It was a dark and stormy night. Secela held her best friend, Ina’s, hand as they tiptoed down the hallway to freedom. Tonight they would escape the orphanage. Secela’s heart pounded as she watched where she walked on the creaky wooden floorboards. One wrong step, one creek of the wood, and anyone in the orphanage could hear. If that happened, she could end up stuck there forever. She blew her short red hair out of her face as quietly as possible. She had done her hair in pigtails—as usual—so that they wouldn’t get in her eyes, but it looked like it hadn’t worked. Hair wasn’t Secela’s talent. Ina on the other hand looked perfect with her impossibly straight black hair loose, and her light brown skin shining in the light from the lightning. Secela had do admit it; she was a bit envious of her friend’s beauty. Both of them held their boots in one hand, so as to make less noise, as they tiptoed down the hallway.

                “Shouldn’t we go faster?” Ina whispered quietly to Secela. Secela sighed.

                “I guess it would get us out faster,” she admitted. “Alright. Let’s run,” she decided. She let go of Ina’s hand, then bolted down the hallway, stepping on creaky boards nearly every step.       

                We’re so going to get caught! she thought. Secela stopped to catch her breath at a corner, looking back to see Ina a few steps behind her.

                “Faster, Ina!” Secela whispered to her. “We have to get out of here! For freedom!” she said, silently pumping her fist in the air. “C’mon! The door out is just down this hallway!” Secela started running again, Ina farther behind. She always had been slower than Secela. Just as Secela was about to get to the front door, another door to her left in the hallway opened, and outburst Dr. Meomle, the man in charge of the orphanage.

                “Secela!” He cried. “And Ina?! What are you doing out of bed? And where do you think you’re going?!” Secela kept running, not looking back. She burst out the front door, running for the gate to the orphanage, but no matter how hard she pulled or pushed, it was locked. Secela put her forehead against the gate, surrendering. Dr. Meomle came up behind her, dragging Ina by the upper arm.

                “Terribly sorry to spoil your plan, ladies, but I’m afraid it wouldn’t be part of my job to let you escape,” he said, not looking at all sorry. “As punishment, you’ll be doing the entire orphanage’s breakfast dishes.” Secela cried as she trudged back up the hill to the orphanage, dripping wet in the rain.