I move quickly, under the shadow of darkness, towards Jeremy’s home. My heart pounds violently against my rib cage as I go. I fear it’s so loud that it’ll alert everyone to my presence. It turns out that I’m not cut out to be a spy!
“Zane!” A whisper grabs my attention, I spin rapidly to see a shadow crouched down in the bushes.
“Nova?” I take a tentative step forward, trying to see what’s going on. “Is that you?”
“Yes, it’s me.” She rises ever so slightly. “Is it safe to go? I need to make a run for it.”
I dart my eyes around, not totally sure what I’m searching for. “It looks clear to me.”
“If he sees me, I don’t know what he’ll do.” I’ve never seen anyone look so scared in my life. “He might kill you too. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have dragged you into this. Maybe you should just go.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, I’m here, aren’t I? My car is across the street. Just get inside it.”
“I’m scared he’s going to find me wherever I go. He might find the charity…”
“Don’t worry about that now. Just get into my car. Please. We’ll work it out, I promise you.”
I reach out my hand to her and thankfully, she takes it. I pull her to me and we race across the road together. It’s terrifying and exhilarating all at the same time, I don’t know what the hell is going on. I can’t ask, not at the moment. All I am sure of is getting Nova the hell out of here. I don’t even wait until we have our seat belts on. I hit the gas and take us far away from his house.
“I can’t believe I did that,” she half giggles after about ten minutes. “I can’t believe I’m out.”
“You don’t even have any shoes on!” I suddenly notice. “What happened inside that house?”
“Jeremy shut me in a closet and I don’t know his reasoning really. I’m sure he explained it to me as he was yelling, but I couldn’t take any of it in. I had to wait until I heard him shouting on the phone to rush outside.”
“Woah, that’s nuts.” She’s braver than she looks. “So, you literally ran away?”
“I got out of that door and hid behind the bush until you came. I didn’t know what else to do.”
“And he didn’t come outside?”
“The last thing I heard was him still yelling. I don’t think he knows that I’m gone yet.”
“That’s going to be a bitch when he finds out, isn’t it?” I turn to give her a little look. “What will happen?”
“He’s going to look everywhere for me. That’s what scares me. He won’t stop until he has me back.”
“Is that why you’re worried about going to the charity shelter? Because they have things in place…”
“I know, but I don’t think I’ll be able to relax.” Her whole body shakes. “I can’t handle it.”
Desperation floods her and I feel a bit of it myself. “So, what do you want to do then?”
“I don’t know. If I’m honest, I didn’t think much beyond getting past that house.” Her eyes fly to the window. “Maybe you should just drop me somewhere and I’ll find a place to hide. I need it to be a secret.”
“You don’t have any shoes. I can’t imagine you brought any cash with you.”
“No, but I don’t want any. You’re already doing too much for me.”
Her pride, even in this situation where she has absolutely nothing, makes me smile. “I wasn’t going to offer you any. The fact that you don’t have anything terrifies me. I don’t want to wake up tomorrow hearing that something has happened to you, on the news or whatever. There are other dangers out there.”
“Please don’t take me back.” She turns in her chair to literally beg me. “Please, I’ll die there.”
“I’m not going to take you back. I’m going to take you to my place. You’ll be safe there.”
“R… really? You would do that for me?”
“Of course. You need help and that’s what my job is.”