The Chateau (Chateau 1)

I wouldn’t know until I went inside.

I moved to the front door and pulled out the rod of my pen and the metal shaft. Gently, I inserted both into the door and tried to trip the lock. It took me a long time because I was still terrible at this, only had my own door for experience. My eyes glanced over my shoulder to make sure there was no one moving through the compound that might spot me.

Then it clicked.

Fuck yes.

I returned the tools to my pocket then gently turned the doorknob, moving as quietly as possible, not making a single sound. Then I stepped inside and shut the door behind me.

Jesus Christ, I did it.

I wanted to turn on a light so I could see better, but that was too risky, especially since the windows didn’t have shades. I moved farther inside, past the table, and then listened.

I didn’t hear anything.

There was a fridge next to the table, a counter with a microwave, as if this was a break room. I crept through the doorway to the rest of the cabin, and there were windows on the back wall, showing some illumination from the back porch light.

It was a living room, a couple couches angled toward the TV on the wall.

I saw another doorway, so I crept through and found a bathroom and another room. It seemed like no one was in the cabin, so I was a little braver. My feet moved a little quicker, and I didn’t hold my breath so much.

The door was closed, so I had to turn the knob and crack it open.

Bingo.

It was a supply room. Bows and arrows were on the wall, along with other supplies, like first aid kits and medicine.

I was so grateful these windows had been lit up that night. It would have taken me forever to figure out which cabin to investigate without knowing where the guards were in the first place.

There was no window in this room, and that was probably by design. I shut the door behind myself and flicked on the light.

Yes, yes, yes.

I opened drawers and looked through everything, finding matches and flashlights. I pocketed both, getting a flashlight for both Melanie and me. The matches would come in handy if we needed to make a fire, something I didn’t know how to do with just sticks. I wanted to grab extra things, like the medicine, but if I took too much, it would be obvious.

There were no guns…unfortunately.

Those must be under lock and key.

I stuffed my pockets with a couple bottles of water and bags of nuts. When I couldn’t carry any more, I looked up the wall to where the bows and quiver of arrows were mounted. There were only four, so if I took two, it might be really obvious.

If I took one, it would be less obvious.

I didn’t know how to use a bow and arrow, but I could practice in the forest with a flashlight. That way, we could hunt in the forest—even though I didn’t know how to do that either. Or at least have a weapon if they hunted us down.

I took the bow and quiver of arrows, and since there was no way to stuff those into my pockets, I just slung them over my back.

If I got caught, I was dead anyway.

I turned off the light and left.

Before I walked out the front door, I locked it from inside and then took the stairs back to the ground. The walk back was uneventful because everyone seemed to be asleep. I made it the rest of the way, anxious and excited, eager to get back to my cabin so I could finally rejoice.

There was no map, but that was okay.

We’d figure it out.

I got back into my cabin, locked myself inside so even Magnus wouldn’t know what I did, and then I finally released the breath I’d been holding. “Holy shit…I fucking did it.” I emptied my pockets and put everything on the bed, including the bow and arrows.

But then I realized I had a problem.

Where was I going to hide everything?

I had no furniture. My mattress just sat on the floor. I had a nightstand, but that wouldn’t hold everything.

I could hide it somewhere outside, but what if I couldn’t find it again?

That only gave me one choice.

The bathtub.

There was no shower rod, but no one ever came to clean my cabin, so no one ever looked. Magnus never peeked. It was my only option because there was literally nowhere else.

So that was where I put it.

I turned off the light and got into bed, unable to believe my luck.

I had nearly everything I needed to escape. I just needed to pick the lock to the stables and grab a horse.

And then we’d be on our way.