• Blood pounded through Alyssa as she searched the room. She was sure everyone could hear it, but it didn't matter. All that mattered now was escaping.
    After being held capture by the Siwee, which was a gang in the local city, for ten years, she dreamed about escape. Freedom was something she had not had since she was six. Alyssa imagined her mothers face when she found out her daughter was alive - Joy would fill it. Since Alyssa had been allowed one call a week with the Siwee, she was able to check in with her mom. She was depressed. she shouldn't be depressed. She is so kind!! She didn't deserve this! She had thought this many times before, and again now.
    But now, now was her chance to escape. The dining hall was filled with people. They wouldn't even notice she had escaped her room! She laughed as she covered her face with a mask, obscuring any chance they would have at recognizing her. She finnaly felt at one with everyone around her. instead of a servant, she was a guest here! Slowly, her feet moved her towards the door.
    "Stop." A voice behind Alyssa caused her to jump, panic filling her. When she turned she saw a man standing beside her, holding out his hand to her.
    "Would you like to dance?" He asked her, "You really are looking beautiful." Alyssa giggled. Her, beautiful? She hadn't been called that in a while, since she had been dressed in ratty old hand-me-downs from her 'Big Sister' in the Siwee.
    Alyssa nodded. A quick dance couldn't hurt her, right? She laughed as they danced around, him kissing her playfully every now and then, her dancing the intricate steps she learned as a young girl.
    But then the clock rang. She gasped. It was midnight! They said they would check her room at midnight, what would the do when they saw she wasn't there? Alyssa ran out the door, taking off her mask, and pulling off her dress along the way. This way in the end, she would be running, running away in a pair of leggings and an undershirt, never to be seen again by anyone who knew the Siwee.