No Escape (2)

"Sophie, why the rush? We've already waited this long. What's a few more months? I really don't think we should kick the hornet's nest before we have the proper tools to fight the danger."

"I know it doesn't make sense, and what you say is true, but I still have to insist. I can't explain it, but I just know Trinity. If we don't go now, we'll never get the chance. It has to be now." She begins to dress. "That man is still at work, right? So, we have time to swing by to grab Shi and-."

"Wait. You're saying that we should leave now? As in today?" She reaches for her clothes. "You can't be serious Sophia? I mean, I have nothing prepared and no proper plan to ensure success."

"Yes. Right now. Immediately. At this very moment. This is our chance to finally be free. You and Shiori will be free from that beast and his abuse, and I'll be free of my parent's overbearing expectations and control. We'll leave all the bullshit behind and go somewhere far away from here. We'll find our place, and we'll build our lives together. We'll follow our passions, build our dreams, settle down, and once Shi's left the nest to follow her own path, maybe we could even start a family of our own. We can do anything Trini, but only if you're willing to be brave."

"Sophie…I don't know. I don't know what I'm even supposed to say to all of this. I can't-."

"Say yes." Sophia pulls a small pouch from her pocket and takes out a small, pearl ring. She holds it out to Trinity, and gently takes her hand in hers. "Say you'll spend your life with me."

"Sophie…." Trinity tears up, finally understanding what she's being asked. "Oh my gosh!"

"You understand, don't you Trinity? I'm all in and I'm not planning on leaving you behind."

"But…how? That man, he…he'll find us. He's resourceful and powerful with the law. He'll never let us go Sophie. He'd probably kill Shi and me both before he allowed us to walk away."

"Maybe, but if we get the jump on him, he may not have the chance. That's why we need to go now!" She raises the seat back up and returns to the passenger's seat. "Let's go. Hurry!"

Trinity can see the urgency in her face and so while she still has many concerns, she does as she's asked. She puts the car in gear and drives the short distance to her lawful hell house. As she pulls into the driveway, she notices his car isn't anywhere to be seen. They might be in the clear.

"Now, go inside and grab Shiori, I'll wait here. You can grab essentials, but don't be long, ok?" She takes her hand again in hers, sliding the ring on her finger, smiling. "I'll be here waiting."

Trinity can see the joy in her eyes, and her resolve, causing her to no longer doubt that she needs to do this. She offers her a happy smile in return and a promise. "I'm all in, and all yours. I'll be right back." Trinity gets out the car and rushes inside, ready to take back their lives for good.

"Shi! Hey Shi, grab your things. We've gotta go!" She goes to her room and starts tossing her sweatshirts and jeans in a small bag, as well as her intimates and a few casual tees. She already has her wallet on her, not that there's much money in it, and so all that remains is her mother's picture.

It's the last one she has since He threw away all the others. She kept it hidden between the drawer and floor of her dresser. In the vent, she grabs a locket hanging at the side, her other secret treasure. Inside's a photo of Shi, and her with her mom. The final time they were together. Trinity has always wished her mother could've lived long enough to get a picture of all three of them together. To have one final moment of their pure happiness and joy, would've been nice.

She takes a moment to reminisce, but soon realizes how silent the house is. She gets back to her feet, stuffing the locket and ring deep in her bag. She then exits her room and heads to Shiori's but finds it empty. She looks around, confused as to where she could possibly be without her.

"Shi?" She begins to search around the house. "Shiori?" She gets no response, and suddenly she starts to get a very bad feeling. "Shiori?! Hey, where are you?! Shiori!" She searches in a panic now, but even after several minutes of looking in every corner of the house, she can't find her.

Distraught, she runs outside, calling to Sophia for help. "Sophie! I can't find her! I can't find Shi! I don't know where she could be, we have to-!" She stops suddenly, as she becomes aware she's shouting to no one. Sophia isn't there in the car where she left her. In fact, not even the car is there. All she finds is an empty driveway. "Sophie…?" She looks all around her, spinning frantically in a circle, wishing for her to appear somehow. However, she doesn't. She's gone.

Falling to her knees in tears, she now understands. She's all alone, and her light is gone, and will never return. No Sophia. No Shiori. There's no one who can still hold her or bring any conscious comfort. Not even the speck of hope she still has to call her own is enough to end the foreboding feeling she has that she will never know true happiness ever again.

She can't help but believe she's fated to be forever alone. There's no escape from this hell that she's called home for nearly eighteen years. Any hope she has of living a normal life has blown away with the biting wind.

~~~

Elsewhere, a pair of dark, scheming eyes observe the girl with great interest. "Trinity, Trinity, Trinity. What ever will I do with you darling?" A pale hand touches the floating orb, the fingers long and slender. The hand gently strokes across the smooth glass and taps it rather impatiently. "How long do you intend to make me wait? I think my offer has gone unanswered long enough."

A beautiful woman is finally revealed, her beauty unmatched. Her flaming red hair matches her fiery spirit, and her scarlet eyes burn with a sadistic gaze that contrasts against her pale skin. She stands, and her tall and sensual figure is revealed, as she steps over several groveling women at her feet. They wear chains around their necks, but they seem quite happy to be in her presence.

"I do believe it's time." With a snap, dark shadows appear at her side. "Bring the girl to me at once. She will awaken soon, and I need to be the first to acquire her. DO NOT, disappoint me."