he faint, metallic scrape of a key slidi

tor the butler cleared his throat

ng the practiced, robotic tone of a professional serva

sed her hands against the wood. "On whose a

til you calm down from this hysterical episode and are ready to communicate reaso

household staff, was strictly enforcing such a cruel order. It crystallized

am curses at the door. She simply

parched from the adrenaline and stress. She reached for t

from deep within the pipes. Not

ower and twisted the heavy dials. N

ordered the maintenance staff to shut off

e lack of food and water was already be

m tiles. The memory of her lungs burning for o

t, burning rage. She pushed herself off

edroom and walked straight

an cotton flat sheet and yanked it off the mattres

ket. She dug the sharp, tiny blades into the thick hem of the sheet, sawing frantically until she managed to snip a small, ja

fabric filled the room. She tore t

vy cotton burned her fingers. Red welts formed on her skin, and tiny

ght, double-knotted square knots. She wrapped the fabric around he

a makesh

n her fingers along the bottom edge of the fra

her pocket. She jammed the sharp tip of the scissors into the tiny gap

ck, the heavy de

nd shoved the heavy bull

y rushed into the room, whip

round the thick, marble Roman pillar that supported the railing. She tied three

ver the edge. It unspooled and v

She climbed over the stone railing, gripped the fabric tight, and