Some escaped, some stayed, and someone chose.

  The blazing sun gradually slumped beyond the horizon, painting the sky in deep red, streaked with blue and black, and softened occasionally by a lilac hue. Below the amber sky rose a myriad of towering peaks, extending as far as the eye could see.

  These were the Silent Heights, the rugged chain of precipitous summits, sprawling across Glaswold's border.

  Slithering through these mountains, a narrow passage stretched, providing a connection to the inland regions of Glaswold. On this narrow passage, three horses galloped as they hauled two carriages behind them.

  The first carriage, painted in green, bore an anchor symbol, it appeared grand and stylish. While the one behind was just a plain black metal box with small vents for air and light.

  They rushed through the meandering road as dusk approached. Originally, the enslavers had meant to cross the passage before nightfall, but with the younger sibling missing—apparently stolen—they were forced to delay their departure. It was only after hours of fruitless searching and bickering in the outskirts that the enslavers finally left—giving up on their prized possession.

  However, in the course of their futile search, the enslavers had made a pivotal mistake: they had opened the metal gate to inquire the older sibling and Sena, but had forgotten to close it until their departure.

  Presently, the enslaved children were idly sitting by, their usual liveliness nowhere to be seen. Something heavy weighed their mind. Yet, contrary to their gloomy countenance, the older sibling bore a content smile as she silently watched over her unconscious sister, while caressing her head.

  Wake up pipsqueak, we can't wait more.

  "I, are you sure about this?" Livia asked.

  "Yes, Livia. There's no other option," the older sibling answered.

  Sometime ago, the older sibling had shared with the children her intention to flee the enslavers. The news was not taken well by them, especially Sena, who, though had helped the older sibling in rescuing her sister, failed to see a life beyond these metal doors. Yet, despite her protest to the idea itself, she accepted, however reluctantly, to help the siblings escape.

  The older sibling tucked her sister in a blanket, and said, "Olren, please watch over her, and tell me if she opens her eyes."

  "Okay, sis I," Olren said as he sat near the younger sibling.

  Approaching the metal door, the older sibling spoke, "It's time."

  Sena and Livia stood up, each positioned herself behind one of the two faces of the door. The older sibling picked four strands of strings lying on the floor. She had tied these strings on the latch outside when the enslavers had left the door open. And to hide the strings, she had coated them in charcoal.

  "Aren't you leaving too early, I? You can hitch the ride for while, y'know, the C—Covenant must lie somewhere beyond the Hearth," Livia suggested.

  The older sibling replied, "I heard the one with a scar speaking that they intend to reach Bleakmoor Hearth before the night falls; so it must not be far now. Besides, we'll also have to search for a place to stay before dark."

  Livia silently nodded. The older sibling lifted the strings to about the height of the door's latch, and said, "Hold tight."

  Sena and Livia, each holding a handle of the door, forcefully pulled inward—holding the door steady and lightening the friction between the latch—and simultaneously spoke, "Now!"

  The older sibling yanked the strings sideways—opening the latch outside with a soft clank.

  "Slowly, open it," Livia said, looking at Sena.

  Soon, the doors parted, revealing a narrow road covered on either side by dense conical pines and shrubs; looming ahead of which lay the Silent Heights.

  The children and the older sibling gazed at the field of colossal peaks with mouth agape and hands trembling. The frost-filled air blew inside, making everyone's body shiver and muscle contract.

  The rustling of winds and the chillness they harbored, made everyone's hair stand on end and dampened the sound of their voice. As such, they practically had to shout to get their words through.

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  Livia looked below—the ground was whisking past beneath her—and shuddered: "I, can't you at least wait for the horses to slow down a bit—they are going too fast."

  "Precisely because, Livia. By the time those enslavers notice, we'll be long gone."

  The older sibling looked at Livia and Sena, who was still uncertain about the whole thing, and asked, "Sena, Livia, don't you guys want to leave? I can't guarantee that we'll reach the Covenant, but staying here is suicide; I guarantee that."

  Sena always thought that she knew what is good and bad. When she killed her father to protect a stranger woman, or even when she helped save the younger sibling. She always did it because she was certain that it was the right thing to do, regardless of others' opinions.

  However, this time Sena was not certain whether risking her life for an uncertain future was the right thing to do. Although, she could hardly be blamed for this, as she was yet to see the heart-wrenching reality that slavery wrought.

