Chapter 0320

Looking around, I searched for another exit. There was another door further down, but it was more barred than the first, not just latched but also wedged with a piece of wood.

Okay. So the doors were out.

Giving up on the doors, I looked along the banister instead.

There. An old oak stood nearby with long, sturdy-looking branches. If I crawled up onto the banister, I could reach out and catch one of the limbs. Then I could climb down.

It wouldn’t be the most delicate maneuver. I’d likely ruin my nightgown and my thin slippers, but ruining a few pieces of delicate clothing seemed a fair trade for not freezing to death.

I used to climb trees all the time when I was a kid. This wouldn’t be any different than that, right?

Like riding a bicycle, once you learn, you never truly forgot. At least, that’s what I hoped.

I climbed up onto the banister, and reached out for the tree. I put some weight on it. It didn’t creak or cra ck. Safe, then.

Carefully, I lifted myself up onto the branch, then shimmied closer to the trunk. Once there, I began the arduous process of descending. The balcony had been on the second floor, so the ground wasn’t too far. This gave me more confidence than it should have.

I jumped down to the next lowest branch. I had not tested the weight this time.

in half, and

to something. I grabbed

someone called

I braced myself.

loud thud sounded. Someone

lot softer than I thought it

and found

rushed up to my feet. “I’m so

each word a pained

+15 BONUS

help him up. “I’ll live,” he said, and dusted away some of the grass from his

was around, not even Brian. And Julian was still wearing his day’s clothes, like he hadn’t

my head,” he said. He looked up.

pointed to the second floor. “I had gotten accidentally locked on

me. “Why in the world were you

cheeks began to burn. The embarrassment that had dissipated with the fall returned

me live it down. But why lie would I even tell? He’s see right through

meet someone

you thought it would be Nicholas.” He crossed

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