In an idealistic world something outside the room would happen and draw the Master’s attention away, yet, as I was often reminded, terrible things tended to happen to me.
Sebastian Forsythe put down the oil lamp upon a table and grasped the wardrobe handles, yanking them open with such a great force that the air blew back and extinguished the lamp.
We were thrown into darkness before he had even gotten a chance to look at me, but he knew I was there. His rough hands grappled in the dark and landed on me, grabbing at my clothes and hair trying to drag me from the wardrobe. I cried out in pain as I felt a tuft of hair ripped from my head. I kicked out and flailed my arms, hitting ever part of him I could reach to try and get the old man off me. He gave a yell and fell backwards as I burst from the wardrobe, trampling him as we went crashing to the ground.
“Who is that?” Master Forsythe demanded, “Show yourself! When I find out who you are-”
I untangled myself from the mass of limbs and made a run for the illuminated doorway. If I could run fast enough maybe he would never know it was me. Of course there was the matter of the pressing black against my eyes and the several tabletops with priceless artefacts all over the room. My legs were still numb and I went crashing into a table and knocked its content all over the floor. I heard the Master cry with shock and outrage and felt his hand close around my ankle. I gasped and kicked out, making contact with something soft and squishy. Probably his face. The Master cried out in pain and released me. Perhaps being discovered in the wardrobe, in an illuminated room would have been easier after all. Another few steps and I stood on and crushed several items littered over the floor. I ran into another two tables, sending them (and myself) flying across the room. I felt like a scared and confused pigeon trapped inside a room, bouncing off the windows, trying to get free.
I had completely trashed the room in my attempt to make an escape. I could hear Sebastian behind me, falling over himself and shouting angrily after me. He wallowed with rage as he struggled through the room, trying not to ruin any more of his precious objects.
I had never run so fast in my entire life. My face shiny with sweat and my legs full of pins and needles I flew across the landing once I had freed myself from the room of artefacts. I considered throwing myself down the stairs in order to get away faster but I would probably only injure myself. Instead I ran down them, three steps at a time. It was a miracle I didn’t break my neck. Once I was on the lower level I heard the sound of the Master finally untangling himself from the mess and emerging onto the landing. I only had a split second to get to the door and run out of sight.
I took my chances of being seen and fled for the door, ripping it open and wrenching myself into the hall. From there I didn’t look back. I sprinted through the servant halls and staircases, passing a few people I didn’t know. I felt their eyes burning into me as I passed, their faces alight with curiosity. I ignored them and kept running. Was the Master following me? It was a large manor. I could hide anywhere and be missing for several hours. Besides, did he even know it had been me? I couldn’t take that risk. I had to leave. Immediately, before Master or staff alike could get their hands on me. I had ruined his prized possessions. Could I have ruined my life any more thoroughly?
A stitch formed in my side but I kept running through the halls and down the stair wells. I was heading for my room. I would pack everything and anything I laid my hands upon. I would rush to the stables. No time for goodbyes to Jack and Camryn. No time to explain. They would hear about what I had done eventually anyway. I would hop onto Hawthorne and we would fly away. I knew Hawthorne would be back by now. He would forgive me for hurting him earlier. It had been hours since it had happened.
I was now in the staff section of the manor. I hurried past the kitchens and now no one was paying attention to me. I thought I had even spotted Jack on my way past the door. I kept running and soon arrived to the staff living quarters. The sound of my shoes against the stone echoed loudly through the hall, but my footsteps were not alone. I heard more thundering steps coming from behind me. Someone was coming after me. Dare I look? I chanced a glance over my shoulder and saw Jack was hurrying after me. So he had seen me rush past after all. I couldn’t stop right now, not even for my best friend. I kept running until I skidded to a halt outside my own bedroom door. Thrusting it open I burst inside and closed it and locked it behind me before Jack could run in after me. I grabbed my rucksack which was under my bed and started stuffing the clothes from my drawers into it hastily. As I had been running I had made my decision to go home. We would only be safe once we were airborne.
The sound of Jack hammering on my door made me jump.