The bridle on Julian's legs was gone, but this time the bridle was on his feet. He was left alone in the golden cage that held him—silence, gripping and terrifying. Julian couldn't close his eyes. The room was soundproof, his beating heart like a loud thud that hit his ears.
"How do I escape?" Julian muttered.
Julian's life had lost all meaning. The loss had shaken his soul, and the humiliation of Gilas's every disgusting act against him left him feeling filthy. There was no weapon Julian could use to end his disgusting life.
Thinking and wondering how he could break free from those painful shackles. He didn't know how many days he had lived with Gilas. Whenever he was left alone, he would stand by the window, gazing out at the vast world from where he was. The cage was too strong for him to break.
"Akhhh!" Julian screamed.
Julian was lost in thought. The sound of the door opening, accompanied by footsteps pounding on the marble floor, startled Julian, who was too deep in thought to find a way out.
"I have business to attend to. I can't stay here with you until sunrise," Gilas said.
"Let me come with you," Julian asked.
"I don't want any blood to dirty mine," Gilas whispered.
It wouldn't have been that easy to get Gilas to let Julian go out with him. Moreover, Julian was always rebellious. Gilas never gave him a single chance.
"Go away! I hope I hear the news of your death tomorrow morning," Julian cursed.
Julian returned alone. He clutched a pin he had secretly stolen from Gilas's jacket. The pin bore the same symbol as the ring on Gilas's index finger.
Julian pondered for a moment. He tried to remember the familiar symbol. "Where have I seen this before?" Julian muttered, frowning.
Julian remembered. At the meeting that night when Gilas had taken him in as a wayward pet, everyone present, including Elena and Jove, had worn the same pin, albeit in different colors. When Elena left the room Gilas had nearly destroyed, she had used a card with the same symbol to open the door.
"Gilas is their leader. I'm sure this pin will be useful, but…" Julian's eyes fell on the chains still binding him. "How do I get rid of these chains?"
Julian opened every drawer in the room. He searched and searched for anything he could use to untie the shackles on his feet. It was still a long time before Gilas returned. Julian wouldn't give up. All he had in mind was not giving up.
"Got it!" Julian muttered excitedly.
All the drawers were empty. The wardrobes contained only clothes and a few accessories that Julian couldn't use as tools. Julian could only use a single flower decorating the room as a tool to unlock his shackles. He glanced at the clock on the table. Time passed so quickly without Julian realizing it.
"I can't waste this opportunity," Julian said.
Julian was working extremely hard. At the same time, his heart was beating erratically. He was covered in cold sweat, his body trembling, and he was overcome with fear of what would happen if his plan failed.
Julian's palms were injured trying to untie the shackles on his feet. Time was running out for him as a perfect opportunity was approaching: the guards' shift change. Throughout his imprisonment, he remained a silent observer, with a limited view of the prison.
"It worked! It worked!" Julian exclaimed happily. He was so happy to be freed from the terrible shackles that he laughed and cried.
The next challenge, no less difficult, was finding a sensor in the room that would respond to the pin Julian was currently holding. He searched every wall until he found what he was looking for.
"Will this work?" Julian swallowed. Cold sweat trickled down his forehead. This was the moment he'd placed his hope of freedom on hold.
Julian closed his eyes. He pressed the pin against the sensor in front of him. He was too afraid of failure. He was too afraid to open his eyes. Was his only hope just wishful thinking?
Degh!
Julian was speechless. The door actually opened, as he had hoped, just as the guards were changing shifts. He immediately bolted, escaping from the gilded cage that was tormenting him.
Julian thought his escape route would be easier, as if the pin could open a door with special security, it could certainly open other doors. However, going through each corridor would only lead to his capture. Julian chose to jump from the balcony to another balcony, but did so with difficulty.
Julian's breath was ragged. The wound on his leg, which hadn't healed yet, was now open. The dripping blood became a trail that would likely be found once it dried. Julian hid from the guards' eyes as they began patrolling the cursed mansion.
"Akhhh!" Julian screamed.
Julian fell, tripping over small rocks that were hiding under the darkness of the night.
"Did you hear a voice?"
"No. But let's split up and check. We can't make any mistakes."
"Don't leave a single corner untouched."
The guards making their rounds heard Julian's voice. The previously calm atmosphere was now gripped by chaos. The guards began to scatter in numbers Julian couldn't have predicted. He kept his mouth shut as he considered finding a place to hide, at least until their suspicions subsided.
Julian crawled, hiding in the labyrinth. He chose the leaves that were thick enough to hide his body. He hugged his knees, bowed his head, and did not dare look left or right. The guards chased him, passing by one after another.
The first escape made Julian's legs tremble. He began to doubt whether he could truly escape Gilas's grip. He was determined to die, but if Gilas found him, he couldn't possibly kill him. Julian could already imagine something even more terrifying than death.
Silence...
The wind blew, rustling the fallen leaves. There was no sound, no footsteps. The silence was utterly serene. Yet, Julian's legs couldn't stop trembling. He still waited, trying to calm his terrified body until logic couldn't control him.
Julian raised his face, looking around. He was afraid that the calm was just an illusion. He came out of his hiding place carefully without making a sound that would trigger the guards to come.
One step, two steps, even countless steps, he had already left that place very quickly. Julian was no longer in the labyrinth. Soon, gasping for breath, with barely any energy left, and with one foot slightly dragging, he would reach the peak of freedom. The wall he would climb, the only area he could reach, was already before his eyes.
However ...
Julian's body froze. The headlights from four cars on all sides illuminated Julian, frozen in place. He was silent, his tongue numb, every nerve in his body oppressed by the aura of a demon who stared at him as if he were prey to be swallowed alive in the most painful way possible.
"Naughty!" The figure, whose gaze was becoming increasingly sharp, spoke softly. His footsteps hitting the small rocks were like weapons piercing Julian's ears. "I told you to conserve your energy because I was going to show you something, but you didn't listen to me at all, Julian."
"Gilas, stop! Don't come any closer!" Julian shouted as he backed away.
"You really don't like the luxuries I offer. I'll grant your wish, Julian."
"W—what are you going to do to me?" Julian asked.
"Giving you a new home."
"Have you prepared a funeral for me?" Julian replied with a smile.
With just a flick of his finger, the guards surrounding Julian caught him. Two of them held Julian's hands. Gilas grinned with satisfaction. He tugged at the tie that was still neatly wrapped around his leg, then...
"Gilas!" Julian shouted.
Gilas used the tie to tie Julian's hands behind his back. Time and again, Julian was defeated, no matter how hard he tried. He demanded nothing but freedom.
"Enjoy my punishment, Julian," Gilas whispered as he caressed his prisoner's face.
"Punishment?" Julian frowned.
"Take him to the Red Mansion!"
"Gilas ..."
Gilas gripped Julian's hair without giving him a chance to say a word. "Darkness," Gilas whispered. "That's where you'll fear the death you so desperately desire."
Red Mansion... What kind of place is that?