Scarlett's P.O.V.

After the sun went down, I tried to loosen the medal bars as much as possible without making a sound. It was nearly 10:30 p.m., and no one had come to check on me since the afternoon. I wondered what had changed since it seemed like someone arrived every hour, but I assumed no one cared anymore after four days. I'd been pouring bleach for over two nights, and the window sill had totally dried out, which I was surprised no one noticed. Clenching my jaw, I shifted my entire body weight onto the two I'd been pulling, and one of them popped out. Breathing deeply, I gingerly placed it on the ground, not wanting to make too much noise. I swiftly begin creating a rope out of bed sheets and pillowcases, just enough to allow me to land safely on the ground without damaging anything.

Once I was done tying all the sheets, I looked around for something heavy to barricade the door with. My eyes found a medium-sized dresser but the question was how to drag it without drawing attention upstairs.

Think Scarlett, think.

Biting my tongue, I glance down at the sheets, wondering if I should slide it. Using all of my strength, I placed one side of the dresser on the sheet rope I created and carefully slid it across the floor, as the roughness of the wood helped to muffle the sound. Pushing it against the door, I lean against it to take a rest; I hadn't eaten in four days. All of this heavy labor wasn't helping either. Fortunately, the training that Dad--I mean Ross--forced me to do with Jaxon had some advantages. When Jaxon and I were younger, Dad enrolled us in boxing and martial arts, telling us that we should consider it training in case we ever needed to fend someone off. I never thought about it since I never wanted to harm anyone.I had a lot of tips and tricks up my sleeve, but they weren't what I wanted.

Now it all made sense as to why I was so against everything my family stood for because I wasnt meant to be a part of it.

Wiping off some sweat from my forehead, I looked around the room one last time before throwing the sheet rope out the small gap I managed to make, slipping my legs out I stood on the small ledge of the siding. of the house. I looked down, as fear spiked in my heart, I hated heights.

Licking my lips I ignore the roughness of them. Tightly holding on to the rope I slide down slowly until I make it to the ground. I heard heavy footsteps coming from the side of the house.

Fuck, guards. Pulling the ropes down as fast as I could I threw them. in the bushes, as I hid myself.

"Are you sure you heard something?" Guard #1 asked,

"I swear, I did." Guard #2 said flashing his flashlight around.

Please, please don't catch me. I squeezed my eyes shut tightly hiding deeper in the big bush.

"There isn't anything here." Guard#1 said, "Come on we have to go to the front."

Guard #2 was hesitant but nevertheless walked off behind his co-worker. Breathing out. heavily, I held my hand over my chest, before crawling out of the bushes. I look around the garden area for some kind of escape, when I spot a small doggy door. Keeping myself low to the ground, I make it to the door and push myself through it. The wood scraped against my legs, drawing blood, muffling an agonizing scream I draw blood from my lip. Laying flat on the outside of the gates of the Brock Estate, tears of happiness slide down the side of my face.

Quickly standing up I begin running, and keep running. . .

I cannot beleive it, I actually made it out of there without drawing any attention to myself.

I am free!

. . . 

Gasping for water I burst through the doors of a gas station scaring the worker that was at the front desk. "Oh my god," The girl said rushing around the counter as I fell to my knees. It had been over an hour since I had been running from the estate. "Are you okay?"  she asked me, 

"Water," I said barely above a whisper, "Water," She rushed over to the large fridges and took out two bottles. 

 She leaned down infront of me,  grasping my arm, "Here come sit," Lifting me up she took me around the counter giving me her seat before handing me the bottle. Greedily chugging down the bottle, I open the second one this time pacing myself. 

"W-What happened to you?" She asked looking at me scared,

I look down at her name tag, Felicity, "I was kidnapped," I answered her, "I have just escaped."

She gasped covering her mouth, "Let me call the police," She reached over to the phone but I slammed it back down shaking my head. "W-What do you mean no? If you call the police they can help-"

"Heard of the Devil's Keepers?" I interrupt her, 

"Yeah,  who doesn't?"

"I was with them." I say firmly, "Police aren't going to do fuck all." Finding some solace in her, I look around the place. "Could I get something to eat?"

"Yeah," Felicity answered hesitantly before handing me a protein bar. "Why did they take you?"

