Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Katarina
Win brings me back to the main house where I change into serviceable clothes, pack my bag with a change of clothes and all my cash, and shimmy out the window.
I don’t even care if there are cameras.
Win’s going to have to lock me in the basement if he wants me to stay here. I’ve had enough.
I heard his story about Rebecca, I felt his anger and grief.
And part of me did sympathize. I can’t imagine how it must have felt to watch the person you love die.
But more than that, what I felt was a jealousy so intense, it stole my breath.
It’s not about Win precisely. I think I might despise him with a passion. But no one has ever cared about me enough…
If I die, will anyone even mourn me?
I drop to the ground and sprint across the lawn, hiding in the shadows between the landscape lights. I make it to the stone wall that surrounds the property and bite my lip. It’s eight feet and with the weight of the backpack…
Moving back a few feet, I take a running leap at it, but don’t even get close to making it to the top.
I do manage to scrape my body against the stone, tearing at my clothes.
I probably should have thought this one through. Then again, my father is likely on his way now, Win will sell me for a hay penny, and I can’t look at him again knowing that all I want is for him to touch me and all he wants…
Huffing out a breath, I take my backpack off and draw in a deep breath. There is nothing to do but toss it over the wall. I can’t make the jump with its weight on my back.
I hate to be separated from the money. I need it if I’m going to make my plan a success.
Drawing in a deep breath, I heave it with all of my might. It barely clears the top and lands on the lip, balancing above me.
That’s actually better. I can still see it, and if I can’t get myself over the top, I can at least grab it and pull it down.
I take another running leap and then catch the top of the wall with my fingers. The stones provide some decent toe grip, and I climb my way up, heaving myself high enough to sit on the two-foot wide top.
Who has a two-foot-wide stone wall like this anyway?
I toss the backpack down and then follow, my feet hitting the ground with enough force to radiate through my knees, but I ignore the pain, snatching up the backpack and head for the road.
I’m free.
I’ve thought that before but this time, I think it’s for real.
This time, I feel no elation, no excitement. Just a hollow pain that makes my chest feel like a cave.
I’m not sure when it happened, but I’d started to trust Win, let some of my armor slip away. I could say that he taught me a valuable lesson, but I’d learned long ago, not to trust powerful men.
The fact that I could still hope, still want… A weight settles in my stomach. How, after all this time, could I still be that foolish?
I hate that I let myself fall into that trap.
For that reason and so many others…
I hope I never see Winston Smith again for as long as I live.