The Way Out

Chapter One // Escaping

"Ivy dear, time to get up."

The voice flowed down the dirt-packed hallways and only the ears of a sleeping girl. Her dark hair was in disarray from sleep, and she snorted softly.

At her mother's summons, she snorted and sat up. She shook her head for a moment and rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

"Ok. I'm up," She called back, stretching her arms and legs in turn.

She stood up and combed her fingers through her knotted hair for a moment before walking blearily into the main room.

Her entire family sat around a tiny wooden table.

Her mother and father sat together, and on her father's right side sat her two older brothers. On her mother's left side sat her two younger sisters.

She took her place at the small table, fighting for elbow room as she did every morning. There were no chairs, so they all sat on their knees or their bottoms.

Her mother smiled at them, her long black hair waving perfectly. She stood up and went to the back of the room, pulling a small pan off of their tiny stove.

At every place sat a small clay plate, and her mother dumped a small portion of the pan's contents on each one.

When the pan was empty, she sat it in the middle of the table, crowding it even more. She said a quick blessing, then everyone began to eat with gusto.

They had no silverware, just their hands. But that didn't stop any member of the family from grabbing a chunk of steaming hot eggs and shoving it in their mouth.

In a matter of minutes, every plate had been licked clean. Ivy, as the eldest daughter, took the plates and put them in the washbasin.

She walked slowly back to the table, listening in on the conversations.

"As you all know," her father's voice came in a hurried whisper.

"Today is the fifth day. We're due at the chapel any moment now. Snake, as the oldest it is your job to take care of everyone while we're gone."

Ivy knew what came next. She strained her ears, keeping to the shadows of her dimly lit home.

"But most importantly, we need all of you to keep an eye on Ivy. You know how she gets on these days. Keep her in the house. We can't have her run away again."

Ivy smirked to herself. Did they really think that they could contain her? They failed every time. What was their plan now?

She sauntered back to the table, noting the surprise on her father's face.

"So," she said, sitting back down. "What are we talking about?"

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"Be good while we're away!" Ivy's mother cried, throwing her arms around each of her children in turn.

Ivy hugged awkwardly back. Why did her parents have to make such a big deal out of this? They went to the chapel every five days.

Her parents left through the open doorframe, small bowls of rose-scented water in their arms.

Snake turned towards his siblings. "Alright. You heard mom and dad. I'm in charge today." He shot a quick glare at Ivy before continuing.

"We all have chores to do. Quail, you sweep the floors and make the beds." The dark haired boy nodded.

"Dawn and Cinder, you two collect water." He turned towards Ivy. "And Ivy-"