“Jamie! Please come home! You and your sister!” I tried to ignore his words, but couldn’t help but think about just leaving with him. If Jane and I left with our father, I could get away from James. Even if this was a trick so he could kill me, wouldn’t that still be better than crawling back to James? Either way, I'd be free from him. I stopped running and turned around. My lungs burned and my body ached from the frantic running. I leaned against a nearby tree as I waited for him to catch up to me. When he finally caught up, he was breathing heavily.

[Are you going to hurt her? If Jane and I go home...would you hurt her?] he looked up at me as he desperately tried to catch his breath and shook his head back and forth. He had the expression of a worried father, but I've seen what he’s capable of. The look in his eyes when he killed my mother.

“Why would I hurt her? I know how I must look to you. A murderer and a child abuser, I know but I would never hurt her!”

[But you’ll hurt me?] he heaved a deep sigh.

“No. These past five years without you and your sister have been hell. I just want you two to come home. I got us a brand new house and replaced all of your things. We can be a family again.” I shake my head in disagreement.

[We stopped being a family the moment you took her from us.] I turn away to continue running.

“I know you’re the one who blew up the house and I know why. I was in the backyard when it happened. I ran inside to save you and your sister, but you were already gone.” I turned around and faced him.

[Is that where she is? In the backyard? I bet you even have her under the bed of flowers she planted.]

“Look, I'm sorry for what I did to you and...your mother. Please come home, both of you.” I looked off in the direction of the camp. Jane was just past these trees in the camp with James. We can’t trust our father but we’d be safer with him than we are in the camp.

[I’ll come home. Let’s get Jane and leave.] He nodded his head. I pushed off the tree I was leaning on and began walking to the camp. As soon as we started to walk my mind began to race. What was going to happen when we got to the camp? Would Jane come home with us? Would everyone be angry at me for bailing? What if James won't let me go? How would he react to James? What if he finds out about what James has done?

“Are you alright, Jamie?” I'd forgotten that he was standing next to me.

[I’m fine. The camp isn’t too far now.] he patted my shoulder. Fear shrouded all of my senses and I stopped in my tracks. All of the memories of his abuse came rushing back.

“Something sure seems wrong to me. I saw the face you were making. Are you scared to bring me to your camp? Is Jane okay?” I pushed his hand away and continued to walk.

[Don’t touch me. Jane is just fine. It’s not her that I'm worried about...it’s everyone else.] I could hear him clear his throat before trying to speak.

“Who is “everyone else”? You two aren’t alone?” he quickened his pace to be at my side again. Before I could answer I spotted James standing between two trees that led to the camp. We continued until we stood right in front of him. He looked from me to my dad and back.

“Who’s this?”