Escape

Rain and tears are mingled on my whole face. The road was muddy, I could feel the weight of my bathrobe as I walked through the lush forest.

"That girl must not have gone far yet!"

I quickly hid on a big tree when I heard Dolfo's shout.

My body was shaking violently. I covered my mouth and closed my eyes tightly.

"Boss, it looks like she's off the highway!" It was the voice of the man I was sure was Dolfo's one of body guards.

"Damn! Go anywhere to find her and we'll catch her for sure! Go ahead and search the whole forest. Put guards on the city limits!" he shouted angrily.

I bit my lower lip hard when I heard that from Dolfo. My fears were heightened by the last thing he said.

"I want you to bring Venice here dead or alive!"

Gradually my knees shook in fear. I pressed even harder on the palm that covered my mouth. I held my breath several times so that it wouldn't make a noise.

The sky thundered and the rain poured down heavily. So are the footsteps in the distance that deafen me. I can't stay here much longer, they will definitely find me if I stay here.

I filled my chest with air before running to the dark forest. The more I tried to run faster, the more my body began to slow down, I was confused, fear was eating away at my whole system. If I don't run well they might catch me.

I have mastered the jungle, I often play here. But it is difficult for me to see the road at this moment because of the heavy rain and the fog. I stopped and quickly took off the bathrobe I was wearing. The only thing left with me now is the nightdress that I layered. My movement is lighter now but I still can't get my skin to touch the sharp branches and leaves.

I let out a deep moan when I stumbled upon the large root of tree.

"No..." I whimpered.

I was horrified when I saw a deep wound on my leg and arm. Blood shedding all over my legs, the cut there was too big made of protruding wood.

"No, please! Let me out of here!" I moaned.

I sat up and tried to calm myself. Theres no need to fear, Venice. You can't give up now.

I violently wiped away my tears and without saying a word, I tore the hem of my nightdress and tied it to my bleeding wound.

"Agh! Damn!" I stopped moaning.

I quickly went back in fear when I heard footsteps from afar.

"Dad, please guide me," I whispered in a hoarse voice.

I tried to stand up and was forced to walk with the injured leg. I close my eyes because of the pain that was biting there. I'm afraid I won't be able to go...

"Venice!"

I was so close to the big tree when I heard that voice of Dolfo.

"I know you're just around the corner, because I can hear that intense fear in your heart!" His devilish voice made my whole body trembling wildly.

"Come on, sweetie. Nothing bad will happen to you if you come out of your hiding place!" The strident tone in his voice revealed his anger.

"No..." I whispered shakily.

"Venice! I'm running out of patience with you kid!" His full voice thundered.

I bit my inner lip harder as I could. I was even more interested in hiding in the tree.

"Come on, little sweetie! I'm not going to hurt you!" He added, an evil laugh lingered in the air. One by one my body hair rose because of his loud laughter.

"Boss, we saw this bathrobe of hers near the grasses!" A heavy step from one of his bodyguard approaching him.

"All right, keep searching!" Dolfo ordered to his men.

I started running again until I reached the road. My breathing got a little easier. I could have asked for help from passing vehicles here but I didn’t.

As I heard, Dolfo guarded the city limits. They can also block every passing vehicle just to catch me.

I need to think of a way to get out of here. I will not let Daddy's death be meaningless. Those who made this to my father had to pay. I will surely drag them all to hell. Not now, but I promise I will charge them one by one for what they did.

As I hid in a lush plant I was startled by the loud roar of the ship from not far.

I quickly got up from hiding. Right! The seashore was a few feet away from here. I just had to cross the road and go straight into the forest before I could reach the coast.

I don't think twice anymore. As the rain began to fall, I crossed the road and entered the woods. I did not stop walking even though my left leg was numb from the wound.

Until I see the Port where one of the cargo ships is starting to load the products to be taken to Manila.

“I need to get on that ship,” I said with my heavy breathing.

I rolled my eyes around. Crowded, noisy and all busy loading products on the ship.

I saw a man with a push cart. He carried some boxes that I was not sure the contents of.

I looked back at the opening of the ship. The guards were very strict, with some guarding the door itself and some others on the bridge. The only way to get in is by smuggling some cargo.

I watched for a while, they were loading the products directly into a part of the ship where there was no need to inspect the contents further. If I could get into one of the boxes that the man was carrying, I would have a good chance of getting on the ship and escaping my pursuers.

I was so bitten on the lower lip when the whistle of the ship rang again. It will surely set sail at any moment.

I brace myself and filled my lungs with glassy air. I also filled my chest with courage for the step to be taken.

Again I saw the man back in a truck. From here I could see them lifting the boxes coming from a close van truck.

"Bro, got to pee," The man said to the one who pushed the cart earlier. He walked towards to some rocks there.

"All right, me too..." the man said who immediately followed and hid in the rock. There I got a chance to get into one of the boxes that was there.