"I'm Scarlett Clyde." My last name was enough for her to catch on, her eyes widened. "Dont worry, I am not like my family." I take a large bite of the bar, it feels so good to be able to eat something after so long, without fear of it being positioned or laced with anything. 

"Should I be worried about helping you?" She asked, 

"No." I answer, "I will leave, as soon as you let me make a phone call." Felicity looked down at the phone, "Please?" I needed to call someone, Bea or Jaxon before they find me. 

"Yeah," She stepped back. I took another bite of the bar before lifting the phone up and calling Bea. 

"Hello?" Bea answered groggily, obviously, she had been sleeping since it was almost past midnight now. 

"Bea," I say softly, 

She went quiet for a few seconds, "Lettie?" Tears blurred my vision, "Lettie is that you?"

"Yeah," I answer, 

"Holy fuck," She exclaimed, "Who's number is this?  How did you get it?" I could hear the clear panic in her voice. 

"I'll explain everything Bea, but right now I need you to come. get me please,"  I say looking outside and making sure there are no odd motorcycles stopping around this area. 

"Get you?"  Bea asked confused 

"I ran." I whisper, "I escaped from that shit hole, and right now I really need a ride to somewhere. safe please." I didnt know who to call, all I could think of was her. 

"Yeah, yeah." Bea said quickly, I could hear some shuffling around, "Look, I'm booking an uber right now because if I take my car the guards outside will know. Just, where are you?"

'Um," I sigh,  "Where am I?" I ask Felicity, 

"Chervorn on Aberdeen Street."  She replied

"Did you hear that?" I asked Bea. 

"Got it, I am only like ten minutes away." She said, "Just stay put." 

"Got it." I hung up the phone and sat back down. Felicity kept her distance from me, "I don't bite." I say to her amused, "Like I said, I am not like my family."

I don't know why I kept calling the Clyde family, my family. . . a habit I guess or maybe lack of knowledge. 

But I am done with being kept in the dark, I wanted the truth, and now, I have the chance to find out. 

About ten minutes later, I saw a car pulling into the parking lot of the gas station, for a second my body freezes until I see a familiar shadow come out. 

"Lettie!" Bea yelled as soon as she got out of the Uber moving her arms around in the air, with excitement. Smiling I ran around the counter, and immediately hugged her as she ran into the store. "Oh my god, I am so happy you are okay." She whispered softly wrapping her arms around my body tightly.  

"I missed you," I whispered back, Bea pulled back quickly as she looked over at Felicity. 

"Thank you," She said to her before pulling out money and placing two hundred dollars on the counter. Felicity's eyes widened, "Money for taking care of my best friend."

She shook her head, "There is no need for this," She pushed the money towards us but Bea didnt mind her, "Excuse me!" Felicity called after us, but we rushed out into the Uber. I had already been there for way too long. 

"Auntie Laura is going to be so happy to see you!" Bea sighed, "She hasn't been eating properly at all." Worry spiked in me, "Jaxon and I have tried to console her, but she has been in  a constant state of panic." I hated that Harden and Ross did that to her. "She has been staying at my place since you have been taken Lettie, she won't even look at Uncle Ross."

I awkwardly smile at her, "Has Ross tried to reach out?"

Bea's eyes scanned me, "Ross?" 

"I'll explain later," I inhale sharply, "But has he?"

"No," She said shaking her head, "But, I think it's for the best." Squinting my eyes at her, I feel something off about her, but I just can't put my finger on it. 

"Right," Looking away from her. I try to hide the scars on my wrist that the cuffs had made. "Let's just go home."

. . .

"Baby," Mom whispered. tearfully as she held her arms wide open for me.  Walking into her embrace, I hug her tightly,  "You have gotten so thin," She cried hiding her face in the crook of my neck. "Oh my gosh, I cannot beleive you are standing infront of me." Hiding my own tears I let her cry out all her worry and anxiousness in my arms. 

"I am okay," I whispered back to her. I had cuts and bruises but they were not new to me, I had gotten used to the pain that had been inflamed upon me, and her own husband had taught me how to have a thick skin. 

We stood infront of the door for a few more minutes until she pulled me inside to sit on the sofa, "How?" She asked grasping my hand as if I was going to disappear. 

"Dad-" I couldn't bring myself to call him that, "I mean, Ross's. training." 

