The dimming of the setting sun stretched shadows across the attic. I had spent the last several hours trying to decide on what the best course of action would be to escape. I had two options; either I hit her over the head, steal the attic key, or I pickpocket her.

The first option was too risky – she could be missed. I had no idea what her working schedule was like.

The sound of the door creaking open pulled me from my thoughts. She’s here.

I scrambled off the ground, walking toward the center of the room. The flickering of the candle appeared floating weightlessly before Alora appeared behind it.

“What’s on the menu today?” I asked, taking a step toward her.

“Food.” She said dryly, setting the candle down on one of the boxes. Her eyes flickered around the room – evidently noticing the mess I had made.

She set the basket down, pulling out a small wrapped bundle. The scent of chicken and potatoes filled my nose – but my mind was elsewhere.

“It smells good.” I inched toward her, hoping I could pull this off.

“I suppose.” She turned, not realizing how close I was.

She let out a cry of surprise and slipped – starting to fall backwards. I reached out, wrapping an arm around her waist and slipping my hand into her left pocket.

Please let it be here. I prayed. I shifted my fingers down, while awkwardly pulling her upright. When I was about to give up – a cool rusted metal touched my hand. Thank god. I almost sighed in relief.

“I’m sorry.” I said quickly, steadying her as I slipped the key free in one fluid motion.

“Um.” She flinched, stepping back. “I didn’t know you were right behind me.”

Flustered – she snatched the basket and ran down the stairs. I followed slowly after her and tilted my head when the door closed. Strangely enough, she didn’t seem to even stop and try to lock the door.

My idiotic gamble paid off. I sat on the top step – relief washing over me. I had expected her to march back up and demand the key. Will she come back once she realizes she forgot to lock the door?

For a long stretch of time, I sat unmoving. Each shuffle in the hall or a distant cough had my back tensing up. This is ridiculous. To think I’m forced to cower like a rat.

As the evening wore on and slipped into night, my nerves transitioned from fear of Alora returning to fear of being caught as I escaped.

I stood slowly and turned, looking back at the attic one last time. I wouldn’t miss it of course – my time inside had been nothing but tormenting. Should I blow out the candle? I wondered, before shaking my head. If the house catches fire, that’s not my problem.

A brief thought passed through my mind as I walked down the stairs. A faint whisper urged me to turn back and set the whole place ablaze.

What would that accomplish? I scolded myself, slowly turning the doorknob. It would draw everyone here.

I took a deep breath and pushed the door open, wincing when it creaked. I waited a few minutes, listening with bated breath. There was no light, no movement outside that indicated someone was in the hallway.

I peeked my head out, quickly scanning the floor. It’s completely empty. Thank god. I took a step out and closed the door as quietly as I could before locking it.

I moved quickly down the hall, my bare feet slapping softly against the tiles. All the doors on the floor were tightly closed – without so much as a glimmer of light beneath them. As I reached the top of the stairs, I dropped the key on the ground next to a decorative vase.

I had just stepped down on the first stair when the sound of murmuring voices filled my ears. I froze – heart thudding against my ribs. I couldn’t make out what they were saying, but I knew they were coming closer.

There’s no time to return down the long corridor.

I swore under my breath and ran toward the door on my right. I tried the knob and swore again – realizing it was locked. This is bad. I can not get caught. I darted to another door with the same result.

I looked around again and froze a second time when I saw the dim glow of candle light on the stairs. They're going to be here in seconds. I can’t stand here like this. I raised my hands – smacking myself hard enough to jolt my system – without making too much sound. You got this. Find a door. There’s no way they locked them all.

I shifted to my left and reached for the door, praying it wasn’t locked. I turned the knob and let out a breath of relief when it rotated. Quickly I pushed it open, and stepped inside – just as the tops of the maids' heads appeared under the landing.

I shut it quietly before leaning my forehead against the cold wood. That was too close. A second later and my plans would have been ruined.

“I don’t know why we have to check.” One of the maid’s voices grumbled. “The new girl was the one that lost the key. Why do we have to be the ones to check for it?”

“Does it matter?” The other maid said, irritated. “Everytime new girls come in they screw something up. Last week, that idiot Lori tried washing the young master’s floor with lye. Lye of all things! Did no one tell her that it ruins stone?”

“Didn’t she get fired?”

“No, she’s sleeping with the butler.”

As fun as it was to hear their complaining – I wished they would hurry up and leave. The longer they took to search, the harder it would be for me to get out.

They continued complaining for a while, before stopping near the attic.

“I don’t see a key.” The first maid complained. “I bet she didn’t even lose it here.”

“The doors are locked as well.” The second one said. “It doesn’t matter as long as that bastard girl is locked away.”

“Won’t the guards get pissed if we can’t unlock it later this morning? I heard they were sending her off then.”

“Who cares?” The second maid laughed. “They can just remove the door to get her. Besides,” I heard the sound of their footsteps walking back down the hallway. “They don’t really care if she rotted there.”

“That’s true.” The first one laughed. “Let’s get out of here. This hallway gives me the creeps at night.”

The sound of their voices continued – growing fainter and fainter as they walked down the stairs. After a few minutes I could no longer hear them at all.

“Finally.” I mumbled, on a sigh. “I thought they were never going to leave.”

I took a deep breath and pulled open the door – beelining it toward the staircase.

Step one had been completed, but I still had to leave the confines of the mansion.

Despite my drive to run away, I couldn’t have predicted what was about to happen.

If I had known, perhaps I never would have tried to escape that night.

The worst was yet to come.