Escaping

The following night, it was quite late when Rose was awakened from her sleep. She yawned as she gazed up at the one who'd awakened her. It was Chip, and he was holding a candle in his hand.

"Chip?" she said, as she sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "What's going on?"

"A thousand apologies for awaking you at such a late hour, but Mistress is requesting Miss Rose's presence immediately," said Chip. "She wants you to wait for her in one of the castle's rooms and then she needs to speak with you."

She never asks for me this late. I hope nothing's wrong.

Rose got out of bed. "I'll be right there. Would you light another candle and then wait for me outside the door while I change, please?"

Chip nodded obeyed. After lighting another candle so she could have some light, he left the bedroom and closed the door while he waited for Rose.

Knowing her stepmother would want her to look somewhat respectable, Rose quickly changed from her nightgown to a simple yet elegant white dress and put up her hair in a simple braid before she joined Chip in the corridor. She always had to look somewhat regal when Cassandra summoned her unless she was working.

As they walked, Rose couldn't help but notice something was amiss. Chip seemed to be nervous and kept looking over his shoulder and as they approached their destination, it grew worse. She was just about to ask what was wrong when they entered a room that had always been locked. The one room Rose had never been permitted to enter, not even to clean.

Rose was shocked at what was inside in the brightly lit room. It was like something from a book. Inside the room not a single mirror, but something else entirely. There were devices the like she'd never seen before, a metal frame and something terrifying in a jar beneath it, sparks of something similar to lightning seemed to emerge from the devices, and the most unusual thing seemed to be projecting moving pictures of her stepmother onto the wall.

How can this be? This is impossible! Was her stepmother some form of witch?

However, she was snapped out of her thoughts when she heard a clatter. Chip had dropped the candle he was carrying and was now on his knees crying.

"Chip, what's wrong?" asked Rose, concerned. She knelt down beside him, pulled out a handkerchief from her pocket and used it to dab away his tears. "Why're you crying? What's the matter?"

"Forgive me, Miss Rose. Forgive poor Chip!" he sobbed.

"Forgive you?" she repeated, confused. "For what?" He had never done anyone any harm and was always so sweet. What could she possibly have to forgive him for?

Chip sniffled as he looked at her. "You have always been so kind to me, Miss Rose. Caring, thoughtful, and gentle even though I am beneath you!" he said. "I can't do it!"

"Do what? What're you talking about?"

Chip took a deep, shuddering breath and though his tears still flowed, he looked quite serious. "Mistress Cassandra wants you gone forever. She ordered me to bring you to her, but I cannot do it. I cannot harm you, who has always been so kind to me."

Rose's heart skipped a beat. "She wants me dead?" I knew Cassandra and I had our problems, but this? How could she do this?

"Worse," whispered Chip. He wiped away his tears and then he held out his hand. "Come with me, Miss Rose. I will help you escape."

For a brief moment Rose hesitated, but then she decided to trust him. She took his hand and then two of them fled from the room until they came to a secret passageway. At that point, Chip produced a plain hooded cloak and a small pouch of money for Rose.

"Go out this way. It'll take you out of the castle, past the guards and into the village. Don't stop running until you've found safe passage away from this kingdom," said Chip. "You must run, Miss Rose. Run for your life and never look back!"

Rose hesitated again. As much as she wanted to be free, she couldn't live with herself if anything happened to Chip because of her. He was her dearest friend.

"Wait, Chip," said Rose. "You don't have to stay here with her. Come with me. We can both escape."

Chip shook his head. "I cannot come, Miss Rose. I must stay here. I have to make Mistress believe you're gone for good. It's the only way."

Rose knew he was right, but that didn't make her feel any better. "But if I go, and she finds out why, won't she punish you for helping me?" she asked. The last thing she wanted was him harmed.

"I'll be fine. I'll make her believe some other fate has befallen you. She won't know the truth," he said. "Don't worry for me."

This brought her a little relief, but didn't change the sadness of the moment. As tears streamed down her cheeks, Rose pressed her handkerchief into Chip's hand, kissed his cheek and hugged him tight.

"Thank you, Chip. I'll never forget you, my friend," she whispered.

Chip returned her embrace for a moment and then he pulled away. "Nor will I forget you, Miss Rose. But you must go now. Go! Please!"

Rose did as she was told. She ran away and never looked back.