According to the quartet’s original travel plans, they were going to Switzerland to ski in late May.
When Delilah brought it up again, no one really responded to her.
Seeing her so pitifully alone, I replied that I’d go.
Alaric carefully said that if I didn’t want to see Delilah, just he and I could go together.
I smiled sweetly, saying how could that be right.
“After all, we’re a group of five–we can’t be missing anyone.”
The private jet crossed the ocean, and Alaric thought he’d found an opportunity to reconcile with me.
But I insisted on bringing those three people along.
However, when we arrived and Alaric and the others wanted to go skiing, I declined, saying I was tired from the journey and wanted to rest first.
This rest lasted several days.
Initially, Alaric wanted to stay with me instead of going skiing with Delilah.
But after being invited multiple times, he also went skiing with those three.
I had calculated everything.
This time I came out with my passport, ID, and all important documents.
Two hours after Alaric left, Vivienne sent a message saying we could proceed.
So I put on my ski gear and shouldered my pre–packed backpack.
Under surveillance, I walked step by step toward the snowy mountains.
I had often skied with Alaric in childhood, so my technique was fairly skilled. I skied farther and farther away.
Then, following the location Vivienne had given me, I took a winding route to a place with no tourists, completely deserted.
Someone was already waiting for me there–we made contact.
Following them down the mountain along paths with few people, avoiding surveillance all the way, I got into a car.
Then I boarded a private jet sent by Vivienne.
With her help, every detail would be more authentic.
There were less than two weeks left until I turned eighteen and could completely escape my father’s control, but there was no better opportunity to break free than now.
Vivienne would arrange for me to “disappear in the mountains“-a perfect escape.
And this flight would return to the country.
Vivienne had long ago arranged all the procedures for me to take the college entrance exam in San Francisco.
More than ten hours later, we landed at a private airfield in San Francisco, where Vivienne was already waiting.
As soon as I got off the plane, she handed me an exam admission ticket and a tall crystal wine glass.
Vivienne raised her glass to me with a smile.
“Congratulations, welcome to your new life.”
People who leave the ICU either go toward death or toward rebirth.
I survived, so naturally I was welcoming rebirth.
Fourth escape attempt: finally successful.
C
