177

Joy rushed outside the house and headed straight for the garage. She didn't stop for anything and was determined not to waste the precious time she had to escape because she had no idea when Daniel would return from work. This was the plan she had... she started the car engine and pressed on the brake instead of the accelerator because of how nervous she was and probably because she hadn't driven a car in years... she sat there in the car trying to catch her breath, her hand gripping onto the steering, a cold sweat on her forehead. "I can do this" Joy started to mutter, her eyes started to Scan what she needed to know to drive and after studying for just a few seconds she started the car and drove right out of the estate... as the Estate slowly started to fade away and disappeared from her view... a feeling that joy hadn't felt in years started to overshadow and overwhelm her and her eyes became blurred with tears... "I did it!" she said in a low voice... "I freaking did it!" she said again, but this time her voice was louder and she slammed her hand on the steering wheel... she looked back and took one last glance at the estate before increasing the speed of the car. Joy drove for hours and hours, and she wasn't sure how long she had been driving, but when she got to the gas station, it was afternoon already... she picked up her scarf and let out a deep breath as she came out of her car to get some gas. When she was done. She paid with the cash Martha gave her and got something to eat from the small store at the gas station because of how famished she was. She glanced at the cashier as she paid for what she was buying and her heart rate increased because she was afraid she would recognise who she was and inform Daniel about it. But the cashier didn't seem to care about who Joy was; the only thing she cared about was why Joy kept glancing at her suspiciously and why she kept covering her face with a scarf. "Thank you..." The cashier wasn't done talking before you snatched what she bought and hurriedly left the place.. Joy let out a deep breath of relief when she was back in her car... she stayed put for just a few minutes before she started her Car engine and drove. As she drove by places, a sad smile appeared on her face. A sad smile appeared on her face when she thought about how she hadn't been outside for years. If people asked of her, Daniel always lied that she was on a trip or she wasn't well. He didn't even let her go to the store herself... he kept her locked up and away from freedom. She took a bit out of the snacks she bought as tears escaped her eyes. "This is delicious", Joy muttered as more tears escaped her eyes... she tried to stop, but more uncontrollably, tears kept escaping her eyes, and when she finally arrived and drove into Everton, she felt like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulder. "I made it," She said, a bright smile appearing on her face as she drove into the city she once lived in. It was better than she remembered. She watched the busy streets of Everton with a smile on her face. She finally sighted a phone booth and stopped her car. She let out a deep breath and covered her face with a scarf as she exited her car. She looked to her left and then to her right to make sure nobody was close by before she entered the phone booth. Joy took out the piece of paper from her pocket that contained Juliet's number and used the remaining money she had with her to make a call... Her heart raced in anticipation as the phone rang and immediately she heard Juliet's voice and could finally breathe again... "I need your help, Juliet, I do. Please help Me, you are the only one I can ask for help right now... please don't tell Alex about this yet... he is going to find me" Joy said frantically as she stood in the phone booth, her heart racing in fear that someone would recognise her, but no one knew her and everyone just went about their business. she covered her face properly with her scarf and waited to hear a response from Juliet who she had called... Juliet was standing in the break room of her office, a coffee cup in her hand... she stood there frozen as she listened to joy. Her gut feeling had been right the entire time. Juliet dropped the coffee mug in her hand and walked to the break room to lock the door. Thankfully, everyone was in a meeting with Sonia except her. "Are you alright, where are you right now?" Juliet asked and picked up a pen and piece of paper to write down the address that Joy told her. "I will be there soon," Juliet said and ended the call soon after. She drew in a sharp breath and let out a deep breath to calm herself and try to think of what she was going to do. Joy had told her not to inform Alex about what was going on or where she was. She had begged her not to after telling her the address of the place she was in. But the first thing that Juliet had thought about was informing Alex of what was happening. Juliet quickly walked out of the break room. She walked straight to her table and picked up her purse and jacket. She could leave early today. She left, and instead of catching the bus like she always did, she hailed a taxi. Juliet fiddled with her fingers, her eyes on the road as the car rode to where Joy was. She glanced at her bag where her cell phone was and took it out... She was about to speed dial Alex to tell him everything that was happening, but she couldn't bring herself to because joy had begged her not... Why didn't she want to involve Alex in what was happening? Her gut feeling that something was wrong with their family had been right the whole time, and it made her sad that she didn't try to find out more because she didn't want to seem like she was nosy and meddling... "Here", She said when She got to the address Joy had told her. She got out of the car, and her eyes started to Scan around for a phone booth, and she finally sighted it. Juliet walked hurriedly to the phone booth, but when she got there, it was empty. She looked at it in confusion wondering if she had made a mistake with the address but before she could turn and leave, she felt a hand on her arm and Juliet turned to see a woman who had her face covered with her scarf. "it's me, joy" joy Said and took off the scarf from her face... she had watched Juliet from across the road to make sure she didn't come with Alex like she had asked her to and when she made sure that she came alone, she finally approached... "Thank you for coming .... thank you!" Joy said and drew Juliet into a warm hug as tears escaped her eyes. Juliet hugged her back, her heart heavy as she wondered what truly happened to joy... "Are you alright?" She asked, and Joy broke the hug and shook her head. She was far from alright, and it was finally time for people to know what was happening...