Unsure

Alisha felt sadness in her heart as she saw Mary looking like this. Dark circles under her eyes, and how tired she looked, and the guilt in her voice, even though it's not entirely her fault.

She could feel it in her heart that Mary chose what's best for everyone. Of course, Alisha herself wouldn't want to put kids in harm's way or anyone in pain.

‘Then why are you planning to run away? You have no settled plan, no money, and you're not even sure if he found you or if he did something to Mary and the kids,’ the voice in her head remarked.

Alisha clenched her sweaty palms as the reality check hit her. So she has to marry? If she doesn't want to put anyone in possible harm?

But marriage isn't something so easy that she could do. No way in hell would she want to spend her whole life with someone like Alice. He's not only scary, he's crazy too.

‘If you know he's crazy, then leaving him is the biggest mistake, aren't you?’ her mind rang with reason again.

And she's not going to lie, reason settles way more than the plan she wants to hatch out.

“Alisha, are you fine?” Mary asked, seeing Alisha lost in thought, not looking good.

Alisha pushed her thoughts back as she heard Mary's words. “I'm fine. And it's not even your fault, Mother. It's because of me. If that day I had obeyed you and hadn't gone outside my college, then maybe I wouldn't have ended up on Alice's radar again.”

“No, that's not the case. But I've learned one thing: no matter where you hide, or where I try to hide you, he'll get his hands on you. So it doesn't matter where he finds you,” Mary stated, taking a sip of warm tea, trying to ease her headache.

Is that so? Alisha asked herself. Then the chance of her escape succeeding is none to less. She did know it would be tough, but she never thought it would be this tough.

Alisha felt a knot tighten in her stomach as she contemplated Mary's words. If there was truly no escape from Alice's reach, then what options did she have? Running away seemed futile, and marriage to Alice was out of the question. But what else could she do?

“Mother, do you know why we came here?” Alisha spoke sadly.

“No, I don't. I was shocked that he even brought you. Otherwise, I thought I wouldn't be able to see you anytime soon,” Mary answered, looking at Alisha with soft expressions.

“For an invitation. We're here to invite you,” Alisha struggled to put her words together.

“Invitation?” Mary's expression turned to confusion as she tried to understand what Alisha meant.

“Tomorrow is our marriage. A court marriage, and in the evening, the reception will be held. We're here to invite you.”

“What?” Mary gasped as the cup stumbled in her hands, but she managed to balance it.

“Yes,”

“What do you mean, Alisha?” Mary's voice trembled slightly as she spoke, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Alisha took a deep breath, bracing herself for Mary's reaction. “I mean exactly that, Mother. Alice and I are getting married tomorrow. It's all arranged.”

Mary's hands shook as she set the cup down on the table. “But Alisha, you can't be serious. You can't marry this early.”

“I know, Mother. Believe me, I know,” Alisha's voice cracked with emotion. “But I don't see any other way out of this. He's made it clear that he won't let me go.”

Tears welled up in Mary's eyes as she reached out to hold Alisha's hands. “No, Alisha. There has to be another way. We can't let him ruin your life.”

Alisha squeezed her mother's hands tightly, feeling the weight of the situation bearing down on her. “I wish there was, Mother. I want to run away.”

Alisha finally spoke, unsure if she was doing the right thing, but she never hid anything from Mary.

“This is all because of me. I sent you with him. How foolish of me not to realize that he would marry you sooner or later, as he said. But I never thought that even after sending you with him, he would decide to marry you so soon. Everything is ruined.” Mary trembled .

“Still Mother it's my fault to even come in radar,”

“Oh, Alisha, it's not your fault,” Mary said, her voice filled with sorrow.

“But I should have, Mother,” Alisha replied, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Mary reached out and hugged her tightly, trying to comfort her daughter. “Don’t cry.”

Alisha buried her face in her mother's shoulder, feeling overwhelmed by guilt and regret. “I just want things to go back to how they were before, when we were happy and safe.”

Mary held her even tighter, wishing she could turn back time and protect her daughter from all the pain she was going through.

“You want to run away? Where?” Mary asked, breaking the hug and wiping Alisha's tears.

Alisha's eyes searched Mary's face desperately. “I'm just thinking, Mother, just thinking. But I don't know where. I've never left your side or this orphanage. Even if I somehow succeed, if he did something to you, what would I do?” she explained, her voice trembling with fear, her eyes pleading for guidance.

“I know,” Mary said softly, her heart heavy with worry. “You don't want to put anyone in danger. But how will we be in danger if we attend the reception and act like I don't know anything? You have to escape, Alisha.”

Alisha's hands shook as she considered the options. “What if he finds me?”

“Then we both know it won't end well,” Mary replied, her voice filled with dread, her eyes mirroring Alisha's fear.

Alisha's chest tightened at Mary's words, her mind racing with the grim possibilities.

“I can't risk it, Mother. I can't risk putting you or anyone else in danger,” Alisha whispered, her voice barely above a breath. “I don't even know how to escape. I don't even know where to begin.”

She knows that if she tries to escape and gets caught, Alice will make her pay dearly. But if she manages to escape successfully, what will happen to others? She's very unsure about it.

“Alisha!”