36

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX
GABRIELLE
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I tiptoed quietly in the dark house.
My heart leaped to my throat when I heard the sound of the opening and closing of a door.
I went still, I didn't so as much as to take a breath.
If Lucian had already realized my absence, then everything was over. I would never be able to leave.
I craned my neck to see who it was. From my spot, I saw a figure, when the person advanced closer, I realized that it was Fred.
My brows furrowed in confusion, what could he be doing inside the mansion so early in the morning?
He looked around as though he was fearful of being caught.
I shifted my eyes in the direction of where he had just come out from.
Loretta's room.
How could he be inside her room? What was he... My thoughts were blown off when my cell phone vibrated silently.
Anya was still waiting.
Pushing every thought aside, I hurried towards the main door. To my surprise, it was unlocked. I had thought I would have a difficult time getting out through the security door.
I still had to be very careful to avoid being seen, there was no question that Lucian had enough of his men guarding outside the house.
I couldn't be spotted by them.

I successfully made it to the garden, my gaze searched around for Anya when I felt a hand touch my shoulders from behind. I barely managed to swallow back a frightened scream.
It was Anya.
"I've been waiting for you! Good that you're here now, I thought that you might have changed your mind." She whispered, staring fixed straight at me as though she was trying to discern my thoughts.

"I'm here..." I looked around slowly, surprised to see that it was just her, how could the both of us accomplish it? Forget about going to save Derek, I doubted that we would be able to pass through the gates.
"Where are the plans you mentioned? You said you already made preparations..."
"There's a delivery van going outside!" She whispered hastily.
"It will be here in about two minutes, The driver is helping us, he will take us out of the mansion! He will take us to the warehouse." As she spoke, the sound of a car reached my ears, it seemed she heard it as well as she gripped my hand firmly.
"He's already here! There's no time to waste, the rest of it, I will tell you on our way."
I remained where I stood, I couldn't explain the reason but I was very uneasy. The knot in my chest tightened, I had this disturbing feeling that something would go wrong. The doubts kicked in suddenly.
It had always been Anya's words that she and Derek were friends, she had given me neither something nor spoke anything that could prove that. She wasn't a person loyal to Lucian or she wouldn't be helping me to leave him.
What if she had some other plans...like what?
"Come on! What are you thinking!" She broke into my thoughts.
The van was already in front of us, the windows were rolled, preventing me from seeing the driver.
"Let's go!" She urged.
I pushed aside my doubts, I had already come this far, I couldn't be suspicious of her now.
As soon as we successfully entered the van, it started to move.
The van was dark, there were large boxes that consumed more than half of its space.
I would only be relieved when we've gotten past the gates. It felt like an eternity to me already.
Anya walked towards the driver to whisper some words that I couldn't hear. I watched them from my spot. I could see that he was handing something to her extended hand but it was too dark to see what it was.

The van continued to move for some moments and then was brought to a sudden halt.
My heart jerked hard when Anya returned to my side, I could make out the outline of her features, it told me immediately that something was wrong.
"The security suddenly wants to search the van. This has never happened with Hendrich before. "
I assumed Hendrich was the driver's name and my eyes went round in alarm.
Wait... What?
When I couldn't sit still anymore, I jumped to my feet.
"Why suddenly? Does this mean that we've been discovered?"
I almost didn't recognize the panicked whisper to be mine.
No! This couldn't be happening.
I started to speak again when the noises coming from outside grew louder.
But it was a distinct voice that jerked my attention.
Lucian!
This time, I think I really became paralyzed because even my brain was frozen, I couldn't focus on anything except the harsh sound of his voice.
How could he have discovered that I left so soon?
"Get out of the van right now!" His voice sliced the morning air.
I met Anya's gaze slowly. She didn't seem as panicked and fearful as I was.
Her eyes were...Blank.

I didn't realize the object she was holding in her hand until it was too late.
A gun!
"It appears the time has come to put you for a good use after all."
"Anya, what does this mean?"
Suddenly, I could move!
I met her cold gaze as I tried to take a step back only to be trapped by the boxes.
Her smile was cold as she suddenly attacked when I was least expecting it.
Her fist caught my face hard and next, I felt the cold barrel of a gun against my neck.
"Why are you doing this to me! What's gotten into you, drop the gun now!" I hissed, still in pain from the hit on my jaw.
If anything, her smile grew even colder and the gun was pressed harder against my neck, from the side of my vision, I could see the way her eyes were tightened around the trigger.

"Now, I can't do that. Especially when you've always been the plan!"
As she spoke, the door was suddenly yanked open and I was faced directly with Lucian's piercing stare.

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