Hope To Escape Read Online Free Page A

foot. The child statue's hands were cupped together and stretched outward, as though it were offering the observer something, but there was nothing in the hollows of its palms. If Ess stood right in front of it, it smiled good-naturedly and looked as though it bestowed its benevolence directly on her. All together, it was magnificent and unsettling.
     
    After a moment, Ess stopped gawking at this peculiar white youth with its familiar features, and turned to the next stone statue. There, once again, her own face stood before her. It was a bust, which extended from just above the line of the breast, slightly larger than her actual head. The figure seemed young, but not a child. The stone looked like pale blue quartz, and lent itself well to the subject of the work. The young adult was weeping, obvious by the gentle touch of its fingers frozen in time as it attempted to wipe a tear from its cheek. Its eyes were closed, and brow slightly furrowed. The faintest pull downward of either end of the mouth conveyed its sorrow. Ess observed it until the gravity of the melancholy seeped into her. She felt as though a tear would well up and fall down her own cheek. "Inconsolable Esther". The grief of the work made her turn away.
     
    She stepped over to the next piece, positioned near a turn that went into a deeper room of the gallery. This one made her smile. It was an adult version of Esther. The fact that the likeness uncannily had her face did not concern her as much, because the hair was long and wavy, where her own was just below shoulder length and chemically straightened to rid her of her bothersome curls. It had been that way for years, so the very idea that the artist may have possibly stalked her and knew what she really looked like didn't seem so likely.
     
    This statue was a full body work, just like the first, but smaller than a true adult. Ess decided that it must be some kind of soapstone. As for the subject of the piece, it seemed . . . pensive? The brows were arched in such a way, and the pointer finger of its right hand was lightly touching its chin, as though it was captured in mid-contemplation. The inscription read "Inquisitive Esther". Ess wasn't sure why, but this one made her giggle a little. She couldn't imagine that she ever really looked like that while in the middle of a thought. She could linger longer at this statue, because it didn't affect her as much as the previous two.
     
    Finally, she moved on to see if there were any others in the collection. Situated around the corner, the last one was a little removed from the rest, so she didn't notice the final theme until she approached it. Upon taking in the sight, Ess exhaled sharply and could not force herself to take in more air. Lounging on a raw unfinished stone slab was an adult Esther in black stone. What sent Ess into stunned distress was the state of the statue. It was naked.
     
    Looking very modest and unsure, it rather unsuccessfully covered its breasts and nether-regions with its hands and arms. It looked down through half closed lids rather than gazing at the observer, ashamed to be witnessed in such a state. Ess didn't know rather she should be embarrassed at seeing herself lifeless in the nude, or if she should be ashamed of spying on the ashamedly naked. Either way, she became dizzy with the situation and her sudden inability to inhale.
     
    Ess felt a hand on her shoulder, to which she responded by re-establishing her breathing, though shallow and quick.
     
    "Ess?" Beth whispered in her ear. Ess didn't regain complete lucidity, but she was able to reduce her focus on the horror in front of her. Beth kept her hand on Ess, and stared at the statue astounded, as well.
     
    After her initial shock, which lasted nearly a minute, Ess came back to herself with a gasp. "Oh, my god" she breathed, "We have to go."
     
    Around her, Ess's friends stood, awestruck amusement on their faces.
     
    "Wow!" Manda exclaimed. She kept her eyes on the nude