Mom's eyes frantically searched mine, as soon as I called him by his name. "They told you didn't they?" Wow, she caught on fast. 

"I overheard." I tell her, "Is it true?"

Her bottom lip quivered, "Yes," There was nowhere for her to hide anymore. "I-I had run away," She stuttered as Bea came to sit with us. She looked at me confused but kept quiet. "Your- I mean Ross, he had become an animal. He used to hit me every day, mercilessly, the boys Archer and Jaxon used to hide as I stood infront of the door." My blood boiled, "Until one day it got too much, Ross had gone for a business trip, and so that night, I took the boys, packed a few clothes, and ran."

I listen intently, "We had found a safe place with my parents, out in Alberta." Mom's hand began to shake, "And there, I met my old boyfriend." Her eyes filled with regret, "Jaxon and Archer grew really close to him, as we hid from Ross. It had been a whole month because I told Ross that my parents died when I was younger to protect them from the chaotic world I had gotten myself in by being lowered in by money." 

"So Ross didn't know about them?"

"No," She answered softly, "Archer, Jaxon and I finally had a stable life, without violence, without yelling. . .it was the dream." Tears rolled down her cheeks,  "U-Until,"

"Until what?"

"My ex-boyfriend," Mom choked out, "He was involved in some shady shit." Fuck, "I had no idea about, and he fucked around with some deal that was happening between the devil's keepers and come another gang out in Alberta. Ross found him, so he found us." Well, she really picked her men. 

"Ross killed my dad?" I had added up the pieces together, "He was my dad wasn't he?"

Mom shut her eyes shakily breathing out she nodded. "Yes, he was your father."  All those years of being the outcast of the family, being the most hated, most. beaten and the most neglected, all the pieces fell. "But he didnt kill him," Slowly opening her eyes she gazed at me lovingly, "I handed myself back to him, along with the boys to keep him safe. I have been suffering for almost 22 years keeping my parents, your father safe from him."

"How are you so sure?" I asked softly, 

Mom gently caressed my face, "I just know." She answered, "I still speak to your grandparents, even though I had to cut off connection with him, they let me know if he is okay or not."

'I want to meet him." I say firmly, "I want to go to him, maybe he can keep me safe. If I go far from here, like Alberta, then maybe Harden's gang will stop hunting me." I had managed to escape him now, but there was only a limited amount of time that he found out that I was gone. 

She looked over at Bea, "Mom, I am saying something." 

"He doesn't know you." She said, "I never told him about you because I was afraid if I did then, everything I did to save them would backfire."

"Mom,"

"Scarlett,"  Mom sighed, "I got you, this time I got you." I wanted to trust her, "Bea and I have contacted Jaxon, and he is currently arranging a safe house for you but going to Alberta, is off-limits."

I have a father but I can't go to him. . .

This all is so fucked up. 

. . . 

Harden's P.O.V.

Driving into the parking lot of our estate, I see our guards running around the front of the house, as Dad is screaming at them. Worried, I quickly get out of the car holding onto all the files that I had to bring back from the office, I rush over to him. 

"Dad!" I called out trying to catch his attention but he is to busy cussing Grant out, "Dad,"

"What?!" He yelled throwing his hands up in the air. I look at him taken back, "Sorry," He piped down. "This is all just fucking chaotic."

"What is?" 

"Scarlett," Dad said panicked,

"What about her?" What did she fucking do now?

"She escaped." I took a step back in shock as he uttered those words. 

I blink slowly trying to make sense of it, "What?" I ask softly.  

 Why is everything falling apart? Ever since she has stepped foot in this fucking house, it felt as if everything was slipping out of my hands like sand. 

"She's gone Harden," Dad repeated, 

It felt as if the ground from underneath me was being moved rapidly and I was struggling to keep up with it. "She is a lot smarter than we had expected." Blood rushed to my head, "She had. another pick, at night she would pour bleach on the window sill, the bleach corroded the bars, and she made a rope out of the fucking sheets." My heart rapidly began beating. "She had thought out everything. . ." His words began to drown out, as anger began to pulse through my veins.  "Harden?" Dad grabs my arm snapping me back to reality. 

Clenching my jaw I stare at the window of her room, "Hunt her down."

No one runs away from Harden Brock. 

No one!