently he felt elated as he stepped outside of the mansion.

Freedom he thought as he began to run as if his life depended on it. Yes, yes, yes. He made it. He was going back to his parents. He was going back to his mother's arms. His eyes almost became blinded with relieved tears.

SCRAAATCH! A black Mercedes abruptly halted in his path with sudden break. Heart hammering Liam looked as the black tinted window rolled down.

"Going somewhere Liam?" Damien asked Liam as he gracefully opened the car door and approached his target slowly taking predatory steps with a dangerous glint in his eyes.