Ella's POV.

"Finally! We are free!" I exclaimed, walking out of the examination hall.

"Another year done, two more to go," Sara said. The sophomore year of high school finally ended and now, towards a new year of high school. 

"Hey! Lets celebrate!" Jessica suggested, looking at us with a grin. "Let's go out and have some fun." 

"Yes! That's a good idea. We had never gone out together." Sara added.

"Fine with me. It'll be fun." Xaiden agreed to the plan, and I looked at him. Everyone was agreeing to it one by one. That meant, I would be the only person not going.

"Fine with me too." Jack also agreed, and the attention diverted towards me.

"Ella? You're fine with it too. Right? Say after school, tomorrow?" Jessica asked and all of them looking at me, waiting for my response. I bit my inner cheek, my tongue tied. What excuse should I make this time? How should I escape this?

"Uh... I... I can't. S-Sorry," I mumbled, looking at my boots.

"Why?" They all said in unison and I bit my lower lip. My eyes still fixed on my brown boots while my fingers grabbing the strap of my bag tighter. "I... I have... Uh.... I..." I tried to come up with a lie. A lie which would seem a bit authentic but my mind not helping me. What should I say?

"Why, Ella? What's wrong?" This time Xaiden asked in his sweet voice, making my heart melt.

Because my dad would never allow it. Because I was a Mafia princess. Because I was caged in, and could never escape. But I won't be able to explain it to you.

"I... I have to go....to," I paused, thinking. "A D... A dinner." I lied and looked at them. They stared at me with raising eyebrows.

"Are you sure?" Sara said, looking straight in my eyes to search if I was telling the truth or not.

"Yup! Definitely a Dinner!" I closed my eyes, and chuckled nervously.

Please let them believe my lie!

Please let them believe it.

"Fine!" Jessica said, raising his head and folding her arms in front of her chest. "We can go the next day. Does Thursday sound good for everyone?" She asked and I stared at her, flabbergasted. No! How could I tell them? No matter it was tomorrow or a day after that, weeks after that or months. I could never go.

"Yes!" Everyone said, and again, the same question was targeted at me. "Ella! Is it okay for you?" 

I chuckled nervously. "Well... Actually I..." I pursed my lips and then smiled. "That day... I mean... I have to..."

Damn! What should I lie now?

Well, I could say I was going to die the day after tomorrow. That could work.

Very funny, Ella! Were you an idiot? That's a lame excuse.

Urggh! What should I do? How do I tell them?

"Hey! Ella!" I heard a clapping in front of my face, bringing me back. They all were waiting eagerly for my answer. Deep down, I wanted to go. I wanted to have a time out of this dark atmosphere of mine. I wanted to live, for once. I wanted to forget, even for a while, about my complicated life, my responsibilities. I want to get away from my reality. But how? How could this be possible? No one would all it.

"Gosh! Ella! We need to talk!" Sara took my hand and took me to the other corner along with Jessica, away from Xaiden and Jack.

"What's wrong? You keep zoning out! Ella! Why can't you go?" Jess asked me.
I stared at her tongue tied.

"Ella! Trust us. What's wrong?" This time Sara asked. Both of them looking at me with concerned eyes.

Damn it! I was tired of lying!

"Guys! I'll never get the permission. My dad will never allow me," I whispered.

"What? What the heck? Do we live in 80s or what? Come on! You have all the right to have fun and party. What the-" Jess paused. "Damn it!" She said as I stood there quite. She pinched the edge of her nose and heaved a long sigh.

"I am sorry. You can all enjoy by yourself. Just don't force me." I forced a smile.

"Your dad's that possessive? I should have guessed. He did look like a hard man to me. A dark, mysterious one," Sara said, making my mouth shut.

"Sorry." Having no idea what to say, I apologized again.

"Why are you apologizing for? Its not your fault." Jess hugged me.

"And we are not leaving you behind. We will go and all together," Sara said, making me think how.

"But How? How are we gonna go?" I asked.

How would I be able to escape the high security?

"Leave that to me." Jessica smirked, making me alert.

Uh-Oh!

Something's fishy. That smirk!

"Jessica! What are you thinking?" I questioned, staring at her with panic eyes.

Don't do something crazy. Please!

If dad found out... I'd be dead!

I'd be drop dead. He'd ground me and then once again, I'd have to face this security at school too. Then dad would find out about me being friends with Xaiden and Jack. And then...

"Hey! Meeting's over?" Jack said as both the boys approached us.

"And why Ella's looking as if she just saw a freaking ghost? Jack laughed and I stood there quite. 

"Ah! Nothing... So...All is settled! We are going tomorrow! Ella's issue been solved." Jess smiled and I looked at her confused. Was it? How did it got solved? Didn't I just told her my problem? Or was it someone else?

Damn you, Jess!

"Great!" They all got excited while I stood there, shocked. I was all tangled up. What was going on here? And exactly what this girl was planning?

Now what?

*****

I stayed up all night, thinking. How was she gonna solve it? How could I go? It's not like she had some magic powers where she could vanish or make me dissappear. What exactly was she planning? How would she solve it? How was I going to leave?

I went to a restless slumber whilst thinking about it.

Let's see what awaits for me tomorrow!

I turned in my bed as I heard my alarm beeping. I groaned and buried my head in the pillow. The alarm didn't stop and I tried to reach it in my half sleep.

"Where did that bloody alarm go?" I groaned and moved further in my sleep to shut that damn alarm. I was searching my side table for the alarm. "Ahhhh!" I screamed as my butt landed on the tiled floor and the duvet fell on my head.

"Ma'am! You OK?" A maid came rushing in.

Damn it!

I just fell down from my bed.

"Yeah!" I said but I did saw a slight smile on her face before she excused herself.

Damn it! What a lucky day!

I groaned and stretched my arms, yawning. I had slept so little. At night my mind kept on thinking about what Jessica was planning and then dad woke me up at four in the morning for training. I trained for an hour and then went back to bed, feeling sleepy. I rubbed my sleepy eyes and looked at the clock showing half-past six.

I got up, still groaning. I put the duvet back on bed and headed to the washroom. After showering and getting dressed, I grabbed my stuff and went down to have some breakfast. All this time, my mind was wondering how and what Jess was going to do.

With these thoughts still in my mind, I headed to school. As soon as I was going to step inside the school gates, a strong muscular arm pulled me out and they started dragging me to some where. A hand was placed on my mouth and my eyes were covered with a blindfold.

My heart was racing and a deep fear formed inside me. My legs started trembling and all crazy scenarios started playing inside my mind.

What was going on?

Had my father's enemies found me?

Were they going to kill me?

All those questions were jumbling in my mind, making me scared. The steps slowed down and I took this as my cue. Despite all the fear and my heart close to being dead, I tried to fight. I stepped on that person's foot and as he groaned in pain, his hold lightened around my arm. I break myself free and hit him with my elbow. I didn't look back or waited to see who he was. I just wanted to run. I wanted to live. As I took on to my heels,  a pair of hands took ahold of my wrists, dragging me back. His hold was firm and a lot strong this time, and despite all of my struggle, I wasn't able to break free.

Was this how my life was going to end?

Was I going to die this soon?

I heard some other steps coming my way, and then I heard the tyres of a car screeching.

My mind went wild and I was close to passing out due to all the fear. My hands went cold and my legs lost all of their strength. 

I guess, this was my end...

***********************************
They found her!!!!! Now what!

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