AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I’ll miss having a home.
Staying in one place won’t be an option. My life is now a full-on goose chase.
I don’t stop at the overlook for one last look. To do so would shake me too hard, destroy my resolve. I’ve made up my mind.
I’m doing the right thing. Or the best thing I can think of.
Maybe it’s just the easiest thing, to avoid facing my fate.
Two hours slip by, driving hard and fast up a winding road, following the paper map I bought from the gas station. It’s beautiful and would be peaceful if my heart weren’t in tiny little shards.
A tear rolls down my cheek, the first I’ve allowed all morning as I think of Gavin lying there, fast asleep. Let the relief we felt stay with him. Let him move on.
Let Tell keep smiling. My dreamboat, the insatiable flirt.
And let Evan let himself live a little. Let him be free for once.
Anger and grief coil around him in my heart. Yet, I know I can and will forgive him. I could forgive him anything because I know what we are. He was following his nature. I have to believe he didn’t mean for all of that to happen that way.
It’s the version of reality that will allow me to keep going.
The winding road twists up into the mountains, taking me into oblivion. I know they all have resources to track me. So, I took the least likely route out of town. I’ll head to the border. Canada.
Keep moving. Farther and farther away.
The choking darkness rises, my chest aching. Tears that I’ve staved off for hours won’t stay back any longer. I manage to spot a parking lot along a river, a turn off. Pulling over, I lose it, sobbing into my hands, lost and alone.
After a time, I wipe my face, stepping from the car for some fresh air.
The river roars through the canyon, back toward town. I wish it could take me back with it. I’m leaning over the railing, lost in thoughts when I hear footsteps behind me.
I whirl, caught off guard, to see a car parked around behind some trees. I didn’t hear them pull up.
“Hellena?” Her voice doesn’t register at first, out of place.
“R–Rachelle?” I choke out, running to her, right into her arms.
“Oh, sweetie, what are you doing out here?”
“I—what are you doing?” I correct, confused. Relieved.
“I came to find you, honey. We’re all so worried about you.”
“We? Who? How did you know where to find me?” It doesn’t make sense for her to be here. Even if she left town an hour after me…
“Because I know you better than anyone. I know the way you think, and when Gavin told me you left… this seemed like the most likely spot to find you. I’ve been waiting here for you.”
“Oh. Gavin. I ruined everything, Aunt Rachelle. Marco found me.”
“That’s horrible, Hellena.”
“I know! You need to get out of town again. Go stay with your friend, just until you can be sure he won’t go after you to get to me.” I’m panicking, flailing my arms, sobbing.
“Shh. Calm down, Hellena. Come home with me. We’ll work it all out.”
“No! I can’t put everyone in the line of fire, not after he…” I can’t tell her he bought me. That I was auctioned off last night and technically belong to him according to the Sinful.
“Gavin will have a plan. Come on, let’s go.”