  "I'm noth..." She drifted, her mind still wavering between yes or no.

  Livia placed a hand on Sena's shoulder and took over: "That's an interesting proposition, I..."

  She glanced at the younger sibling covered in blankets then at the road speeding below them, and continued, "However, we can't come—at least not yet. The chances of your success are greater if we mislead the maste... I mean the enslavers. You just focus on reaching the Covenant, alright."

  "But—"

  Livia shook her head: "No buts, I." She smiled and spoke with warmth in her voice, "Although, once you do reach the Covenant of Eldara, tell them to come for us, okay."

  "Of course, I will, Livia. Bu— I mean, how will you hold on for that long? It might be months before we reach the Covenant. And who knows what those enslavers might do once they learn of our escape."

  "Oh, don't you worry about that, I. Bleakmoor Hearth's quite large from what I've heard. It will be weeks at the earliest before they giv— before they sell us away. Not to mention Sena's lisp, even if it improves, she can always knock a tooth out herself, right?" Livia looked at Sena for confirmation.

  "Whath? Do you wanth me tho demonsthrathe—because I absoluthely can," Sena replied while holding a fist beside her open mouth.

  Livia calmly lowered Sena's hand, and continued, "See. And as for our punishments, well, they likely won't cause any serious harm to their precious merchandise. In any case, it's not like we're going to openly declare our complicity. I'll think of some clever lie; don't you worry over nothing, I."

  "Alright, Livia."

  Just as the older sibling turned to get her sister, Sena stopped her, took her hand, and placed a small blade in it: "Thake yours and your sisther's life, if you think you are going tho be caughth."

  The older sibling gravely nodded.

  They then piled three blankets on top of one another; the older sibling holding her sister laid on them. Livia and Sena then piled up the rest of the three blankets and covered them from head to toe.

  "Olren, hand me that charcoal rope," Livia said.

  Olren handed her the strings; together, she and Sena coiled the blankets and tied them securely. The siblings barely fit inside the blankets fold.

  Sena checked the knots, and said, "I think we're good tho go, or they are... Hopefully."

  They positioned the blankets near the door, and looked at each other before rolling it down.

  The blankets roll spun several times; it's already shabby fabrics easily shredded into pieces, leaving behind a trail of wool and fragments of dusty fabric. The strings withstood the impact for a while, before finally snapping.

  This quickly unfurled the blankets—throwing the siblings outside. The older sibling, tightly held her sister and braced for impact. However, she only rolled a few times before stopping, as their momentum had already waned significantly by now.

  Watching from afar, Livia, Sena and Olren let out a breath of relief as they saw a figure rise near the site of the tattered blankets. They enthusiastically waved their hands at the figure.

  Meanwhile, the older sibling had safely pulled off her escape, and standing up she tried to reorient her wobbling head. Focusing on the metal carriage, far ahead, she noticed three figures waving at her.

  Taking a few steps forward, the older sibling too began waving zestfully at the figures. She wanted to scream something aloud, but knew better than to test her luck in the wild.

  Thus, she only bid her farewell in thoughts, Goodbye, Olren, Sena, Livia. Goodbye friends.

  Some time passed, the carriage kept moving like wind on the road. Inside, Olren slept on Livia's lap, while Sena rested on Livia's shoulders.

  Livia, though was wide awake, a faint smile etched on her face, I'm a bad person aren't I. Sorry guys... At least, I and her sister are now safe. Farewell friend.

  Livia had convinced the older sibling and others of the necessity of them staying behind, but she knew that most of her arguments had gaping loopholes. For instance, none of it accounted for the immediate rage and malice that the enslavers will unleash upon the children, just to sate their anger, or to set an example.

  Still, she had decided to stay behind along with Sena and Olren, for she knew there were not enough blankets to fit everyone.

  Livia had never fashioned herself as a self-sacrificing person. She had always served her family's every wishes like an obedient girl. Not because she loved them, but because she was a docile girl, who sought other's approval to validate herself.

  Yet, they sold her all the same at the first sign of economic woes; and Livia meekly thanked them for it.

  But today, she had chosen to stay behind of her own volition—not to win any accolades or gather praises, but simply because she wanted to. Despite being aware that others might hate her for it down the road, she still did it. And in doing so, Livia had broken her mirage.

  She had become free.

  End of Arc II: Where Freedom Lies

  An elegy follows this chapter:

  []

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