Aveline's POV

There's got to be a way out of here.

I examine the room once more.  Still, all I see is stone, straw, and cobwebs, along with a heavy wooden door.

Maybe I can break it open!

I try a few kicks first.  Nothing. My punches only hurt my knuckles.  Finally, I start slamming my whole body into the door.  The wooden bolt hits the doorframe, making several booming sounds.  Is it working? It better be!

“Hey!” a guard bellows from outside.  “Stop that! Stop it or you will be punished!”

He smacks the other side of the door, and the thundering sound sends me tumbling back onto the straw.  Grr…

“That's it!  Now stay away f…”

There's footsteps, then another voice coming from outside.  It all sounds hurried. “Sir, we need you upstairs. There's a situation.”

“A revolt?”

“Something like that.  We gotta go!”

They dart away.

I knew it!  Lorand is coming to rescue me!  As soon as the guards are far enough away, I start hitting the door again.  It takes several strikes, but the bolt smashes, the pieces clattering to the floor.  Yes! I push the door open.

No one is out here.  I creep down the corridor, searching for the exit.

“Hey, get me out!” a prisoner yells.

“Me too!”

“Get all of us out!”

“Shh!” I call back quietly.  “Don't let them hear you!” And honestly, I'm not sure if freeing these people is a good idea.  Perhaps if I knew they were innocent. But I don't. And I have other things to focus on right now.

There's no exit at this end of the corridor, so I run down to the opposite end, cursing myself for passing out.  If I had just stayed conscious, I could've seen and remembered! Sure enough, the staircase is here. I tiptoe up.

The door is bolted shut!  I should have known. I would hit it too, but I can hear the guards outside, preparing their weapons for the battle.

I guess all I can do for now is wait.

After all I've done and all I'm willing to do to get out.

How droll.