"Oh, shit?!" I blurt.

I quickly covered my mouth almost in disgust because of the contents of the box that was there.

Different kinds of fish are filled with the styro foam itself in the box. I backed away because my stomach seemed to turn upside down at the fishy smell. There is no way I would soak myself into this stinky container. No way, Venice!

I closed my eyes tightly and bit my lip hard. You have to do this Venice. Dolfo's men are definitely coming here to catch you.

I don't really have a choice. Dolfo was very influential. I'm sure they will only return me to their custody in case I ask for help from the people here.

I no longer hesitated. I rode to one of the boxes that was there. With my eyes closed and my nose covered, I accepted the smell of the fish to fit myself in the box.

Moments later I heard the footsteps of two men approaching me.

I closed my eyes emphatically and prayed that they would not catch me.

"Oh, put those in, the ship is about to leave!" The voice said to the two men.

"Yes, boss!"

After a fleeting moment, I felt the pushed cart on which I was riding move.

"All right, get in!" The voice commands from the outside.

I held my breath for a second, when I felt they attempt to lift of the box.

"Oh! Why is this one so heavy?!" The voice said from the outside.

I almost bleed my lip with the intensity of the nervousness I was feeling.

"Maybe you're hungry, it's better we could just help to finish this one!" Another voice answered him.

After that I felt like they lifting out the box inwards. I waited for the footsteps to disappear before I peeked out.

When I noticed there were no more people around I decided to go out. I quickly fled and hid in one of the cargoes that was there.

"Damn!" I couldn’t help but sneer at the tang of my smell. Add to that my wound soaked in cold ice. If I don't wash it it will definitely be infected. I had to get right inside the ship.

I peeked again to see if there was a guard, and I was lucky there's non. Everyone was still busy guarding the cargo, so I took that opportunity to get inside.

I went up to the upper deck where there were some rooms. Good thing I didn’t see anyone in either aisle.

One by one I tried to open a few doors but they were locked. My heart jumped in my throat when I heard a footsteps coming from behind so, I ran fast.

The last door I touched was not locked so that’s where I chose to enter.

My breath evaporated from my chest when I finally got in. I closed my eyes firmly first as I felt the whole surroundings.

After a few seconds I open my eyes. My lovely lips droply open. This room is huge and elegant. I feel like I'm on a cruise ship based on the beauty and quality of the equipment here.

There was a chaise lounge at the center in front the 50 "inch flat screen TV and a home theater speakers beside. The paintings are everywhere, even some porcelains plate and glass are setting elegantly at the cabinet.

I'm not ignorant of such things, but it's just fun to see a room like this on a cargo ship.

"Hello?" I whispered, before starting to step on my feet.

My wet clothes left a stain on the carpeted floor of the entire room. So I limply roam my eyes around to look for the bathroom. I badly needed to wash my legs especially my wound. I stop at the close door and squeezed the door open but unfortunately the door open from the inside.

I frozen on my feet and my breathing became uneven as I looked up at the man wearing only a bathrobe. He must be over six-feet tall, pair all with his perfect set of jaw, a jet-black hair and has a muscular arms and broadly shoulders. His ocean like blue eyes drilling me right where I stand. He almost pulled out a gun and fired at me without hesitation.

I opened my mouth to speak but I felt my throat drying up.

With just a few movements he was right in front of me. He puts his hand around my neck and squeezed it a bit.

"Who are you, answer me?!"

My pulse is currently going wild and I finding it difficult to breathe in. Not because of his words but how close his face was to mine.

"You're tress passing my property." He accused.

I was even more unable to speak. His warm breath directly touches my skin. I couldn't hardly moving, I was just froze in fears. Despite of that I'm a little bit confuse of his naked body. His perfectly six pack abs and his molded biceps grabbed my attention.

"I'll call the police if you don't speak. Or I'll throw you out of this ship, to feed you to the sharks. That's a great Idea, right?" A silly smirked appeared on his God like face.

"No! Please... don't do that!" I quickly said as I grabbed his arm tightly.

He slowly lowered his head to stare at my candle fingers. A small smile played on his mouth when he turn to looked back at me in the eyes.

Panic flashed across my eyes and looked away immediately.

"You trespassed and illegally got inside my room." A low, masculine voice came from his mouth.

"I was just trying to find something to hide." My cheeks are reddening at my own words.

He chuckled, lowering his hand, before I even realized what he had done he was already holding both my wrists. He continued to look unwavering at my face without a hint of humor.

"I don't believe you, little girl," he whispered under his breath.

His hot breath seemed to stick to my nose. My tense forming up form my chest and I felt dizzy.

After a fleeting moment, I noticed his forehead frown at me.

"I smell something bad. Is that you?" he asks.

I bit down my bottom lip. Great! At this very moment, I want the ground to crackly open and eat me whole.