The morning of my escape arrived cloaked in silence. No grand signs, no dramatic thunderclaps—just the soft chirping of birds outside my window and the distant rustling of leaves in the garden below. If I hadn't known any better, I would have thought it was just another ordinary day.
But it wasn't.
I sat up slowly, heart pounding in my chest. Today was the day.
The pendant.
My fingers instinctively reached for the small wooden box I had tucked away in the drawer beside my bed. The moment I lifted the lid, my breath caught.
It was still there.
I unlatched the chain and carefully fastened it around my neck, the cool metal pressing against my collarbone.
I took a deep breath and stood, my legs feeling unsteady beneath me.
No time for hesitation.
I grabbed a satchel from the bedside, stuffing a few essentials inside—some food, a change of clothes, and whatever else I could carry. I wasn't sure what I would need once I was out, but I would rather be overprepared than helpless.
