The next morning began just like all the others.
Shouting.
Kicks.
Rough orders.
We were dragged into the courtyard and forced to work again. My body moved on its own, as if it no longer belonged to me. But my mind… my mind was somewhere else.
I was still thinking about escape.
About how to get out of this place.
About how not to die trying.
About how not to become another corpse thrown away in the dark.
— Kai…
A quiet voice came from beside me.
I flinched and turned my head.
It was Ken.
He spoke almost in a whisper, leaning toward me as if he were just passing by. His face was tense, but there was no fear in his eyes. Only determination.
— Kai, can I talk to you?
I nodded silently.
We moved slightly aside, to a place where the noise of work would cover our voices. I said nothing, only waited. Ken understood and began speaking on his own.
— Do you want to escape from here?
I didn't answer.
In this place, words were more dangerous than blades.
But my eyes gave him the answer.
Ken fell silent for a moment, then continued even more quietly:
— Me… and a few other slaves… we've come up with an escape plan.
I was surprised.
After what happened yesterday…
After that public execution…
I was sure fear had broken everyone.
— How many? — I asked at last.
— If you agree… — he swallowed. — Ten people. Including you and me.
Ten.
That wasn't few. But I immediately saw the problem.
— Even if we're ten, — I said, — we won't get far. We're all weak. And after yesterday, the guards have doubled.
Ken didn't answer right away.
I waited.
Then he spoke:
— You're right. The guards have doubled. But at night, during the guard shift, we'll have exactly five minutes.
Five minutes.
Too little.
But sometimes even one second is enough.
— How do you know this? — I asked. — And how will we open the door? Get past the main gate? When does the plan even start?
Ken exhaled, as if preparing to say the most important part.
— I overheard the guards talking. They mentioned their break and the guard shift change.
He leaned closer. — During the смена, a few slaves will start a fight to draw attention. While that happens, I'll steal a key from one of the guards.
I listened without interrupting.
— And there's more… — Ken hesitated. — Those four slaves who were executed yesterday… they weren't just trying to escape.
My heart tightened.
— They started digging a tunnel under the wall. In secret. Very slowly. We found it.
I froze.
Something ignited in my chest.
Hope.
Small.
Fragile.
But real.
I looked at Ken.
The same fire burned in his eyes.
For the first time in a long while, I wasn't thinking about pain.
Not about fear.
Not about death.
But about the future.
And I understood.
This might be our only chance.