Chapter 26: Too late to turn back

Anika’s P.O.V

I ran. It was the only thing I could do after what I had witnessed.

I ran…

I ran blindly.

My heart pounded against my chest as I made my way down the hallways, trying to find my way in this maze of a mansion. Finally, I saw a painting that looked familiar, one that I had seen when I had entered the house and I took the turn, following down that hallway. With how my brain felt jumbled, my thoughts clogged…I was lucky that I could even vaguely remember how I got in.

Finally…after what felt like an eternity later, I found the huge mahogany double doors with engravings on it that I entered the mansion through. Pushing on the doors that seemed immobile, I used all my strength to push open one side and then I was out the front door and into the cold night air that made goosebumps appear all over my body. I bent down to place my hands on my knees, taking in deep gulps of air as my lungs threatened to collapse.

“