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I crouch near the drawer and start tying jumper sleeves together to make a long rope. My body shakes with adrenaline as I throw the massive bundle of tied-up jumpers out of my bedroom window. Leaning over, I check that it’s long enough for me to climb down.

“Holy shit,” I whisper, my voice trembling. My chin quakes as I start tying one end to the bedpost. I don’t think it will hold all my weight sliding down it, but it’ll serve as a slight stopper.

My entire body feels like it’s being shocked by a million volts as I climb the windowsill.

Pausing, I listen to the noise downstairs. Nothing out of the ordinary and no one coming upstairs.

My shoes are downstairs, and there’s no way I’m going down to get them.

This is my chance.

Triple socks will have to do.

I squat with both feet on the windowsill and look towards the ground.

“Holy fuck,” I whimper. If there was ever a time to be scared of heights, it’s not now.

Get yourself together, dammit.

I spin, grabbing onto the makeshift rope. Dangling one of my legs out of the window, I search for a hole in the render to hook my toes into. I do the same with the other and will my body to stop shaking. If I’m going to do this, I need to be in full control, or I’ll kill myself before I even get the chance to escape.

Both of my legs are now pushing onto the house wall, my hands gripping the jumpers like my life depends on it.

Because it does.

“Jesus fuck,” I squeal, my heart bursting out of my chest as I slowly start lowering myself.

One leg down, one hand down. Other leg down, other hand down.

I blow out a steadying breath as I continue my descent.

But then, I’m freefalling. My bed screeches along the floor before being yanked to a stop just before my body hits the ground.

The music inside the house quiets. The noises stop.

Fuck.

I don’t think about it. I let go of the rope and land with force onto my legs. A brief pain rings through my shins like static, and then I’m running.

Where?

I don’t know.

I was never allowed to look when Luke drove me to my dance classes.

We’re in the middle of a field, with sparse trees surrounding the house. Not much cover and not much direction. But my feet carry me forward.

Anywhere away from this house. From Luke.

“There she is!” a voice booms across the empty field from behind me.

This was such a bad fucking idea.

Don’t give up now.

I make the mistake of swinging my head back to look behind me. And I wish I didn’t. Luke and about five other men are chasing after me. And they’re gaining on me quickly.

I push through, the adrenaline carrying me forward at a speed I probably never would’ve been able to run.