So there are a few hints on how to drug someone in this chapter.

Its a bomber but I repeat........ Do not ever try this at home.

I repeat.... DON'T EVER. EVER

Barely 48 hours after Ken had left for Hong Kong, Japan. Tessa already had her hands on their schedule. It was easier than she thought.

All she needed was a distraction, one of which her brain couldn't come up with.

They had their meals twice daily and it was made by Gemina all without any contact with Tessa, probably based on Ken's orders.

He called them two hours daily, in other to get information about Tessa's whereabouts and actions. Though he was miles away in Asia, his thoughts always wondered back to her.

Tessa had made up her mind to escape from the house. Giving herself a space of two more days to come up with something.

If she was successful with the first half, things were good enough to work out for the other. The plan was to exit the house, one way or the other then afterwards take a train to San Francisco and later on board a flight to New York.

She was going far away to a place Ken wouldn't have a clue. She had no friends there in NYC, neither her parents lived there and even Tessa herself hadn't been to that part of the country in all her years.

Boarding a plane directly from Los Angeles to New York was going to make it easier for Ken since he had connections all over the city. So instead Tessa was going to make it harder for him to ever put the puzzles together.

New York, the largest city in America having a population of over 40,000 people. It was nearly impossible for Ken to ever find her in an ocean of thousands of people.

It was clearly the perfect choice. She thought to herself.

Then it struck her.

What if I laced their dinner ? She thought.

A very good idea she concluded. Surfing the net for a few clues, she finally gathered. The only item viable enough to be used to put them in a deep sleep was either caffeine or nutmeg, but it could be possible that they don't take coffee or pastries,

What if they taste the nutmeg ?

what if???????

After a few moments of pondering on the ' what if's ', and pretending to get the cocoa powder in other to make coffee, she seemingly found out that they were out of it. The only thing left, available for use was nutmeg.

" Gemina, I was thinking we should bake today." Tessa said.

" I crave pastries today."

" That's a good idea ma'am." Gemina smiled.

" Then let's get baking. And I think they could have some as well." Tessa referred to the bodyguards who seemed to look tried from sitting around all day.

After a few hours of pot and pan clamping, whisking , cutting and mixing, Tessa's famous apple pie was ready for the oven.

A period of waiting later, the pie was ready.

" I'll wait for it to cool before I serve it." Gemina said leaving the kitchen to go freshen up.

This was the right time for Tessa to lace the food. Maybe an overdose nutmeg in their apple pie wouldn't hurt. But it was certainly going to drug them to sleep.

Picking up the jar of nutmeg, she palmed the pie with doses of nutmeg, putting enough to ensure the effects works out.

" That's it and now ......" Tessa stops midway startled. Gemina was standing there.

She had been watching her add the nutmeg to the apple pie.

Quite startled. " I..... I, I........." She stuttered. Her heart was pounding way out of motion, probably hoping to cut out of her chest.

" Lacing the guard's food I see." Tessa never felt so scared before.

This is the end. Am finished. Done.

She thought to herself.

" I ....."Tessa said still shocked. She was so easily found out and now it wouldn't take lesser than a second for Ken to come running back to teach her a lesson.

" I understand." Gemina smiled.

" You do ?" Tessa asked surprised.

" You mean you wouldn't inform Ken ?"

" What do you know about my escape plan ?" The questions kept coming.

" Easy with the questions there, girl." Gemina said.

" I know all about this and I am ready to help you. That without informing Ken." She said reassuringly.

" Really ?" Tessa still couldn't believe it.

" Really !" Gemina exclaimed.

" I believe it's time for dinner now." She smiled looking over Tessa's shoulder to the guard's who sat in the drive way.

" But first, a convincing excuse as to why I wouldn't be seen for a couple of days ?" Tessa asked smirking.

" Maybe you have a flu." Gemina smiled.

"Off I go now." She said picking up a tray having plates of pies.

With her gone, Tessa quickly ran up to her room. Pulling out her luggage which was filled with a few clothes, some important documents and the money she had gathered, she was ready to go. Waiting for a total of forty  five minutes to ensure the nutmeg had taken effect.

Backing her bags, Tessa left the room - she had come to cherish.

" They are done eating and right off to sleep as well." Gemina chuckled.

" What about you, Gem ?" Tessa said hesitating to leave her to suffer the wrath of her monster husband.

" Don't worry about me. Just take care of yourself." She smiled assuring her.

"Good bye." Tessa hugged her as another teardrop escaped.

" Goodbye."

As Tessa left through the back exit, she bid farewell to the old lady and welcomed back her older self, Tessa Hickman, the young girl who had found hope and ways to be strong even in her adversaries.

Looking back one last time, Tessa picked up the pace and vowed to never lose hope ever again. She was adamant to starting a new life afresh, free of pain and suffering.

With every step, letting go of the past Tessa waved down a cab. Free of all the memories that held her back.

I wish to forget everything.

Tessa said as she closed her eyes, once more taking another glance of the house before finally telling the driver to drive off.

Wearing a hoodie and a back pack hanging down her shoulder disguised has a teenager out on a school night, off she went to create a better future.

*****                                                  ******

A feeling of euphoria, entangled with a constant fear of insecurity. Being free, to soar and fly high in the vast sky yet , in all that awesomeness feeling lost yet not lost, caged yet free.
That was how Tessa felt, of course she was now on her journey away from the prison cell she once called home, but one can never be too cautious.

Perhaps Ken may find me , or maybe he had already done so and was probably on his way here . Countless thoughts ran through Tessa's mind but she held on the the tiny weavers of hope.

