At first, I thought I’d be left to rot there, but then Angela started visiting me. She came in secret, always checking over her shoulder before slipping inside with a tray of food or a blanket. She was the only person who spoke to me, the only one who treated me like a human being.
One night, as she placed a cup of tea in front of me, her voice dropped to a whisper. "I have a way to get you out."
I stared at her, stunned.
"I took the keys from one of the guards," she explained. "I... I seduced him and slipped something in his drink."
I swallowed hard. "Angela, if Bryant finds out—"
"He won’t," she interrupted. "But we don’t have much time. You need to go now."
Without another word, she unlocked my cuffs and led me up a narrow stairway. My heart pounded as we reached the main floor. Every shadow, every creak of the wooden panels, sent chills down my spine.
We snuck through the hallways, avoiding the guards stationed by the entrance. Angela had studied their shifts, knew exactly when they’d step away for a break. When we reached the back gate, she pointed toward the tall, steel fence.
"Climb over it," she urged.