In the darkness, I hurried as fast as I could and soon arrived at a door.
“Emily, you’re finally here. We were so worried about you.”
I smiled weakly.
My friend Janet, who was also part of the organization, grinned at me. “Emily, you’re going to be saved. You won’t die, I promise.”
I looked at her, confused when two people emerged from behind her—it was Viola and her mother.
Viola ran to me, tears streaming down her face. Only then did I realize Viola’s mother had known all along about her involvement with Awakening Manor but had turned a blind eye. Now that everything had gone wrong, she didn’t hesitate to join us to protect her daughter.
“Thank you, but Viola did this because of me,” I said to Viola’s mother.
“You’re Viola’s best friend. I’ve watched you grow up. I’ve been fed up with those unfair, ridiculous rules for a long time!” Viola’s mother said.
I broke into a tearful smile, the warmth of their hands grounding me.
On the sixth day, my father and Ronald still hadn’t returned from the palace, and everyone at home was on pins and needles.
Some people were even bold enough to toss notes over the courtyard wall, urging me to write a confession to protect my family.