 After countless hours of cautiousness, Tessa's neck was hurting as she strained it backward at every beeping sound she heard, but none happened to be Ken. Something that brought constant relief to her.

Finally after an entire hour of sitting and waiting for the train, it arrived. The subway was considered the creepiest place people had to be in  but Tessa didn't consider it so , apart from the preying eyes and weird company most people kept. Rather she found it comfort, the street banjo player who played for tips, the humourous laughs of a group of young girls, it wasn't anything to be afraid of.

The journey was meant to take twelve hours but it was already feeling like the entire day. The wind was cold and the night was getting darker. Tessa had never been out this late before but she knew she had to survive this one. Most of the train passengers had already fallen asleep. Most of which perhaps had fallen on their lover's or parent's shoulder. It was already late but her hormones weren't ready for sleep instead she constantly looked around.

She was on her first adventure and she intended to enjoy every last bit of it.

"Ma'am." A kind young lady said waking Tessa from her deep slumber. It was finally morning.

" The train has made its stop. We are finally San Francisco."

" Oh Thank you." Tessa said waving off the grit of sleep in her eyes. She had intended to see through every corner of city but well, fate had it ways.

She didn't bother to take a cab. A little sight seeing was going to do for what she had missed. After a little while, Tessa took another cab to the airport where she purchased a ticket for a readily available flight to New York.

" Good afternoon!" The lady at the counter greeted.

"Good afternoon." Tessa replied with a big smile.

" Where are you flying to today?" She asked.

" New York." Tessa replied hoping to get a flight booking.

" May I have your passport, please?" She asked.

" Here you go." Tessa conceded handing over her international passport and ID card.

" Are you checking any bags?"

"  Just this one. " Tessa answered referring to her backpack.

" OK, please place your bag on the scale."

" Here are your boarding passes – your flight leaves from gate 15A and it’ll begin boarding at 3:20. Though you may be delayed by the bad weather. Your seat number is 26E." The flight attendant said handing her boarding passes before finally giving off a welcoming smile.

" Thanks." Tessa replied.

After a while of waiting for take off, Tessa went over to the airport's restaurant to go grab a meal.

She found an open seat at a table. 

"Do you mind if I eat here ?" Tessa asked the young lady who was seated at the table.

" Sorry. What??" The young girl gestured as she gently removed the ear pods she had on. Tessa smiled, repeating herself.

" I'm so sorry. Sure, have a seat ."

Soon enough they started talking and she turned out to be smart, funny and charming and as the delay got longer as the weather got worse, they got deeper into things.

Surprised to learn that the lovely young lady was a medical student, and so there went three hours, and when they finally boarded the plane, they found out they were going to be sitting next to one another and the whole thing was delightful.

" Please lay your bags flat on the conveyor belt, and use the bins for small objects." The guard said has Tessa went through security.

"Do take off your hat and your shoes, as well."

Tessa adhered walking through the metal detector.

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP. The machine alarmed.

" Please step back. Do you have anything in your pockets – keys, cell phone, loose change?" He asked.

" I don’t think so. Let me try taking off my belt." Tessa gasped.

" Okay, come on through."He said as she passed through the metal detector again.

" You’re all set! Have a nice flight."

" Thank you." Tessa smiled moving onto the boarding gate.

“United Airlines flight 880 to New York is now boarding. We would now like to invite all passengers on board.” A female voice blasted through the speakers.

“This is the final boarding call for United Airlines flight 880 to New York.”
The final call for boarding was made, as Tessa made her way into the plane.

"Hey, Tessa." A voice came from behind, tapping her shoulder.

" Oh hey. Asher." Tessa said as she turned to see the young lady she had earlier had lunch with over at the airport lounge.

"What's your seat number ?" She asked.

" 26E."

"Then you are lucky because it's right here." Asher chuckled pulling her over to sit.

"So I bet we are going to be seeing each other more then !" She exclaimed.

" Are you also spending your summer in New York ?" Tessa asked.

" Yeah !" Asher smiled calling the air hostess' attention to herself.

" So where are you staying in New York ?"

" To be honest I don't know yet. This is my first time going to New York." Tessa sighed, just before the flight attendant comes around.

" At your service, ma'am ." A petite slender lady in uniform appeared.

"Can I have a magazine ?" Tracey asked.

"Sure." She said handing her a Forbes fashion style paper.

" Chicken or pasta ?" Turning to Tessa.

" Sorry?" Tessa asked.

" Would you like chicken or pasta?" The flight attendant asked again.

" I’ll have the chicken."

" Anything to drink?" She asked with a smile.

" What kind of soda do you have ?" Tessa asked.

" Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Orange, and Dr. Pepper." She replied.

" A Diet Coke, no ice, please." Tessa replied.

" Here you go." She said handing her a  plate of chicken and a diet coke, both placed on a tray.

" Thanks."

Looking out the window, everything looked so small and beautiful. The houses and cars seemed to have shrunked over time. By the time Tessa was out of her trance, Asher was already sleeping with her ear pods still blasting in her head and a light blanket over her.

Placing Asher's head on her right shoulder to prevent any neck strain, Tessa picked out a book from the brochure area.

****
First of all, I know what y'all may be thinking.... And yes.... Nutmeg has be tested and proven to be a drug due to its LCD properties and if taken in large dose can be used to drug a person.

*Dramatic drum roll*

Hola Senor et senorita🥰
I was so happy to write this chapter.

" Cheers " 🥂
To Tessa's new beginning.🥳

Hola Amigos.

*Winks*