The Escape Attempt

Isabella’s heart racing into her chest . Her bare feet are cold on the marble floor. Every sound echoes—too loud, too risky.

"Where’s the guard?" she whispers. "Shift change. We have five minutes left," Alessia says, her eyes scanning ahead. There was a Footsteps echo in the distance.

"Someone’s coming," Isabella was panics.

"Hurry," Alessia hisses, grabbing her wrist and pulling her into a side corridor. They press against the wall as a guard walks by. He yawns, not noticing them.

"We need to move now," Alessia urges. They race down the hall, dodging cameras, avoiding creaky floorboards. The back door is close…so close.

"There it is," Isabella breathes. The door to freedom.

Caught in the Act

Just as Isabella reaches out, fingers brushing the doorknob… A hand grabs her wrist.

She breath.

Lucian, His hold is tight and His face unreadable.

"Are you going to somewhere?" His voice is low, deadly. Her heart stops. She can’t breathe.

"Lucian... I…" He pulls her away from the door. "You lied to me. Again."

"Let me explain," she pleads. "You had your chance," he snaps. Alessia steps forward. "Lucian, stop. Let her go. He turns to her slowly. "So you’re the rat in my house."

"She doesn’t belong here," Alessia says. "She was never be your prisoner."

"She was mine to protect," Lucian growls. "And you gave her to the enemy."

"No, I gave her a chance to live. You locked her up like a trophy." Isabella grabs his hand. "Lucian, listen. Please. I still love you. But I can't live in a cage." His eyes flicker. Hurt flashes across his face. "You love me? And you were running away?"

"I had to. I was scared." "You was Scared of me?" he whispers. "Scared of what we’ve become," she says softly. "You and I... we used to be fire. Now we’re just ash."

"You think running will fix that?" he says, voice shaking. "Maybe not. But staying will destroy me."

Lucian releases her hand. He looks at Alessia. "Get out. Now.. Alessia doesn’t move. "I’m not leaving her."

"If you stay, you  will become my enemy." "Then I already am."

The  Betrayal Uncovered

Lucian turns to Isabella again. "Do you even know what’s waiting for you out there? Dante doesn’t love you. He’s playing you."

"I’m not running to Dante," she says. "I’m running away from this. From pain. From fear."

"You don’t believe I love you?" he asks. "I believe you do," she whispers. "But your love hurts."

Lucian steps back. Like she’s slapped him. Alessia reaches for the doorknob. "We’re going. You can’t stop us."

Lucian doesn’t move. He watches them walk away, face blank, But then…"Isabella, wait," he says.

She turns.

"If you step out that door, there’s no coming back." "Then I guess this is goodbye." She pushes open the door.

A blast of cold air hits them. They step outside Suddenly—Flashlights. Shouting. Men with guns. Black vehicles…"Get down!" Alessia screams, pushing Isabella behind a bush.

"What’s happening?!" "They followed us. Someone tipped them off!" A familiar voice rings out.

Dante.

"Well, well. My favorite runaway bride." Isabella’s blood turns to ice. Lucian appears behind them, furious. "Dante?! What the hell are you doing here?!"

"Taking back what you stole," Dante smirks. Isabella grabs Lucian’s arm. "You planned this?"

"No," Lucian growls. "This wasn’t me."

Dante steps closer. "This was me, sweetheart. I knew you’d try to run. I just had to wait." Alessia pulls out a small gun. "Stay back."

Dante laughs. "Cute. But pointless." Gunfire erupts. Lucian shouts. Alessia grabs Isabella and runs. They dive into the woods. We need to hide!" Lucian follows them, ducking bullets.

"This way!" he yells. They crawl into an old storm drain. Breathing hard. Hearts racing. Lucian looks at Isabella. "This is your idea of freedom?"

She glares. "This is your fault! You lied! You pushed me away!"

"I was trying to save you!" "I didn’t ask to be saved!" "You asked to be loved. I gave you that."

"You gave me a prison!"

Alessia holds up her hand. "Stop. Both of you. We don’t have time."

Footsteps above.

Dante’s men are searching.

Lucian pulls Isabella close. His voice breaks. "I never stopped loving you."

She closes her eyes. "Then prove it. Let me go."

Silence.

He kisses her forehead. Soft. Painful.

"If we get out of this... I’ll let you go. Even if it kills me."

Tears roll down her cheeks. Above them, someone shouts… "They’re here!" Flashlights blind them.

Guns cock. "Run!" Lucian shouts. They scatter into the dark woods, But Isabella trips. Falls.

A hand grabs her ankle. She screams. It’s not Lucian. It’s Dante.

"Hello again, baby." She kicks at him, struggling, but he’s too strong. His grip tightens.

"Let me go!" she yells. Dante smirks. "Why would I? You’re mine, remember?" Suddenly, a gunshot cracks the air.

Dante ducks. Alessia fires again. Lucian lunges out of the darkness, tackling Dante.

The two men crash to the ground. "Run, Isabella!" Lucian roars. Isabella hesitates, heart racing, But she runs.

Alessia follows. "We need to get to the boat." "There’s a boat?!" "Yes. Hidden by the dock. Hurry."

Branches slap her face. Her legs ache. They reach the shore. A small motorboat waits.

"Get in!" Alessia pushes her inside and starts the engine, But a shadow appears behind them.

Dante again. Bleeding. Furious. "You think you can leave me? After everything?"

Lucian tackles him from behind, dragging him away.

"Go, Isabella!" She screams. "Lucian!" "I’ll hold him off! Get out of here!" Alessia pulls her. "We have to go!" The boat speeds off.

Isabella turns, watching Lucian fight Dante on the shore Her heart breaks Tears stream down her face Alessia grips the wheel. "We’ll come back for him, But Isabella knows…Nothing will ever be the same again.

Behind them, the shore fades Ahead, the unknown And inside her... a growing secret she hasn’t told anyone yet.

She’s pregnant.