DESTINED SOULMATES

CHAPTER 001

Ariana's POV

Twice.

I’d tried to run away from this prison of a house twice.

But each time I tried, I'd get caught – either by one of the security guards or by him.

This time, the plan was flawless—at least, that’s what I kept telling myself. “Third time's the charm, right?” I whispered into the silence, trying to calm the pounding in my chest.

I took a deep breath, my fingers trembled as I counted each second down, waiting for my only chance to escape. It was now or never.

Zayn wasn't going to be home for another three days due to an important business trip, and if I didn't take my chance now, I might never get another one. I got up from the bed and headed to the door, my eyes glancing at the clock.

8:57 PM. Three minutes until the guard standing watch outside my room would leave.

As I stood at the door, my heart racing, I felt a spark of hope ignite within me. I imagined a future in which I could chase my dreams, free from the shackles of this loveless marriage. Memories flooded my mind and they stung pretty badly. I couldn't take it anymore.

Ever since the marriage, I hadn't left the house in two weeks. Now, the luxury and wealth surrounding me felt suffocating.

“I'll come back for you, Mother,” I whispered, a mix of guilt and determination swirling in my chest. My stepmother, though complicated, would understand. I was sure that deep down, she would want me to be happy. I vowed to return for her when I was strong and stable enough.

Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed outside – the guard was already leaving. My pulse quickened.

This was it. My chance. With a deep breath, I straightened my shoulders and steadied my trembling hands as I slowly turned the doorknob.

Quietly, I pushed the door open and created a tiny gap which allowed me to take a quick scan of the perimeter. I could see the guard's back as he turned the corner while whistling and I knew I had just little time left until the other guard took his place for the night.

Without a moment to lose, I slipped out of the room, shutting the door behind me with a soft click that echoed across the hallway. I had gone over the plan to leave time and time again. Although I had only tried to run away twice, I was still able to learn from my mistakes and devise a foolproof plan that I was sure would work out.

As I quietly scurried down the hallway, I kept revising the plan in my head. ‘No mistakes this time’, I said inwardly, steeling myself in the plan I'd memorised over the past nights.

Step by step, I visualised the path I was going to take; from the back staircase to the main gate, with every turn fixed in my mind.

Taking the main staircase would be like a suicide mission as the housekeeper could easily spot me from his quarters–even though I still don't know how he was able to because the windows are on the other side of the building and the door was always shut.

I headed toward the less-used back staircase, mentally counting the steps as I knew even one creak could give me away. As I reached the last step, I paused, remembering the newly installed camera that faced the stairs in the narrow hall leading to the kitchen entrance.

I remembered the last time I wanted to run away–I got caught because of the camera. But this time, I was ready. I pressed myself against the wall, my heart pounding as I watched the lens shift, then slowly return to face where I hid on the staircase.

One wrong step and my plans would be over before I knew it. My timing had to be perfect. Taking a deep breath, I counted its movements in my head.

“Three…two…one,” I whispered.

The moment it turned away, I flattened myself against the wall and slipped out, careful to stay out of its line of sight. Just as I hid in the shadows of the adjacent wall, the camera shifted back and I froze in place, flattening myself against the cold wall.

I had stopped breathing, my heart racing in sync with its sweeping gaze. All I needed was for it to look away. Just for a few more seconds.

As it turned, I broke into a small, half-crouched run and made it past the camera's blind spot with barely another second to spare.

I heaved a quiet sigh of relief as I managed to slip through the kitchen door. So far, so good. Quietly, I moved to the other door that led to the garden, my body tensed as I listened carefully.

I pressed my ear against the cold metal, straining to hear any signs of footsteps or voices. The silence that stretched was thick and oppressive until I was finally reassured there was no one on the other side.

The door slowly opened as I moved out into the garden where the moonlight cast shadows of trees and bushes across the yard. The cool night air sent chills down my spine and my body ached to just sit down and take in all of the night's beauty.

But I had to stay focused on the mission at hand.

Crouching low, I inched along the edge of the garden and made sure I was concealed in the shadows. My movements were slow and quiet, and I barely dared to breathe.

Just a few metres ahead, I caught sight of the main gate–freedom. I was so close I could taste it. But just as I was about to take another step closer, a crackling sound from a nearby walkie-talkie reached my ear.

“New shift begins in two minutes; everything clear?” a guard's voice over the walkie-talkie broke the silence of the night.

My blood turned cold as I saw the beam of a flashlight sweeping across the garden, landing dangerously close to my feet. I pulled back, my heart hammering as I pressed behind a tree, trying to stay out of sight.

Panic clawed at my chest as I heard the unmistakable sound of grasses crunching. He's getting closer. I stayed frozen, my chest constricting as I kept pressing myself into the thick bark of the tree. At that moment, I wished I could melt into the darkness.

I could hear the footsteps growing louder with each second, the beam drawing nearer to where I hid behind the tree.

It was over. He had already found me.

But just as my heart started to sink, a distant clattering from the far side of the estate stopped him in his tracks. He snapped his flash to the direction of the sound, muttering something under his breath before he moved to investigate.

I immediately seized the moment and bolted from my hiding spot, sprinting as quietly as I could to the gate. I reached for the latch, my fingers trembling as I pushed it open.

And then, just as I was about to slip through–

“Hey! Who's there?!” The beam of the flashlight turned back toward me, and I had just seconds–no, a heartbeat–to dash out of the mansion. My mind screamed at me to run as the gate slipped open, wide enough for me to dart through.

The next thing I knew, the gate clanged shut behind me and I didn't dare look back.

I just kept running.

I didn't stop.

The shouts of the guards started to grow faint behind me, but I could still hear their voices echoing in the night. My lungs felt like they'd been set on fire, and the bones in my legs ached, but I pushed myself harder, my eyes fixed on the road ahead.

I could feel the weight of that house slowly slip away from my shoulders with every step, and for the first time in what seemed like forever, I felt….free.

Finally, I got to the main road, glancing over my shoulder. My eyes darted up and down the street, searching desperately for any sign of a vehicle to take me far away from there. Suddenly, headlights shone through the darkness and they blinded me for a second as a taxi rolled down the road.

I didn't wait for it to fully stop before I yanked the door open and threw myself into the backseat. My only thoughts were go, go, go – anything to get me away from that house and the guards still yelling in the distance.

“Please, just drive!” I gasped, my eyes darting out the window to see if any security guard had caught up to me.

He didn't utter a word, he just hit the gas, and just like that…we were off.

My heart drummed behind my ribcage as I looked back onto the fading road. I gripped the edge of the seat with trembling fingers and tears pricked at my eyes. The last few weeks–the marriage, the cold walls, the loneliness–all of it faded behind us.

I swallowed hard, trying to keep it together, but the sudden rush of freedom was almost too much. I took a shaky breath, exhaling as the night air streamed in through a small gap in the window.

“You still haven't told me where we're going, miss.”

The driver's voice was smooth, calm…and disturbingly familiar.

Every nerve in my body went cold, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on their edges as my heart skidded to an abrupt stop.