Emma could barely sleep that night. She kept thinking of the possibility of escaping and couldn’t wait to get alone time with Richard so she could tell him all about it. Telling everyone at once was too risky. Emma was sure she could trust Richard with the secret. If they had to tell the others, it would be when the plan was in the final stages so that there would be fewer chances of them jinxing it.
The others were sleeping soundly, their breathing slow and even. It was understandable after the hectic day they had all had. None of them was used to doing manual labour, and their introduction to it hadn’t been an easy one. Emma was thankful they had been given soft mats to sleep on unlike the previous night when they slept on the cold floor. Tired as she was, Emma couldn’t stop thinking about the tunnels. She imagined herself escaping through them and regaining her long lost freedom again. Being free would be epic.
Although she was excited, she was also anxious. What if she got caught? Or worse, she couldn’t find where the tunnels were. Even the other slaves didn’t know. What if Anna had lied about escaping through the tunnels when she had used another way? What if they didn’t exist? If they did, would she be able to find them?
This made her so restless that she had to sit up. She wiped the sweat from her brow and sighed. She looked at Richard who was sleeping peacefully in his cage. Emma had not noticed the extent of his good looks. Even in the dim lighting, she could tell that he was very handsome. She took a deep breath and lay back down. That was not what she was supposed to be thinking about. Closing her eyes, she turned to face the wall.
The next morning as Andrea was taking back to the land they were digging, Emma saw a group of people outside the pack house. They were erecting tents in the garden at the back of the big house. Her heart sank when she saw Axel standing in front of them. She felt the pain returning in full swing. The heartache was mild when she was not thinking about him. Seeing him and being so near made her head heart and head hurt so much. Emma clutched her head as she hurried past everyone, eager to get away from the man.
When she was a reasonable distance away, the pain reduced but it was replaced with great sadness and dread. She managed to trudge on and act like everything was fine. She could feel everyone’s eyes piercing her back as she walked ahead of them.
During the first break, Emma took Richard into the woods, away from the others.
“I need to tell you something,” she said and stopped walking.
“What is it?” Richard asked, stopping.
Emma leaned in and spoke in a whisper. “I heard that there is a tunnel we can use to escape this place. I don’t know where it is but a former slave used it.”
“Where did you hear that?” Richard asked, looking at her sceptically.
“I heard the other slaves talking about it yesterday after we washed.”
“Maybe they were just saying so as to trick you.”
“They didn’t know that I was listening in. I had gone to put my headscarf in the laundry basket.”
“I’m sure they could smell your scent.”
“I don’t think so. They were so focused on what they were talking about. I don’t think they noticed me.”
“I still find it hard to believe.”
“Why would they want to trick me? They don’t even know me.”
Richard looked thoughtful for a moment. “It’s tempting,” he said. “But even if we were to find the tunnels, it would be too risky to try and escape. If we got caught, the punishment would be terrible. im sure of it.”
“I know but I can’t just sit here and do nothing. I’m going to try and look for the tunnels. After that, I’ll decide if it’s safe or not.”
“You’re not going to give up on this, are you?”
“If you think I’ll give up, then you don’t know me. I don’t give up on anything. Besides, what other option do we have? Stay here until we die? I don’t want to keep seeing that bastard Axel’s face.”
“I was thinking we could wait until we find a safer way to escape.”
Emma chuckled. “You sound like a dreamer. We shall not find a safe way to escape. We have to create a way. That’s the only way were ever gonna get away from here.”
“Okay, fine. I’ll help you find the tunnel, if at it exists.”
Emma smiled and hugged him. “Thank you so much.”
“HEY!” Andrea yelled. “This is a break, not a love fest. Get back here, you two horny idiots.”
Emma and Richard burst out laughing. Emma realised that it was her first laugh since Tommy had died. They joined the others and resumed work.
After work, they were taken to their wash station and they got cleaned up. They were given about an hour outside before they were herded inside but they had to stay in the yard and not go anywhere.
“I’m going to look for the tunnel,” Emma said. “You have to cover me.”
“How will you sneak out without noticing when there’s a guard here?”
“Look he’s busy talking to that woman.”
Emma got up and started walking around the edge of the yard. She saw the female slave from the other group heading towards her like a woman on a mission.
“How many know?” she asked.
“Know what?” Emma asked her.
“You know what I’m talking about,” the young woman said. “I know that you overhead us talking yesterday, and now you’re trying to leave this place without being seen.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about?”
The girl rolled her eyes. “Does the angry blonde know?”
“No, I only told Richard. He’s the only one I can trust.”
“That’s good, but there’s a flaw in your plan. If you move an inch, that blonde is going to rat you out immediately. She has been watching, as I have. I don’t think any of my friends noticed you listening in on us but I did. I didn’t tell them but I know where the tunnel is.”
“You do?”
“Yeah.”
“Where is it?”
“I won’t tell you that easily. I know you’ll run back to your friends and tell them. There is a birthday party tomorrow so there may be a chance for us to escape. Parties in this pack are a big thing so there will be a lot of commotion around. It’s the alpha’s brother’s party so many outsiders will be invited. They will all be so busy. I’ll give you the plan tomorrow.”
“Why would you help me?”
“I heard about your boyfriend. Axel killed him. He killed mine too.”
Emma gasped. “What? Are you sure he’s the one who killed tommy. Why would he do that?”
“A story for another day,” the woman said before waltzing away. All male eyes in the vicinity focused on her rounded behind. Emma rolled her eyes.