All Novel Romance
her next plan
Letta had difficulty squeezing out of the small window, as anticipated earlier, with a glass shard grazing her leg. Startled, Letta leapt out and realized the window was higher than she had imagined. Then, Letta looked around and realized she was in a building that was completely isolated from Marco’s house.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.
Letta didn’t know what kind of structure Marco had built when constructing this house, but her room was at the edge of other gardens directly connected to a garden with dense trees, resembling a forest. However, it was still within Marco’s property. Letta then gazed at the bird that was now flying around. Letta didn’t know if someone had sent the bird or if it was a helper for her. Without much thought, Letta immediately hurried back when the bird flew into the garden that looked like an artificial forest.
Letta ran as fast as she could, keeping an eye on the bird. The deeper she went, the more she realized that this was truly a forest, with the bushes getting taller, which made Letta not expect a forest to be amidst the luxurious buildings like Marco’s house. Letta stopped in her tracks when she felt a pang in her foot, took a moment to catch her breath, and tried to survey the surroundings. However, the forest was pitch dark, with no illumination whatsoever.
Letta could only squint to see the bird flying again, prompting her to run. Letta didn’t know how long she had been traversing the forest until she finally caught sight of the moonlight illuminating her path. Around her, the trees were no longer visible, only a few tree trunks and overgrown grass dominating the landscape.
Letta didn’t know where Marco’s house was located, didn’t know which way to go. The only guide at the moment was the bird that continued to fly, often pausing on a branch. Letta considered the bird her savior and continued to follow it, wondering where it would lead her.
As the bird took flight again, Letta followed until they arrived at a stream. The water wasn’t too deep, but there were plenty of rocks around. Letta was confident that she had strayed far from Marco’s property, as her aching legs indicated that she had delved deep into the forest. Letta sat on a rock, allowing her stinging feet to soak in the river, while gazing at the bird perched on a large rock in the middle of the stream. Letta began to ponder whether the bird would only guide her this far. The sky was also starting to brighten.
The night would surely transition in a few hours, and Letta immediately hurried out of the forest to figure out her current location. Letta felt the need to get as far away as possible from the city where Marco was. Suddenly, the bird that had been guiding her disappeared without a trace. Letta decided to follow the river’s flow, as she wasn’t sure how deep into the forest she would go if she crossed it. Several hours later, Letta gazed at the seemingly bright sky, yet she still couldn’t spot the end of the river.
Letta started feeling tired, her body growing increasingly weak. Upon hearing bustling noises that signaled a gathering, Letta quickly improvised by tearing the edge of her dress into a hair tie and washing her face. After that, Letta continued her journey, and after about 30 minutes, she finally caught sight of settlements along the river. Letta decided to find a way to reach the Main Road. She found a stone to use as a foothold to climb up to the road. After that, Letta continued her steps and arrived at a street that felt unfamiliar.
Letta had never been to that street before, so she didn’t know that it was far from her previous residence and also from Marco’s place. After reading some signs around, Letta realized that this was a town adjacent to her residence, yet the distance was still quite far. Although somewhat relieved, Letta knew it wasn’t a safe place, as Marco would likely find her easily if she stayed there.
Letta sought a place to rest for a moment and contemplate her next plan. Suddenly, Letta realized she was near the harbor, as there was a bustling fish market around. Letta felt this was the path given to her to escape from Marco. Without hesitation, Letta hurried towards the fish market. Letta saw people busy going back and forth, selling catches straight from the sea. The river’s current truly led Letta to a beginning that could possibly lead her to a new life.
With only a cracked phone, Letta didn’t know what fortunes awaited her after escaping from Marco’s grasp. Letta realized the importance of finding a way to cross the city and go as far as possible so that Marco couldn’t find her.