Chapter 22

**Acacia Point of View**

A few more days I will be free!

How wrong I was I didn't know at that time.

I was getting happier and excited as days went by. There was no doubt I was hell tired with all the work but the thought of getting the hell out of here is my push.

The construction of a boat was slowly taking a shape. It was a heavy manual labor and for a pregnant woman to accomplish is not just tough but even risky.

I still took the risk with the hope of giving myself and my baby a better life. Although well provided with, this place is no less than a hell.

But there was something that always made me question about. Why is that mysterious jerk not stopping me?

Is he not here at the moment?

That can't be since I do get my meals every day without a minute delayed.

Even though I want to know what else is going in his mind, there are many more things I don't know so one more added to the list is alright.

By the time I completed building the boat, I was just past my eighth month. It took me a long time than I assumed but it's alright. As long as I succeed in escaping, it's alright.

Once the mechanism was built, building the boat did not take that long but the problem arose when I had to connect the levers and the paddling system.

One part of the paddling system goes beneath the boat and the other on the top of it along with the levers. The mechanism in itself is a simple yet a brilliant one but the problem was after a little while the rotating wheels and the lever get out of rhythm and worse, get stuck.

Again, trial and error is what happened for a few days. I had to drag the boat to the shallow parts of the water to test and would operate the mechanism for hours to check its strength and sustainability.

In my first five trials, the issue I faced was after using the levers for few minutes, they broke. Without those levers, I cannot operate the whole mechanism so I use several materials, combination of many things to finally come up with the one which doesn't break easily and if broken; it can be easily replaced and fixed.

Then there came the issue with the wheels and the paddles getting stuck either from out of rhythm or when something from outside get stuck in it.

That took me a very long time to solve. To have a smooth sail, I tried it on waters for several days for several hours every day solving one problem at a time from minor one to major one.

At last, I came out of warzone with a boat that is exhaustion free and which can be freely operated.

And so, finally, the day has come when I tied my hair in a high pony, dressed myself in comfortable ones, and packed a couple more dresses for traveling along with some food.

I saved a small share of my breakfast and lunch to pack them to go. I also found fresh vegetables and preserved food as usual which I'm very thankful for.

Finding a medium sized case in one of the rooms on seventh floor, I packed everything and was ready to go.

Ready to leave the mess behind.

Ready to put this hell back and return back to my normal life.

Carrying the traveling case eight floors down by stairs proved to be tough job than I expected. When I finally got down after a lot of struggle, I had sit down for full fifteen minutes to calm my racing heart.

Before stepping out of the damned castle I checked if I have everything I needed.

Five bottles of drinking water - check.

While I was making boat, I made bamboo bottle since this place has no water containers and food containers.

Basic tools - check.

I might need them when there was any problem with the boat again or when I find another island to halt.

Vegetables, fruits and preserved food - check.

Cooked food for dinner - check.

Clothes and blanket - check.

Candles and fire sticks - check.

All my sketches and the model I built - check.

Every day, while going down the hill, I took one of each and stored them in the cave in case it might become hard for me to take everything at once.

Now, with only a suitcase full of clothes and set of water bottles, I am all set to go.

Going down the hill with the entire luggage proved to be another trouble for the day. Lifting them did not work so I just tied a to them and dragged them.

All the time, Azar has been following me dutifully; never helped be and just watched me work like a cow.

Soon, I loaded my luggage onboard and untied the rope from the anchor. If it was any other place, I would've left few words to the place but this place gave nothing but misfortune.

Only good thing was the baby in my belly.

Right, I have the baby so a few words are alright I guess.

"I hope the sea swallow this whole island. May the jerk of this place suffer for what he inflicted on me. If, by any means, my friends are not well and it happened because of the jerk, may he live with the pain that has no cure. Thank you for giving me this baby. Although it was by force and by keeping me in dark, he is still mine and I will give him a better life than a psychopath with minimum common sense like you ever can."

I spoke without taking a break to breath and once I was done, I felt good. It felt like a little burden my heart is taken away.

"Have a bad life." I concluded as I sat on the bench and started to move the levers. One long look at the island, I realized when I wished bad for the place and that jerk, I really meant it.

I never cursed someone with misfortune but this mysterious person and the possible lot with him has changed me a lot in these past few months.

I'm not even surprised that I meant every word I said. That is how he made me feel. I wasn't just alone, I lonely in all these past months.

"Goodbye Azar." I waved at the bird who kept flying in circles over my head. "Although you are loyal to that jerk, you are still a bird who cannot decide your own destiny. So I wish you well." I gave the hawk a small smile and with one deep breath, I started moving.

Azar flew above the boat for a while and later sat on it as I continued to paddle. That was his decision, to go along with me and I let him.

Even if he were to betray me, he can only lead his jerk master to me or else, he can never make me turn back from my voyage. Either way it is in my benefit.

When I meet that jerk, I can beat him or better kill him somehow and continue this journey.

"I have a younger brother who loves birds and animals, when we reach home, I'm sure you and my brother will become fast friends." I told Azar when I felt too excited to meet my family again.

It has been nearly three hours on the water and from the moment we started, I saw nothing but water. The paddling mechanism I made reached beyond my expectations. It continued to be a smooth sail and convenient one.

Too smooth that I started to feel that there was something wrong going on.

The sea has been too cooperative. The waves weren't too much and most of the time, the water didn't move at all.

Nonetheless, I continued my journey and did not let those bad thoughts invade my mind.

A few more hours later, I still did not see any land and it was starting to get dark. Azar has been very obedient and quiet and just sat there on the edge of the boat as he accompanied me.

Hmm, seems like I have to take rest onboard tonight. My hands already hurt from working them for several hours.

I looked at the calm water and decided to stop the boat and rest here on the boat until the next morning.

It is only when I stopped paddling and decided to rest did I realize how chilling it got. From the suitcase, I pulled out the cloak and wrapped it around myself.

Once warm and comfortable, I pulled out the packed food and served it in two portions. One for me and the other for Azar with only meat pieces.

"Let's eat, birdie. We have a long trip to continue tomorrow."

Tomorrow will bring new light by the old sun.

**~*~*~*~*~*~

Hello Sweeties,

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