21 July 2012
~*/Chapter V\*~ >~Where: The Forest~<
April lay in her corner, feigning sleep as she waited for the house to drift out of consciousness. She'd spent the day forming her plan while she worked. It was nothing elaborate, but it got her away from this life. She planned to head to the forest - she knew there was another town lying on the other side of it, so she planned to head there, get herself a job and see what happened to her next. It wasn't exactly exciting, but having never done anything quite like this before, April's nerves were all over the place.
The journey wouldn't exactly be easy. April had never been in the forest, and had no maps to help guide her. But she was sure she'd find a way to the other town. It would be made easier by the fact that April had no possessions of her own - not even the clothes on her back (the Lord and Lady would have to do without them. She would not leave the house without clothing!). She was sure she could find some shelter each night, in the form of a tree, or a cave, or some other.
After a few hour of just lying there, all April could hear from inside the house were the soft sounds of snoring. Judging that her time had come, she quietly gathered her skirt about her, and headed towards the door. But she stopped. The door was sure to creak loudly, waking at least those who shared the kitchen with her. She'd have to find another way! And the only way she could see was...
The window! That would open silently enough! And as the kitchen was on ground level, it's not like she'd hurt herself from a fall.
She silently eased open the shutters, and then the glass panes before gently lowering herself out. The snow had begun falling again at midday, and the crunch of it beneath her shoes was oddly satisfying. Sticking close to the walls, she began to edge her way around the Manor, until she could see the huge gate that lead to the outside world was opposite to her.
Glancing briefly at the windows around her, she ran silently over to the gate, producing the key that she had pocketed earlier in the day. The gate opened with a huge creak and April quickly slipped through it. She locked it behind her, and threw the key back into the grounds. She wouldn't be needing that any more.
Before anyone could come and inspect the noise April ran straight for the forest, never once looking back. The cold winter air of the night filled her lungs, and a giddy excited feeling filled her head. She'd done it! She had actually managed to escape that hell hole! And she had nearly reached the forest that would herald a new life for her.
One foot in front of the other, she ran and she ran, as the trees loomed ever taller in front of her. Until suddenly, the ground seemed to vanish beneath her foot and she had the sickening sensation of her stomach trying to climb into her head next to her brain, as she fell down a rather large rabbit hole that had been hidden by the snow.
Nameless .V. • Opuss № I