Chapter Twenty Three
After the completion of the meal, Ace promptly left the room, leaving Soifon and Erin alone. He granted them a few hours to spend together before their inevitable separation once more.
Soifon paced back and forth within the room, her arms tightly crossed over her chest, while Erin gazed out of the window. Soifon whispered, 'Before Ace returns, we must devise a means of escape.' As she paced, Soifon observed Erin's attempts to open the window. 'I am aware,' the brunette replied.
Soifon approached her partner and observed as Erin struggled with the window. 'If we utilize our full strength, there is a possibility we may be able to open it,' Erin suggested. 'Alternatively, we could use a chair to forcefully break it,' Soifon proposed, noting that it would be a quicker method. 'Though that may attract Ace's attention, and we need to execute our plan discreetly,' Erin reasoned, exerting all the strength she possessed with Soifon's assistance in pushing the window open.
With their joint efforts, they managed to open the window. Soifon found something to prop it open, and she stuck her head out to assess their surroundings. Although she couldn't see their exact location, she noticed a cluster of trees nearby. Returning inside, she faced Erin who inquired about the distance. 'We are not far from the ground,' Soifon responded reassuringly, 'we should be able to land on our feet.'
Erin nodded and approached the window with Soifon's assistance. Taking turns, they carefully climbed through the window, ensuring Erin's safe descent first. Soifon then followed suit, all the while keeping a keen eye on the door. Feeling Erin's gentle touch on her hips, she heard her lover's whisper, 'Let go, I've got you.' Consequently, the raven-haired woman released her grip on the window sill and gracefully landed in Erin's embrace.
Upon the egress of both women through the window, they proceeded to survey their surroundings only to discover themselves situated within the depths of a dimly lit forest. 'This shall undoubtedly facilitate our concealment from Ace, at least for a certain duration,' Erin declared, acknowledging the onset of rainfall. 'Without delay, let us commence our departure before our captors ascertain our successful escape.' Grasping Soifon's hand, Erin urged her to follow as they made way into the woods.
"Don't look back, Soifon," Erin whispered as she guided her towards the woods. She relinquished her hold on Soifon's hand, allowing them both to run. "My apologies," Soifon murmured, following Erin as the rain intensified and the wind forcefully pushed against them during their escape.
ยท Ace's P.O.V*
Ace proceeded towards the dining room, where he had previously left Soifon and Erin. His face adorned a smirk as he prepared to escort them back to their respective rooms. "I trust that the two of you had an enjoyable time during your brief encounter," he remarked, maintaining a formal tone.
Upon reaching the door, he proceeded to open it. However, he immediately narrowed his eyes in suspicion upon noticing that the window was fully open. In a slightly elevated voice, he exclaimed, "Where have the women disappeared to?" Swiftly, he made his way towards the window, hoping to catch sight of any clues. Unfortunately, all he could discern were footprints in the muddy ground, leading towards the adjacent woods. "Jack, Thomas, Brian, I demand your immediate presence!" Ace called out, firmly instructing his comrades to gather within.
Turning his gaze towards Jack, Thomas, and Brian who had successfully reached the room, Ace asked sternly, "Where are the women?". Anger flickered in his intense blue eyes as he inquired. Thomas responded with a frown, "They were present here a little while ago." Ace snapped back, "Well, clearly they are not here now, are they?" Jack furrowed his brows and suggested, "Perhaps they managed to escape through the window." He walked towards the open window as he stated the obvious. Ace, unable to control his temper, retorted sarcastically, "No kidding, that's precisely why the window is open."
Brian frowned, observing Ace's glare towards the three of them. "Go out and locate them immediately. Bring them back. I knew I shouldn't have left them alone together," Ace ordered. He watched as Thomas and Brian exited the room to commence their search for Soifon and Erin. Addressing Jack, he instructed, "Stay here with me. Help me prepare things for their return." He proceeded out of the door, with Jack following closely behind.
Soifon and Erin's P.O.V*
Soifon trailed behind Erin as they made their way through the dense woods. Uncertain of how much time had passed, Soifon could feel her energy draining and her body growing weary. The moon cast a gentle glow above them, and the rain had begun to subside. 'Erin, we must seek shelter,' she whispered, her voice strained and her breath heavy. Every part of her ached, even her feet which were burdened by the inconvenience of her heels.
Erin turned to face Soifon, letting out a weary sigh. 'We cannot afford to halt our progress, Soifon. It is highly likely that they have discovered our escape and are actively searching for us,' she said, her green eyes filled with concern as she observed the exhausted state of her lover. 'But who would venture out in weather like this? If we were to find a cave or some form of refuge, we could conceal ourselves until the rain subsides. Additionally, we have managed to put a considerable distance between ourselves and our pursuers, and the rain may serve to mask our footprints,' the raven-haired woman suggested.
Erin contemplated Soifon's words, furrowing her brow as she felt both physical and mental exhaustion. She glanced back at Soifon, who appeared to be slowing down and releasing a sigh. Erin acknowledged that they would not be able to continue much longer due to the darkness and rain, stating, 'Furthermore, it would be more advantageous to proceed during daylight.' As she ceased walking, the younger woman bent down to remove her heels and discarded them into a nearby bush, muttering under her breath, 'In addition, my feet are causing me more discomfort than my wounds.' She whispered this last part in order to prevent Erin from hearing.
Erin frowned, acknowledging the sentiment, and nodded. She held a strong desire to exit the woods and find their way to Headquarters, yet she recognized the need to locate shelter before falling ill on top of their existing injuries. 'Very well, you have convinced me,' the brunette responded, following suit by removing her heels and discarding them in the bush. Taking Soifon's hand, Erin urged, 'Come on, Soi. Let us search for a cave or suitable refuge.' With determination, she pulled the raven-haired woman forward, their feet sinking into the muddy ground, undeterred by the discomfort.
Erin and Soifon found themselves within a cave, taking a moment to rest against the wall. Soifon gracefully descended to the ground, while Erin embraced her tenderly. Facing each other, they exchanged a glance and Erin whispered, 'Let us rest and resume our journey at daybreak, while remaining vigilant.' Soifon nodded in agreement and leaned towards Erin, granting her a gentle kiss on the lips. With equal fervor, Erin reciprocated the affection, confessing, 'I have missed you.' Wrapping her arms around Soifon, she deepened the kiss. Soifon whispered in response, 'I have missed you as well,' disregarding the shooting pain caused by Erin's tight embrace.
After parting, Soifon rested her head upon Erin's shoulder, noting the chilliness of their surroundings due to the absence of firewood. Ultimately, both women succumbed to slumber in each other's embrace.