Chapter 6 Gone

Maya's POV

Xavier walked me back upstairs without another word. When we reached the bedroom, he unlocked the door, stepped aside for me to go in, then held out my phone.

I looked at it, then at him. "You're giving this back?"

"You'll need it." He simply said, shutting the door.

I looked down at the phone in my hand. "...That's odd."

Most kidnappers didn't hand their prisoners a phone before locking them up but then again...most kidnappers didn't put their prisoners in a bedroom bigger than my entire apartment either.

I didn't waste another second. I tapped Lily's contact and lifted the phone to my ear.

She picked up immediately. "Sis?"

The knot in my chest loosened. "I'm here."

"Where have you been?" she blurted out. "You disappeared again.”

"I'm sorry."

There was a brief silence before Lily spoke again.

"You're sleeping out again, aren't you?"

I closed my eyes and leaned back against the headboard. "Yeah."

"You could've at least sent me a text."

"I know." A guilty smile tugged at my lips.

"You always say that." She sighed, and for a few seconds neither of us said anything. I just listened to her breathing on the other end of the call.

"I'm okay," I said after a moment. "I've just... got something I need to deal with."

"Is it serious?"

I glanced at the locked bedroom door. "...A little."

"Do you need me to come?" I smiled to myself. She was fifteen, she couldn't even look after herself, yet somehow she was asking if I needed her.

"No, stay home."

"When are you coming back?"

I paused to think. "In two days."

"You promise?"

I looked down at the phone in my hand. "I promise."

"Okay. Don't worry about me, there's still food in the fridge."

"Enough for two days?"

"I think so." A small laugh slipped through the phone. "I'll make it work."

That wasn't exactly reassuring, but it was Lily. She'd always try to make things sound easier than they were.

I stayed there for a moment after the call ended, staring at the dark screen.

Two days….I only needed two days to get out of this house and get back to Lily before she started worrying again.

I lay back on the bed and let out a slow breath. Tomorrow, I'd start looking for a way out.

------

The next time I opened my eyes, sunlight was already slipping through the curtains.

For a while, I stayed where I was, hoping I might hear something outside the room…footsteps, the door opening or atleast Xavier's voice but….nothing.

I sat up with a sigh. I had never been good at doing nothing, and being locked in a room where everything probably cost more than I had ever owned wasn't helping.

I checked the closet again, even though I had already seen it the night before, then the bathroom, next the drawers beside the bed. There wasn't much to find, but I kept looking anyway.

Eventually, I dropped onto the rug and stared at the ceiling. "This is officially the most expensive prison I've ever been in….Great, I’m talking to myself now."

I pushed myself up and wandered over to the door. I wasn't expecting anything when I turned the handle but to my surprise, it opened.

I looked at the door, then at the empty hallway beyond it. "Seriously?"

I stepped out slowly, half expecting someone to stop me but no one did. “Ooookay.”

The house was quieter than it had been the night before. Somewhere downstairs, I could hear dishes clinking. I followed the sound, and the smell of coffee and something buttery led me into the kitchen.

A maid glanced up from the stove. "Good morning, ma'am."

I raised an eyebrow. "Ma'am?"

"Breakfast will be ready soon."

I leaned against the doorway. "So I'm allowed out of my room now?"

She gave me a polite smile. "You may move around the house."

"How generous."

Her lips twitched, but she quickly looked back at the stove.

I studied her for a moment. "Where's Xavier?"

Her knife paused against the cutting board. "Mr. Lockwood has business to attend to."

"So he's gone."

She didn't answer, just continued chopping the onions but I already got my answer.

I left the kitchen, wandering through the downstairs rooms, pretending I was simply curious. The house was huge, but there wasn't much to see after a while. Eventually, I found myself standing in front of the main entrance. The doors were open.

Outside, the morning air drifted across the front steps. I slowly took a step forward.

A guard immediately moved into my path. "Sorry, ma'am. You can't leave the estate."

I stared at him. "Do you people rehearse that?"

"No, ma'am."

I sighed. "I just want to look around."

His face remained completely serious. "Orders from Mr. Lockwood."

Of course, fucking Xavier and to think all these happened in a day.

I folded my arms. "Where is your boss?"

"He's away on business."

"When is he coming back?"

The guard hesitated. "In three days."

Three days….I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep my smile from showing. Three days to figure something out.

I looked at the guard again. "You know, you people would be much less intimidating if you smiled once in a while."

"I'll keep that in mind."

I laughed, turning back toward the house. Three days was plenty of time, I just needed a way out.

As I walked down the hallway, a housekeeper came around the corner pushing a laundry cart. She stopped outside one of the rooms and reached into her apron, a small silver key hung from a ring.

She unlocked the door, pushed the cart inside, then moved to the next room and did the same thing.

I slowed without meaning to. My eyes followed the key as it disappeared back into her apron, then she walked away.

I waited until she was out of sight before looking toward the stairs.

A small smile crept across my face…maybe I had just found my way out.