Blurred Lines 1: CHASE
Chapter 129

-Sofia-

It must've been the pain pills Avery had given me, but I had fallen asleep. From the light passing through the window, it was safe to say that it was already past midday. Avery said the Judge would be here before sundown. I had planned to rest for a bit after my bath and find my way out of this place, but I wasted my precious time sleeping.

Panic swirled down my body when I realized I wasn't holding the key anymore. I searched for the key, sighing in relief when I saw it under the blanket. Without wasting another second, I uncuffed my hand and padded towards the window. My assumptions had been correct. We were close to the docks. Yachts and fishing boats lined the bay. That would be my escape. I could slip into one of the boats and use the radio to call for help or, better yet, escape into the waters.

With this plan in mind, I lowered my gaze to the land surrounding the house I was in. My room was on the third floor, and there were two floors up. A dense forest surrounds the perimeter, with a clearing below the window. From what I could tell, my room was located in the left part of the mansion. I looked side to side, searching for a way down, spotting the downspout on each edge of the wall.

Scanning the area, I don't see anyone doing rounds. I waited, watching for any signs of guards. I had no device to tell me how long I observed my surroundings, but time was not on my side.

I rolled my shoulders, wincing when a stinging pain struck.

With my lower lip trapped between my teeth, I turned and walked to the bedside table, perusing the drawers for the bottle of pain pills. Downing two with water, I grabbed the covers and used the scissor from the drawer to cut it in half. Making a makeshift rope from the covers, I looped it around my shoulder and returned to the window.

The wind fanned my hair on my face as I hopped over the window sill, carefully taking a footing on the slim concrete protruding from the wall. It was meant for decoration, the width could barely fit Elise's foot. On my tippy toes and back pressed against the wall, I slowly made my way toward the downspout. I was f*****g scared to death. My hands and feet were sweaty. One wrong move, and I would meet my demise if I fell.

Focusing on my breathing, I kept my eyes trained ahead, watching the waters catch the sun's rays; waves sparkled like gems in the water.

Once I reached the downspout, I tested its stability. It made a terrible irking sound when I shook it, but I had no other option but to rely on the rickety tube. Some sentences are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on FindNovel.net. Visit FindNovel.net to read the complete chapters for free. Securing my makeshift rope around it, I tied the ends around my waist; the downspout protesting with my added weight. Hugging the PVC, I started my slow descent, freezing when I heard voices closing in in my direction.

I was already on the second floor. A huge sigh slipped past my lips when I realized the voices were coming from the house. I continued my journey down, saying a silent prayer to allow me to reach the ground before the downspout gave out. The moss trailing down the side of the tube spoke of how frail the material was.

A few meters more, and I would touch the ground, but the tube made an irking groan. I closed my eyes and prepared for the impact when the junction on the second level gave out.

My body slammed on the grass-covered ground. I whimpered, clutching my left shoulder, panicking when the entire downspout collapsed. I rolled over when a piece of PVC fell directly on me, evading it at the last second.

'So much for keeping it low.

Heads peeked out from the room on the second floor. One of them was the guy who called Avery out. And from the fifth floor, Nikos' eyes narrowed to slits.

"Fuck!" the bearded guy cursed at the same time.

"Get her!" Nikos shouted at his men, who looked as stunned as a deer caught in the headlights.

I suppressed the screaming pain in my shoulder and stood, hobbling towards the tree line across the clearing.

I realized they couldn't shoot me, or they weren't allowed to shoot me. If they were, they would have already done that. But that doesn't secure my safety once they catch me.

Willing my bare feet to pump as fast as they could, I reached the treeline before I heard the first shrill of gunfire. I felt the bullet whooshed, missing my head by an inch, but that didn't stop me from pushing forward until I was in the forest.

I was moving on pure adrenaline, pushing aside the pebbles that punctured the soles of my feet or the small branches that slapped my face along the way.

"Find her!" I recognize the bearded guy's voice. "How the fuck did she escape!?" His question received no response.

'Stupid downspout!' I cursed in my head.

Using the sounds of seagulls and waves as my guide, I maintained my fast pace toward my targeted location. Tall and huge trees shadowed the ground. My hope burned brightly when a clearing up ahead came into sight.

My heart matched the pumping of my feet on the forest ground. If I don't make it to the boats, at least I could make it to the beach where people could see me and I could ask for help.

Ten meters. I could almost taste my freedom when a gunshot echoed behind me and a weighted impact slammed on my left leg. I stumbled on the ground, rolling over the grass, dried branches, and leaves until my head hit a log.

A high-pitched ringing echoed in my ears. My vision turned hazy; everything around me spun, even the ground, as I rolled on my back. The trees loomed down on me, and a cacophony of muffled voices and heavy footsteps closed in on me until the bearded guy's face crowded my view of the forest shade. There were three of him, all of them were speaking down on me, their saliva pouring down like rain.

I think he was cursing me, but I don't understand shit of what he was saying. As three of his faces merged into one, a gun silhouette pointed at my face became clearer.

"Feisty little shit," he spat. "You gave me a reason to kill you. Don will understand why I had to shoot you in the head for running away."

My mouth was sandpaper. I raised my hand in a futile attempt to protect myself from the bullet he was ready to fire. Time slowed. I see his forefinger curling around the trigger, and a smirk languidly spread on his lips. "Farewell, little shit," he murmured, and a loud bang rang throughout the forest.

The bearded guy's eyes widened. He glanced down at his chest; a dark crimson spot quickly spread on his shirt.