Chapter 8

SASHA'S POV

I couldn’t sleep the entire night. My thoughts were a tangled mess, circling around one name: Sebastian. The weight of his threat pressed down on me, and the fear was suffocating.

I kept replaying his words, his cold eyes, and the way his men loomed over me. One more day. That’s all I had before they came for me again. A chill ran down my spine at the thought.

The night stretched on endlessly, but I knew the morning would come all too soon, bringing with it the inevitable.

When the first light crept into my room, a wave of dread washed over me. The sun was rising, and time was running out. I sat up in bed, my hands trembling as I hugged my knees to my chest.

My mind raced with frantic thoughts of escape. What could I do? Where could I go? The weight of the decision felt unbearable. I tried to calm myself, but it was impossible.

One more day.

I kept repeating that to myself as if it would somehow give me clarity. I had no allies, no one I could turn to. Every option seemed too risky, too dangerous. But I couldn’t stay here. Waiting for Sebastian’s men to drag me back to him felt like a death sentence.

As the morning sun filtered through the curtains, my mind sharpened with a single conclusion: I had to run. There was no other choice. I had to disappear before they came for me again.

I have to get out of here.

The thought hit me like a bolt of lightning. It was the only way. If I stayed, I’d be trapped. If I ran, at least I’d have a chance. A sliver of hope, even if it was small.

I took a deep breath, wiping the tears that had gathered in the corners of my eyes. I didn’t have the luxury of breaking down now. Not when the clock was ticking.

I stood up, forcing myself to move despite the weight in my chest. My legs felt weak beneath me, but I ignored the feeling. There was no time to wallow in fear. If I hesitated, even for a moment, I’d lose my nerve. I knew I would.

I made my way toward my bedroom. The house felt eerily quiet, every sound magnified in the silence. My heartbeat pounded in my ears, the rush of blood making it hard to think clearly.

But I couldn’t stop now. The idea of leaving had rooted itself so deeply in my mind that it felt like my only lifeline.

*Get your things, Sasha. Just pack what you need. You can’t take everything.*

I kept telling myself this as I stepped into my room. I needed to stay focused. Panic threatened to rise in my throat, but I swallowed it down.

My hands trembled as I reached for my closet. I pulled out the small suitcase I hadn’t touched in years, the one I used to take on trips before my life had turned into this nightmare.

*Travel light. Take only the essentials.*

I opened the suitcase, the sound of the zipper loud in the silence. My movements were automatic, robotic almost, as I grabbed clothes from my drawers. Simple things.

Clothes I could move in, clothes that wouldn’t stand out. I didn’t know where I’d go yet, but I knew I couldn’t afford to be noticed. The thought of them hunting me down, tracking me like prey, sent shivers down my spine.

My hands faltered as I stuffed a few more items into the suitcase. I didn’t have much, not really. I had never thought I’d need to leave this place, my home. But it was no longer a safe haven. It hadn’t been for a long time. Sebastian had tainted it with his shadow, and now I had to escape it.

I glanced at the photo on my nightstand, a reminder of the life I used to have. The life that felt like a distant memory now. I couldn’t take it with me. There wouldn’t be room for mementos where I was going. I had to sever the ties. Let go of the past.

This is survival.

The thought hit me hard as I zipped up the suitcase. My heart raced as I grabbed it and set it by the door. The weight of what I was about to do settled over me, a mix of fear and desperation. I had no plan, not really. But I had to move forward. I had to trust that I’d figure it out along the way.

I couldn’t help but glance at the clock. The minutes were slipping by, ticking away like a countdown to my escape. I knew I had to leave soon. I couldn’t risk staying here any longer. If Sebastian’s men found me here, I’d lose whatever slim chance I had.

I stood in the doorway of my bedroom, looking back at the life I was leaving behind. It wasn’t much anymore, just a shell of what it had once been. But still, it hurt. I was walking away from everything I knew.

*But you’re also walking away from danger.*

That was the truth. And that truth kept me moving. I couldn’t let myself hesitate now. Not when so much was at stake.

I turned back to the suitcase, gripping the handle tightly. It was time. Time to go before it was too late.