Chapter Three: Fugitive Heart

Evelyn woke up to the dim glow of candlelight flickering against the stone walls. The air was thick with the scent of herbs and burning wax. She blinked, her body sluggish, her mind clouded with confusion. The bed beneath her was softer than anything she had ever known, the blankets warm and heavy.

A voice, gentle yet tinged with sorrow, spoke beside her.

"My dear, poor Sarah. I hope you are fine."

Evelyn turned her head, finding an elderly woman with silver hair and kind but weary eyes watching over her. Panic stirred in her chest—Sarah? Who was Sarah? She struggled to sit up, but a sharp pain lanced through her ribs.

"Where am I?" she asked, her voice hoarse. "How did I end up here?"

A maid, standing nearby, gasped and clutched the folds of her dress. Tears welled in her eyes as she responded in a hushed, trembling tone, "My lady, what’s happening to you? Why are you speaking so formally to me? It is me, Rose. I am your slave girl."

Evelyn's breath hitched. "Rose?" The name felt unfamiliar on her tongue.

Rose wiped at her face with the back of her hand. "The officers were passing through Madam Grace’s motel. Everyone had passed away, but they found you gasping for air. One of the officers recognized your ring."

Evelyn’s gaze dropped to her hand, where a delicate ring sat on her finger. A gift. From Sarah. The memory was distant and fragmented.

Before she could say more, the elderly woman, Sarah’s grandmother, turned toward the doorway. Evelyn followed her gaze, where a shadow shifted beyond the threshold. Curiosity seized her, and she slowly climbed from the bed, her bare feet pressing against the cool floor.

Outside the room, hushed voices murmured. Evelyn pressed her ear against the door.

"Has the government found the ones who murdered my only son?" Sarah’s grandmother asked, her voice thick with grief.

A man answered, his tone grim. "No trace of them. No evidence."

A chill ran through Evelyn.

She pushed the door open and stepped into the room. Sarah’s grandmother turned, startled. "Why are you out of bed? You should not be moving yet."

Evelyn took a deep breath. "Please, may we speak alone?"

The man nodded and left the room. The grandmother watched Evelyn closely, eyes filled with concern. "What is it, my dear Sarah?"

Evelyn hesitated, then fell to her knees. "I am not Sarah."

A stunned silence filled the space. The grandmother’s face darkened. "What do you mean?"

Evelyn sobbed, bowing her head. "At Madam Grace’s motel, Sarah asked me to dress like a princess. She gave me the ring and clothes to wear. When the attackers came, she saved my life. I am just a lowly slave. I should have died instead."

The grandmother’s breath hitched. "That cannot be. Why are you telling me this now?"

Evelyn lifted her tear-streaked face. "If I ran without telling you, you would continue to worry for me."

The grandmother turned away, her shoulders trembling.

"I will gladly accept any punishment," Evelyn whispered. "For acting like Sarah."

Silence stretched between them before the grandmother finally exhaled. "You say you know who did this?"

Evelyn nodded. "Yes. I remember their faces. There is a small road behind Madam Grace’s house. If you follow it for half an hour, you will find a cave behind a shrine. That is where they hide. I can draw their faces for you."

The grandmother’s expression shifted. "Then we must go to the police."

At the police station, Evelyn repeated everything she had told the grandmother. The head officer scrutinized her. "How do you know these details?"

The grandmother quickly intervened. "She overheard it from another slave while staying there."

The officer nodded. "Your granddaughter is clever."

The grandmother cast a glance at Evelyn but said nothing more.

As they left the station, the air between them was thick with unspoken words. Finally, the grandmother broke the silence. "You must live as Sarah until the thieves are caught."

Evelyn stopped in her tracks. "Pardon me?"

"If you say you are a runaway slave, who would ever believe you?" The grandmother removed her veil and glasses, pressing them into Evelyn’s hands. "Do not show your face. No matter what. If you are caught acting like Sarah, our family will be ruined."

Evelyn swallowed hard but nodded. She had no choice.

Back in Sarah’s room, Evelyn lay awake, staring at the ceiling. The weight of deception pressed against her chest. A knock at the door startled her, and Rose entered, carrying a tray of food.

"Please try to endure this," Rose whispered. "I know it is not easy, but the grandmother has forbidden you from leaving the house. Not because of yourself but because of Mother Sanctuary.

Evelyn sat up, rubbing her temples. "Who is Mother Sanctuary?"

Rose hesitated. "She is a noblewoman with influence in the city. She recently spoke ill of Sarah’s family and sent a letter today."

"A letter?"

Rose nodded. "But none of us can read it. It is written in a poem."

Evelyn extended her hand. "Let me see it."

The chief maid, who had been silently observing, suddenly snapped, "Why are you trying to read it? Just say your eyes hurt and leave it alone."

Rose frowned. "What do you mean?"

Evelyn ignored them both and unfolded the letter, scanning the elegant script. The chief maid’s expression twisted in shock.

"You can read?" she whispered.

Evelyn lifted her chin. "This is a letter from Mother Sanctuary."

The next day, as word of Evelyn’s response spread, the grandmother fell ill. The household bustled with worry, but the maids whispered amongst themselves.

"She replied to Mother Sanctuary’s letter?"

"Miss Sarah can embroider and cook now, too."

"She put them in their place."

The grandmother called Evelyn to her side. "What are they talking about?"

Evelyn hesitated. "Rose and I went to the market. We saw Mother Sanctuary’s people, but Rose covered me well. If they discover my memory loss, strange rumors will spread."

The grandmother’s expression darkened. "Do you know why they speak ill of my family?"

Evelyn turned to Rose, who swallowed hard before answering softly, "Your mother."

A heavy silence followed, and Evelyn knew that the mysteries surrounding Sarah’s family ran deeper than she had ever imagined.

1097 Words