Take Me Home (Layla's Story)

Chapter 4: Break Free

Layla
______

This morning was filled with the usual. I'm only allowed out of my room to take a shower for five minutes. I like the water on cold because it numbs my wounds and bruises. I savour those five minutes as long as I possibly can before I have to return to my room.
But as I return, I hear the front door slam shut. I peak out of the bathroom window and spot Tye making his way to the shops down the street.
I smile. I am left alone.
I have been waiting for this.
I quickly change and run as fast as my injured legs can carry me. It's enough to reach the front door, so I slightly open it to peak out.
His car is gone. Perfect.
I open the door fully and walk out, but I leave the door open.
An act of defiance against Tye.
I breathe the fresh air. At long last, I have escaped that small room.
I have escaped sixteen years of torture and abuse. I was never even let out for school.
I then spot a hedgehog walking towards me, and my body tenses.
Is that Tye? Oh gosh I am so dead!
"Don't tense your body up," the hedgehog says. "You'll hurt those wounds."
That's not Tye. Tye's voice is too cold, too cruel, too heartless to sound like the voice that just spoke.
"Who are you?" I ask.
When he reaches closer, I can see his fur is brown. I relax myself."
"My name is Eli," he says. "I'm not going to hurt you."
"How did you know I had bruises and wounds?"
"I'm a Freedom Fighter. My crew and I were given a special assignment around you, Layla."
He takes off the jacket he was wearing and places it around my arms.
"Let me take you to our HQ. You'll be safe with us," Eli adds, and I nod.

+++

We step inside a rather tall building and a squirrel is the first to greet us.
"We've been waiting for you, Layla," she says. "My name is Sally Acorn."
"Hi," I reply.
Sally then turns to Eli. "Thank you for bringing her here, Eli. You can return to your group now. I think your group leader will be most pleased with you."
Eli nods, and walks off, while Sally leads me to another room.
She opens the door, and my jaw drops.