Chapter 36 - Escape to Freedom
The pitch black was almost pitch black. Helena could only see shadows dancing in the corners of the house while her heart hammered in her chest like a frantic drum. The light had gone out, and it was the perfect moment.
Without a second thought, she slid out of the chair, moving silently. Each step seemed louder than it should have been, but fear gave her agility.
Behind her, Alexander's voice echoed in the darkness:
"Helena?"
There was something cold in that word, as if a hunter were calling out to his prey.
And then Dante answered, more aggressively:
"Damn it! She's going to run away!"
Helena didn't look back. She pushed open the living room door with a quick shove and ran down the narrow hallway. Her hands trembled, but her body kept moving forward. Behind her, the sound of heavy footsteps reverberated like thunder.
"Helena!" Dante shouted. "Stop!"
But she didn't stop.
The back door was just ahead. Helena pushed it hard, feeling the cold night air invade her lungs. The dark backyard felt like a battlefield. The damp grass, the sound of branches breaking under her feet—everything betrayed her escape.
Alexander and Dante appeared behind her, their silhouettes silhouetted against the darkness.
"Come back here!" Alexander roared, his voice firm, unhurried, but full of menace.
Helena ran. The tall grass scratched her legs, the sodden earth made each step difficult, but adrenaline pushed her body forward. She didn't know where she was going, only that she had to get out of there.
Behind her, the two men approached, like predators hunting mercilessly. Helena felt a tear run down her face, not from pain, but from terror.
"If they catch me, it's over. They'll never let me go."
Suddenly, a sound cut through the silence of the night: sirens.
The metallic howl of the police echoed through the hills. Helena nearly stumbled in fright.
"Dude… they called the police to find me."
Her mind whirled in despair. Why would the police be involved? Did Alexander and Dante have connections? Had they manipulated everything so that even the authorities would work in their favor?
The red and blue lights began to cut through the distant night. She knew that if she were caught, whether by the police or the two men, her freedom would end there.
With all her remaining strength, Helena threw herself into the thickest brush. The branches smacked against her skin, tearing out strands of hair, but the sound of the sirens grew more distant. She breathed heavily, hidden, crawling along the cold ground until she finally saw the city's train tracks in the distance.
The metallic sound of the locomotive echoed, and her heart raced with new hope.
"This is it. I go, or I die here."
Gathering her last bit of energy, Helena ran toward the tracks. She arrived panting, sweating, her body covered in scratches, but she managed to reach the platform. The train was stopped, ready to depart.
She ran in, nearly falling. The doors closed behind her with a hiss that sounded like a seal of fate.
Helena slumped into one of the seats, her chest heaving. Her hands were still shaking, but for the first time in a long time, a spark of hope burned in her eyes.
The sirens faded into the distance.
Hours passed. The city slept outside, but inside, her mind was restless. Each station the train stopped at seemed to carry the risk of Alexander or Dante suddenly appearing. But no one came.
Helena got off at the last station, followed the flow of passengers to the bus terminal, and from there walked quickly to the international airport. Each step was a test of her fear.
"If they find me here, it's over."
Her heart leaped into her throat as she handed over her passport and bought the ticket. The attendant looked at her for a long time, but said nothing.
Minutes later, Helena was inside the plane, her seatbelt tightened against her body. The pilot's voice announced the destination: Prague, Czech Republic.
She closed her eyes, and for the first time in days, let herself breathe deeply.
"I made it. I'm leaving."
But deep down, she knew this wasn't just an escape. It was also a reunion.
The plane landed with a cold sun illuminating the gray Prague sky. The city looked like something out of an ancient dream: Gothic buildings, tall towers, and streets exuding history.
Helena disembarked among the other passengers, her small suitcase in hand. Her heart was pounding, but now for a different reason: he would be there.
And he was.
The man who had spoken to her on the phone, the one who had helped plan every detail of the plan, was waiting near the exit. His long coat and steady gaze made her recognize him immediately.
Helena dropped her suitcase and walked toward him. There were no words at first, only the shock of a long-awaited reunion. She hugged him tightly, and then kissed him on the lips, as if sealing a promise.
He held her shoulders and said with a slight smile:
"You've gotten rid of them. Now everything will be okay."
Helena closed her eyes, trying to believe. The words were sweet, but her world was already so corrupted by Alexander and Dante that trust seemed impossible.
And yet, in that moment, she wanted to believe.
She wanted to believe she was truly free.
She wanted to believe this escape wasn't just another prison in disguise.
But a voice echoed in her mind, reminding her of who those men she had left behind really were: monsters who never gave up the hunt.
And deep down, Helena knew… The escape was just beginning.