Page 124 of The Secrets of Jane: Reborn

I peer out at the waters again, the waves moving with no care in the world about the dramatic humans inland.

Okay, then I need to acttonight. No doubt the minute they suspect Soren, or my father, are potentially on their way, these people will kill the sirens. Anya, too. All while I sit in a tower and feel gratitude for surviving? No.

I came hereexactlyfor this reason.

Nearing the doors of the balcony while Jesper no doubt still sleeps in his steak, I eye the exterior handle of the balcony before turning it as quietly as possible, holding my breath as if it might somehow make it quieter, desperately hoping it isn’t locked—it opens.

I open the door as gently as possible, and then shut it so a breeze doesn’t blow inside.

There are drawn curtains on the other side, so I stand there with my back to the glass doors, creeping my fingers around the fabric that dangles in front of me, slowly moving my head so I can peek out, seeing nothing but darkness. It’s dead quiet in here, the ocean the only muffled sound.

I slide through the fabric, worried this could be someone’s private quarters and perhaps they’re sleeping. It’s so hard to see withoutanylight, walking with my hands splayed out to touch anything I might run into. My hands graze stone, and then a wooden mantle—the hearth. I grab an iron poker for a weapon when my hands lay on one and look around once more, even if it’s basically all black.

I don’t even hear anyone breathing in here. Is it empty? Just another sitting room?

The only light I have is whatever bleeds through the bottom of a door, which, if I’m right, means exiting out of here will take me to a thinner hallway that will lead to the entrance of the dungeons, and then it’s a straight shot down.

With the heavy poker in one hand, I use my other to turn the handle of the door for what seems like an eternity so as not tomake a sound, holding my breath as I hear the faintest clicking sound of the internal mechanisms.

This is just like when I was a kid and stole from the unsuspecting, or tried to sneak into places I wasn’t supposed to.

I can do this.

I literally escaped a Zenith, who admitted if he didn’t have his powers, I would have gotten away.

My resolve steadies.

When the door is able to open, I don’t let go of the knob. I’ve learned it’s easier to repeat the same process and slowly return it back to neutral.

Now, I listen.

Whatever chatter is there sounds further away rather than close by. Risking it, I cringe as I wait for a possible squeak of the hinges.

They’re clean.

When the door is open enough to squeeze my body through, I slip outside and slowly shut the door, looking around like I’m back in my childhood and about to get caught at any moment.

The hallway is still empty.

There are guards to my right, their backs to me as they chat with the others. Someone mentions something about it being odd that I’m not playing the piano.

Oh, fuck, I need to move, then.

Commit. Don’t think twice.

Leaving the doorbarelyajar, in case I need to sneak back in, I strut down the lonely hallway in this stupid, flowing dress—sticking the poker between my thighs, I move as fast as possible to tuck the dress into my long knickers, right at the tied waistband. I didn’t even think of this earlier because I don’t know how to wear dresses.

So much better.

Moving swiftly and quietly, once more, I’m wondering what I’m to do about my appearance; aside from this very unorthodox style, I’m not wearing any of their robes. Should I kill the first person I meet and steal theirs? My hair being braided is actually of use tonight, both for movement and because it’s not how everyone saw me when I was first brought in.

I don’t care if I leave a trail. All these people support a world of terror that goes far beyond Skull’s Row. At least in the city I was born in, there’s freedom to partake or leave.

Not under Misery’s reign, and they all support him, here.

Theywillcatch me. But that’s not the problem. I’m giving up my freedoms, my comfort, my dignity,allof it, in the hopes that I may succeed. If I can just get them to the oceanbeforeI’m caught, it’ll all be worth it.

Which means no holding back.