"This way!" shouted the maid while we both ran.

Her voice was loud and frantic, cutting through the corridors of the castle.

I could hear the distant echoes of guards shouting behind us.

We ran fast, our feet pounding on the cold stone floor.

Every turn we made felt like a gamble, twisting through the castle's endless halls.

We kept making turns each time we met the guards.

At every corner, we peeked carefully, seeing shadows move too close for comfort.

Sometimes we had to hide behind pillars, holding our breath until the guards passed.

Other times, we sprinted across open hallways.

Hoping the noise of our steps wouldn't betray us.

Somehow, the whole castle filled with shouts.

The noise bounced off the walls, mixing with our panting and the clatter of our footsteps.

I knew it, they were looking for us.

Their voices were getting closer with every shout.

Every step felt urgent, heavy with fear.

We had no time to think, only to run.

We soon reached the backyard.

The cold night air hit us as we burst out of the doors.

The wind rustled the trees and whipped our hair across our faces.

We paused for a moment, gasping for breath, leaning against each other.

Then, from the darkness, a blinding light appeared.

It burst suddenly, so bright it made us shield our eyes.

From it, the girls came out.

They emerged carefully but confidently, illuminated by the bright glow.

I straightened my back and said, "we need to make a plan."

The urgency in my voice made them nod in agreement.

They were tense, but there was determination in their eyes.

Then the maid chimed in, kneeling down respectfully.

"Princess Maria, finally you came back," she said, her voice soft but full of emotion.

Maria nodded at her.

The maid stood up, brushing her hands against her skirts.

"Follow me, guys, I know a secret place where we could stay," she added, her tone confident now.

Then, as we followed her running, she added more.

It was a secret place she had found after Maria was gone.

She could use that place to make plans, to regroup, to think safely.

She never believed Maria was gone.

She had always waited for her return, quietly and faithfully.

Maria, hearing her words, nodded at her.

"I'm honoured you worked as my maid," Maria said, her voice filled with warmth.

The maid only nodded back, smiling gently.

"The whole honour is mine," she replied softly.

We made our way through the trees.

The forest surrounded us, thick and dark, but the maid knew the path perfectly.

Branches scratched against our arms and faces, but we didn't stop.

The leaves rustled under our feet, soft but persistent as we ran.

The night smelled of wet earth and leaves.

The moon cast a dim light on our path, helping us see the way.

We kept running until we reached a huge rock.

It loomed over us like a sentinel, enormous and immovable.

The maid signaled with her hand for us to stop.

"This is the place," she said, her voice calm but certain.

She crouched down, her hands gripping the base of the rock.

With surprising ease, she lifted it.

The rock moved as if it weighed nothing at all.

We all gasped in surprise.

The maid smiled, noticing our shock.

"It's a fake rock," she said.

"Her true weight isn't even as much as a baby," she added, almost proudly.

This was the secret opening.

We stepped closer, peering inside the dark tunnel.

The air smelled of earth and stone, cool and slightly damp.

We could hear only our breaths and the faint sound of the night outside.

We entered the tunnel cautiously.

Inside, there was a long corridor of stone.

The walls were rough, cold, and damp to the touch.

The passage stretched ahead, dimly lit by the moonlight filtering through cracks.

We walked a little further, our footsteps echoing softly.

The corridor was narrow, forcing us to walk in a single line.

Every sound seemed magnified in the silence of the tunnel.

Finally, we reached a room.

The maid produced a set of keys from her pocket.

She inserted one into the lock carefully, twisting it with precision.

The door opened with a soft click.

We all stepped inside, one by one.

The room was small but secure, made of stone like the corridor.

It felt hidden, secret, and safe.

The air was still, almost peaceful after the chaos outside.

We looked around, taking in every detail of the hidden room.

The walls were bare, cold, but protective.

There was space for all of us to sit and plan.

The maid stood at the doorway, watching carefully.

She had kept this place ready for years, never doubting Maria's return.

Maria walked forward and took a deep breath.

"I'm glad this place exists," she said softly, almost to herself.

The other girls nodded, understanding the safety this secret room offered.

We settled in, feeling the tension ease slightly.

The corridor outside remained dark and silent, guarding our secret well.

The maid moved to one corner, making sure everything was in order.

She had hidden supplies here, preparing for this exact moment.

Maria looked at her, admiration and gratitude shining in her eyes.

"I will not forget this," she said, softly.

The maid only smiled.

"The honour is mine," she replied quietly.

We all knew the castle would continue searching, but for now, we were safe.

We had a secret, a place to regroup, and time to think.

Our minds could finally rest, even for a little while.

The tunnel and the secret room felt like a fortress.

We could plan our next steps, breathe, and be together.

The night outside continued, but inside, we had our small sanctuary.

We had escaped the immediate danger.

The blinding light and the girls' return felt like a miracle.

We had a place to strategize, a hidden fortress known only to the maid.

Maria sat quietly, feeling a sense of relief she hadn't felt in a long time.

We were hidden, safe, and together.

And in that moment, despite the danger waiting outside, we felt hope.

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