The Garden Plan

The air inside the room felt heavier now, thick with an unspoken shift in the balance of power as Selene stood near the mirror, her fingers curled around the hidden note and the words burning into her mind; He lies. He always lies. Find the key. The garden. Her heart pounded steadily against her ribs saying to her, someone had been here before, someone who had tried to escape and if they had left this message behind, then they had either failed or had never gotten the chance to use what they found. She inhaled deeply, forcing herself to focus, she needed to get to the garden but this wasn't just about finding a way out, it was about understanding what Lucian was hiding because his estate was a fortress, built on control, surrounded by walls of steel and secrets, there was always a weakness and she just had to find it. Then a sharp knock interrupted her thoughts and Selene stiffened as the door unlocked, the familiar click of the mechanism sent a ripple of anticipation through her body and when it swung open, Eve stood in the doorway, her posture as poised as ever and for a brief moment, neither of them spoke. Then Eve's gaze flickered downward too fast, too subtle for someone who wasn't paying attention but Selene was paying attention and her expression told Selena, Eve knew something then Selene exhaled slowly. 'You again." Eve lifted an eyebrow. 'Disappointed?" Selene tilted her head slightly. 'Depends, are you here to escort me to another one of Lucian's games?" But Eve didn't answer immediately. Instead, she stepped inside, letting the door shut behind her while the soft click of the lock sealing echoed through the silence. Selene's muscles tensed, but she didn't move while Eve studied her carefully, and then spoke. 'You want to go to the garden."Selene froze. Her grip on the note tightened slightly, but her face remained unreadable. 'What makes you think that?"Eve took another step closer, her voice quieter. 'You're not the first."Selene's pulse spiked because this was the confirmation she needed. She kept her tone even. 'And what happened to the others?"Eve's lips pressed together. 'None of them ever came back." Selene's stomach twisted, but she refused to let fear take hold; that didn't mean they had failed but could only mean Lucian didn't want anyone to know if they had succeeded. She inhaled, steadying herself. 'And yet, you're telling me this."Eve studied her for a long moment then, she did something unexpected. She turned, walking toward the door, selene tensed, she was expecting her to leave but instead of opening the door, Eve reached into her sleeve, and a soft metallic sound followed as she pulled out a small key. Selene's breath hitched as Eve turned back, her expression unreadable. 'If you're going to do this, do it right." Then she held out the key but Selene stared at it for a moment before stepping forward, her fingers brushing against Eve as she took it, it was cold, solid, and real. She swallowed hard. 'Why are you helping me?"Eve's eyes darkened slightly. 'Because I know what it's like to be on the other side of that door." Selene's pulse pounded against her ribs; there was more to this woman than she had thought, more than just another one of Lucian's pieces on the board then she curled her fingers around the key. Eve spoke again, her voice quiet but firm. 'Tonight, when the guards change shifts."Selene nodded once, she understood. Eve lingered for only a second longer before turning toward the door, she knocked twice, and the lock clicked open from the other side then she was gone. Selene stood there with the key burning against her palm and her mind racing. She didn't waste time as she moved quickly but carefully and tucked the key into the lining of her dress, making sure it wouldn't be detected if searched then, she sat on the edge of the bed, forcing her breathing to slow, she couldn't afford to look restless. The next few hours dragged painfully as she listened for every sound, every footstep outside her door. Twice, food was brought in but she didn't touch it, Eve hadn't returned, and Lucian hadn't summoned her then, finally it happened; there was a shift in movement, like a muffled exchange of voices outside with the unmistakable sound of boots retreating. The guards were changing shifts and immediately Selene moved, crossing the room in three silent steps, reaching the door. The lock mechanism was smooth and well-kept but she slid the key into place, her fingers were steady despite the rapid hammering of her heart, then she heard the sound of a soft click, and the door unlocked. She exhaled, then eased it open just enough to check the hallway– it was empty then she slipped out. The corridor stretched before her, long and silent, dimly lit by the sconces lining the walls but she didn't hesitate as she moved swiftly, retracing the path she had memorized from earlier walks through the estate. Every step she took felt sharper and every breath was measured till she reached the stairwell leading to the lower level and she descended carefully, now the scent of fresh earth was growing stronger. Then, ahead was a set of glass doors leading to the gardens, Selene's fingers tingled with adrenaline as she reached for the handle then a voice cut through the silence. 'Going somewhere?" Selene's heart stopped and she turned slowly, her body coiling like a wire to see Lucian standing at the top of the staircase. His expression was too calm but his eyes…burned, Selene's pulse pounded in her ears, she had been caught but she wasn't going down without a fight.