Page 5 of Einar (The Brigands of Ruk #2)
Chapter Five
ROWAN
Think , Rowan . THINK !
What do I tell Mark that will be convincing enough to let me out of the room?
Ruby is here; I can feel it. Growing up together, and only having one another to rely on created a deeper connection than most siblings. That’s how I know she’s here, and I’m out of time.
Just as Mark reaches for me, inspiration strikes. Pervert that he is, Mark will use every orifice on my body. However , he’s extremely particular about how a woman prepares herself for his attentions. One stray pubic hair, bad breath, or a less than scrupulously clean anal cavity and he gags. You might even say that he has an overactive gag reflex. His weak stomach might be my only opportunity to escape this hell. Gathering what little courage I have left, I speak out of turn, stopping him in his tracks.
“ Mark , before we begin, I do have to warn you. I wasn’t able to attend to all the housekeeping chores you prefer. I wasn’t informed you would be one of this evening’s guests. If you wish to take me … everywhere, I need to go to the bathroom and clean up.”
The disgust that comes over his face at my words makes a warm sort of excitement rise in my chest. He’s going to buy it! They think I’m so broken that I will acquiesce to whatever they want. No matter how vile and depraved.
“ Ugghh ! What a disgusting little bitch. You know better than to skip any of the required tasks Robert assigns you before his little get togethers. You’re lucky it’s me here instead of him. The sight of blood does nothing for me, so I won’t punish you the way Robert will when he learns of this. Well , don’t just stand there staring at me like a simpleton. Hurry the fuck up and get the rest of your personal grooming done and come right back here. You have fifteen minutes before I come looking for you, and I assure you, you don’t want that.”
His words end in a threatening hiss, and I don’t delay in nodding my understanding as I skitter past him to make my escape out the door. I have to force myself to move normally after I leave the den of horrors. Robert has cameras everywhere in this part of the house, so I can’t make a mistake now. He enjoys watching anything and everyone in what he sees as his dominion. Walking unhurriedly, I make it to our personal wing and enter the bedroom.
After I pass the threshold of the doorway, I become a flurry of motion. I don’t have to worry about Robert seeing me in here. He would never chance his preferences being on a hard drive somewhere that some unknown enemy could hack. A quick glance at the clock on the bedside table shows six o’clock. It couldn’t have taken me longer than a minute or two to get here, so I have a small window of time left. Darting into the bathroom, I head towards the little room the toilet is in. Shutting the door behind me, I flick the lock into place and, as silently as possible, retrieve the blue bag from behind the toilet.
In a tiny fit of rebellion, I rip the disgusting excuse of a dress from my body and fling it on the floor. I would rather die. I will never wear something like this ever again. Rapidly , I snatch the clothing from the blue bag and pull it over my emaciated body, ignoring the delicate chains that connect my piercings as I do so. There isn’t anything I can do about them right now. The chains are small and fine, but they’re still chains. The fact that they’re connected with a tiny, bejeweled lock is just the icing on the cake.
Once dressed, I slide my feet into the flats I’ve packed. They’re not much, but they’re better than nothing. Reaching down, I open the ugly little toilet paper cabinet and grab the black bag out. My eyes fall on the blue bag I hid my clothes in. I can’t leave that there for anyone to find, so I roll it up, unzip the pocket on the black duffle bag and shove it inside. I turn around and lean against the door, pressing my ear to it, straining to hear if Mark followed me. If he’s outside this door waiting for me … I’m going to die.
Anxiety fills me as I click the lock and slowly ease the door open. Only to find the bathroom completely empty. A heavy sigh of relief escapes me.
I conquered my second hurdle of the evening.
As stealthily as possible, I creep out of the bathroom and to the bedroom window. I’ve never been more thankful that I don’t live in a multi-storey house than I am right now. Looping the handles of the black bag over my shoulder, I slide the latch open on the window furthest from the bedroom door, praying to whatever god is listening that it won’t make any noise.
I’ve never dared to open a window, so I have no idea if the tracks have been oiled or not. It’s something Robert would do to make sure any window in this bedroom was easily heard if it were opened without his knowledge. I don’t breathe as I wrap my fingers under the bottom of the window frame and push up. To my relief, it doesn’t make a sound.
Raising one leg, I stick it through the opening, making sure I don’t knock my head or elbows on the frame as I bend my torso. I suppress a wince as my body protests this particular movement.
Once I’m outside, I reach up and pull the window closed, forcing myself to move slowly and methodically. I can’t afford to lose my shit right now, no matter how badly I want to. Not when I’m this close to my freedom.
Glancing down at my phone, I press my thumb on the home button to open the screen. The dot shows Ruby’s location just a short distance from the front gate, and the time is 6:08pm.
Perfect .
This is going to work. It has to! Maybe there is a God after all because she’s parked right in the area where there’s a slight break in the wall. It’s a miracle none of the guards have ever found it, and the only reason I know about it is because I’m allowed to wander around the grounds on days that Robert’s in a good mood. My only solace these last couple of years has been what I’ve managed to find in nature. Trees and ornamental bushes flank the exterior fence along its entire length. It’s meant to look fancy, and it does, but it’s also designed as a way to make it hard to sneak onto the property.
Luckily for me, I don’t want to sneak in; I want to get the fuck out of here.
The downside is, there is a massive open space where the side of the house meets the edge of the manicured yard that extends all the way to the boundary of the greenery running parallel to the exterior fence, I have to make it across the yard without being seen to get to the fence. Fortunately , the sun is going down and my clothes are all dark.
Peering around, my eyes strain trying to ensure I’m alone. Robert has guards everywhere. Flipping my hood up to cover my bright hair and pale skin, I make sure I’m as unnoticeable as possible. I know there are several guards, but I’m not sure what type of rotation Robert has them on. Taking a deep breath, I move as fast as I can across the lawn, a constant silent prayer, a litany in my head. I’m terrified that any second I’ll hear someone shout and my escape will be foiled.
But .
That never comes.
Reaching the edge of the trees, I check the time on my phone. Only two minutes have passed since I first checked it, so I have roughly five more minutes before Mark gets suspicious and comes looking for me. Moving deeper into the trees, I look for the maintenance gate. Night is falling, and it’s getting difficult to see, so I use the flashlight on my phone but turn it down to the lowest setting.
A few seconds later, the dim rays of my cell phone shine on something metal to my left, and I move that way.
I’ve found the gate.