I tell everything to Knut since Dagur's already taken care of it all beforehand - he's told him about the existence of the escape plan. Curse it... It's become even harder now when Knut knows what it's all about. I only hope he won't get upset and inform his brother.

"Wow, that's one elaborate plan..." He smiles. "Dagur sure has helped you a lot."

"Huh? Y... You're not mad?"

I can't understand why he's not surprised or alarmed - we're talking about an escape plan here, and a perfect one, which will surely work! How come he's not alerting his brother right away?

"I would be, of course, but Dagur's already explained the situation to me, so I've got nothing to complain about." He shrugs. "I understand your yearning for freedom."

"So, you're not going to tell your brother?"

"Why? You've spent so much time organizing that break... It'd be a pity to bring it all to naught, especially when I do care about you."

He caresses my dark brown ringlets. His smile is so sweet... He means it, I can tell. I embrace him tightly.

"Thank you so much, Knut! That means a lot to me. Would it be too much for me to ask you to... come with me?" I look into his icy blue eyes, "I'd love to have you by my side when we escape."

"I'll come."

"Really?" 

Is he serious? I thought he'd at least waver for some time, before giving me an answer! Is he going to abandon his brother so easily?

"What about your brother?"

"He's always wanted me to be free." A bitter smile covers his face. "I had nowhere to go, though. So I stayed beside him - my only family. Now when you're inviting me to accompany you, I'd gladly agree."

This was truly unexpected. I thought Knut cared about his brother more. Either way, this is much better for me - now, Knut will help us too in the escape. Then, we'll be together forever.

With high hopes, I go to sleep, cuddled up with Knut in his bed.

***

"No, I will wait here, until you all are safe."

"Then you'll come?"

"You don't have to worry about me. Just do as I've advised."

"Okay."

"Go now. Bob won't be waiting forever."

"What about you?"

"I need to put your balm on, first."

"But your wounds sting when it wears off!"

"I can't do anything. Visitors are coming today from the Feline Kingdom, to introduce the new lot of prisoners. Bob's said I have to look a bit comelier, or else I'll scare off not only the prisoners but the queen's men, too."

"Hmph, Bob is a nuisance..."

"Yeah... Either way, you go now. I'll be ready in short."

"Okay."

It is morning. I hear the voices of Knut and the warden in the room. After Knut receives the warden's order to go somewhere, I hear a door creak and close. I open my eyes. It was the red door to have moved - the one that leads to the warden's office. I can see only Knut in the room now. He's dressed in his administrative clothes, as always. He heads towards the other door to the right - the brown one that leads outside into the feline district.

"Hey."

He flinches and looks at me. A smile covers his face:

"Oh, good morning."

"Morning." I return a smile. "Where are you going?"

"There's a disturbance in the rodent district, so big brother's asked me to look into it. I'll be back in short."

"Oh, you were talking with him now?"

"You heard?"

He grows alarmed. I wonder what was so special about that vague information they exchanged.

"Only a bit of it. Why?"

"Nah, nothing... Anyway, I'll be back soon. Wait for me here."

He walks out. I am still confused as to why he didn't want me to have heard their conversation.

I discard the thought and get up. I take off my night-dress, fold it neatly, and place it on the bed. I put my prison clothes on. I want to take a seat and wait for Knut as he's asked, but then, the red door before me catches my eyes - the one that leads to the warden's office. According to their earlier conversation, he should be in the bathroom now, preparing for today's meeting with the feline queen's men and the new group of prisoners, as he's mentioned. That means his office must be empty, which is a perfect chance to take a look at it. I'm especially interested in the computer with the prison data in his chamber, which Dagur has told me about.

I carefully approach the red door, move the handle down, and push it softly so as not to make it creak. I peep in. The room is indeed empty. I walk in and close the door behind me.

The warden's chamber is truly the most outstanding place in the entire prison - it resembles royal quarters. The wooden floor, walls, and ceiling create contrast against Knut's cave abode. It reminds me rather of a tropical hut of some sort. Here too, just like in Knut's room, plants are placed in every single corner. An air conditioner is attached to the wall to keep warmth at bay in summer. There are many wooden doors built into the room - one for the kitchen, one for the refrigerator, and the third - for the bathroom. The fourth door to the right leads out into the feline district, just like the one in Knut's room.

Almost the entire chamber is occupied by a giant double bed, which is covered with multiple curtains. Apparently, the warden prefers to keep himself secluded from the entire world when he's asleep. No wonder, since he feels pain every time other than winter and needs a lot of sleep.

There's a bedside table full of locked drawers. On top of it, there are several books placed, as well as some photos in frames. I find those photos particularly interesting - all of them depict Knut and the warden. Knut appears around five or six in one of them, snuggled up with a giant snow leopard who acts as his pillow - the warden. The snow leopard seems somehow injured, with multiple scars on his body.

In the second photo, a black-haired boy of around twelve years is holding two-year-old Knut. I figure that the black-haired boy should be the warden. They both are smiling, but while Knut grins with his teeth (or should I say fangs?) openly exposed, the warden only shows a faint beam. His eyes are somewhat sorrowful, but he still looks happy.

In the third photo, Knut, already twenty-year-old, is winking and sticking his tongue out, while the thirty-year-old warden, whose face and hands are deeply scarred as if burnt just like Dagur's ones, has wrapped his arms around Knut's neck and is grinning from behind him. In that photo, his eyes already hold the evil spark, while Knut's eyes are majestic, yet kind.  

They seem very different, but when Knut's eyes contain the blue hue, they do look like true brothers, with the bushy hair and the feline, predatory gaze.

Somehow, the pictures of Knut's young years make my heart melt. He looks too cute in them. A smile runs on my lips, almost against my will.

There's a dining table too, in the room, just like in Knut's one. I figure the brothers enjoy all the luxury they can get. Dagur wasn't wrong - Knut does live like a king here and so does the warden.

There's the computer I wanted to see, turned off. The remote control is placed in an armchair near the bed. I think I should check it out.

The bathroom door creaks. It must be the warden! Where should I hide? He mustn't see me! The red door leading to Knut's room is right there, but I won't manage to get out in time. The best is to hide on the bed behind the curtains. They're dark enough, so it should work.

I jump onto the bed with my shoes on and pull the curtains as they initially were, or even a bit more, to be on the safe side. The curtains are strange, though - from the outside, the inside of the bed wasn't visible, while from here, I can see the entire chamber fully well.

The bathroom door opens, to reveal the warden, in his usual attire. 

I only hope he won't notice me.