Breaking Free

Jane's heart pounded as she maneuvered through the cramped ventilation shaft. Every movement sent sharp pains through her scraped knees and aching arms, but she couldn't stop now. She had made it this far, and freedom was just beyond her reach. The metal beneath her creaked dangerously, forcing her to pause and hold her breath as voices drifted up from below.

"The boss said no mistakes. If she escapes, we're dead."

"She won't. The room's locked up tight. She's not going anywhere."

They had no idea she was already gone.

Taking a deep breath, she pressed on, crawling toward the faint glow of light filtering through another grate. She peered through the slits, spotting a stack of crates below. It was a risky drop, but she had no choice. Carefully, she pried the grate loose and let it fall silently onto the boxes. Summoning every ounce of courage, she shifted her weight and slid through the opening, landing hard on her side. Pain shot up her arm, but she gritted her teeth and scrambled to her feet.

The warehouse was vast and eerily silent. Jane stuck to the shadows, dodging between crates and broken furniture as she searched for an exit. A door loomed ahead, slightly ajar. She rushed toward it, pushing it open just enough to slip through. The night air hit her like a splash of cold water, and she gasped, the realization washing over her—she was out.

She didn't stop running.

She sprinted through the deserted alleyways, ignoring the burning in her lungs. She needed to get to campus. To Daniel. To answers.

Daniel had barely stepped onto campus when he saw Jane approaching. Her hair was a disheveled mess, her face smeared with dirt, her clothes torn. But her eyes—her eyes were wild with fury and desperation. He barely had time to process before she was in front of him, shoving him hard in the chest.

"Jane—"

"Don't you dare say my name like that!" she snapped. "You knew, didn't you? You and Henrietta!" Her voice wavered, raw with emotion. "I was kidnapped, Daniel! Do you have any idea what that was like? Being tied up in some disgusting room, waiting to find out if I was going to live or die? And all this time, you and Henrietta—" Her breath hitched, and she clenched her fists. "Tell me the truth. Now."

Daniel stared at her, his throat dry. He had known this moment was coming, but he hadn't been ready for the sheer devastation in her eyes. "Jane, I swear, I had nothing to do with—"

"Liar!" she cut him off. "You lied about Henrietta being your cousin! What else did you lie about? Was this some kind of setup? Were you trying to get rid of me?"

Daniel took a step forward, but she recoiled as if his presence physically hurt her. "No! Jane, listen to me—I didn't know about the kidnapping. I swear. Yes, I lied about Henrietta, but I had my reasons. I never wanted you to get hurt."

Jane let out a bitter laugh. "Well, congratulations, Daniel. I got hurt anyway."

A heavy silence settled between them. Jane's chest rose and fell with deep, shuddering breaths as she fought to stay composed. Daniel wanted to reach for her, to make her understand, but he knew words wouldn't be enough.

Tears burned at the edges of Jane's eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She had already wasted enough time being vulnerable. "I'm done," she whispered. "I'm done being lied to. I'm done being used. And I'm done trusting you."

With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Daniel standing alone, the weight of his choices crashing down on him like an unforgiving tide.

Jane made her way back to her dorm, her body aching with exhaustion. As she stepped into the building, the familiar hallway suddenly felt foreign. She had barely taken a few steps before voices erupted around her.

"Jane?! Oh my God!"

Her roommate, Lisa, and a few of her friends stood frozen in the corridor, their eyes widening in horror at her state. Lisa rushed toward her, hands hovering as if afraid to touch her. "What happened to you? Where have you been? We've been so worried!"

The concern in their voices tugged at Jane's already fragile emotions, but she couldn't bring herself to explain. Not yet. She shook her head weakly. "I... I just need to get to my room. Please."

Lisa hesitated before nodding, stepping aside as Jane trudged past them. The whispers followed her, but she didn't have the energy to care. She just needed a moment to breathe.

She stepped inside her room, locking the door behind her before collapsing onto her bed. But sleep wouldn't come—not yet. She needed to wash away the filth of the past hours.

Dragging herself to the bathroom, she turned on the shower, letting the hot water cascade over her skin. The warmth soothed her bruises, washing away the grime and sweat from her ordeal. She stood under the stream longer than necessary, eyes closed, allowing herself a moment of relief.

After dressing in comfortable clothes, she opened her fridge, grabbing the leftover snacks she had stored. She ate in silence, the familiar taste grounding her, reminding her that she was safe—for now.

Her phone had been left behind during the kidnapping, so she borrowed her roommate's and dialed her mother's number. The moment her mother picked up, relief flooded Jane's chest.

"Jane! Where have you been? We've been worried sick! Your phone was off!"

Jane swallowed the lump in her throat. "Mom... I—I was kidnapped."

A sharp gasp came from the other end, followed by frantic questioning. Her sister's voice joined in, both of them demanding to know what had happened.

Jane took a deep breath and recounted everything—the kidnapping, the escape, the confrontation with Daniel. Her mother's voice was firm yet comforting. "We'll come to campus first thing in the morning, sweetheart. You won't go through this alone. We'll get to the bottom of this together."

Tears welled in Jane's eyes. "Thank you, Mom. I really need you right now."

After ending the call, she finally let herself breathe. She climbed into bed, her body sinking into the mattress, exhaustion pulling her under. For the first time in what felt like forever, she allowed herself to sleep—a deep, dreamless sleep that she desperately needed.

Outside, the night pressed on, but in the shadows, unseen eyes watched, waiting.