Chapter 3

Starting awake, Alessandra looked around.  She felt as if someone was too close to her.  She was in danger.  So much danger that her mind was screaming for her to run.  Bolting out of bed, Aless looked out the small window that lit her bedroom with moonlight.  Two days had passed since the doctor had looked at her and her voice had returned weakly. There had been no sign of Cain or the businessman.  The police had looked for both, but both had disappeared. Cain’s paid all his bills and left casually saying goodbye to everyone.  No one thought it was suspicious because his car had finally been fixed and he had to be back on the road.  The businessman, however, had paid his bills by the TV check out the night Aless had been attacked and had been seen bitching about her in the local bar, heavily intoxicated. The police were focusing most of their attention on him.

Aless knew the truth, but she would never tell anyone. Every time she even thought about telling the truth her chest constricted and her neck hurt. She couldn’t say anything. She wouldn’t. This decision didn’t weigh easily on her consciousness. Over the past two nights, Aless had strange dreams. Dreams about large cats, and two young boys, one with golden eyes and the other with heterochromia. Between those dreams though, Aless saw the businessman laying face down in the grass and weak barely audible voice asking for help. In those dreams, all Aless could do was sit motionless in the grass, staring at the gory body. Then, she would feel arms wrapping around her, pulling her back into darkness as Cain’s voice softly, sweetly, said her name, causing her to bolt awake in panic. The righteous part of her heart knew that she should confess the truth, but the bloody image and Cain’s smile stopped her. Aless was too afraid to tell the truth.

If anyone suspected that she was hiding what she knew, no one said anything.  The doctor had informed everyone that the brain sometimes erased traumatic memories.  He also said the extensive damage that had occurred to her neck and lack of oxygen she must had endured could have shorted out her memory. Alessandra was happy enough to play along.

Something moved outside her window, tearing Alessandra violently from her thoughts, causing her to jerk as a shiver slipped down her spine. Although she didn’t know what, Aless knew something was out there waiting for her.  Her gut had been telling her that for the last two days.  It was as if something hungry lurked in the darkness waiting to devour her as soon as she left the safety of the Wes’s home.  For that very reason, Aless had convinced her friends it was time to move on earlier that day.  Jesus had been hesitant, and Kayla had been downright difficult.

“Aless,” Jesus had said slowly.

He tried to think of what to say in a way that would not offend his friend.

“I know that you are going through a lot, but this is a safe town.  People are watching everywhere for us. Why do you want to leave?”

“I’m telling you, Jesus.  Something is wrong.  We have become too relaxed here.  This isn’t our home or the end goal.  As long as we are here, we are open game. We have saved up a little more money.  We are all healthy, for the most part, and refreshed.  It’s time we moved on,” Aless croaked in her sore voice.

It was the first moment they had been alone since the incident.  All four children sat on the bed somberly.  

“I guess, but why the rush?  We can spend a week or two to get ready and then head out, well prepared. And let’s be honest.  You are not well enough to travel.”

“No.  We need to leave soon. Two-three days tops.  They have found us, Jesus.  I’m telling you…I can feel it in my bones.  We aren’t safe anymore and this isn’t me saying it because I was just attacked. I can feel them getting closer.”

Jesus didn’t look convinced; in fact, he looked a little dejected.  Aless placed her hands on his, her eyes showing empathy and understanding.  They had been happy with the Wes family.  Life was good in the small town and, for a while, even if it was short, they had been able to pretend that they were not being hunted like animals.  Rafita had made friends; hell, they all had made friends. 

“I wouldn’t say or push this if I wasn’t positive, Jesus.  Please believe me.”

Jesus looked down at Rafita who leaned against him, silently listening.  Wrapping an arm around her, Jesus thought about what Alessandra was saying.  He knew she was right, but he didn’t like the idea of running again.  The last time Rafita almost died.  What if they weren’t that lucky this time?  Yet if she was right about the hunters closing in then they were doomed either way.  All Jesus wanted was to be safe with Rafita.  He didn’t want this drama and surreal life. Yet, ultimately, what he wanted didn’t matter. 

Jesus had come to realize this the night Aless had been attacked.  He had rushed to clean the kitchen and he was eagerly awaiting Aless’s return.  She had become his best friend.  There was nothing better than sitting on the couch with some ice cream and a good movie with her.  They would make catty comments about the actors and actresses, compare people they knew to characters.  With Aless, Jesus could be himself. He trusted her.

So, Jesus had waited that night and waited.  But she never came.  When the sun started to peek just a little in the sky, Jesus realized that something had to be wrong.  Running to the Wes’s room, he knocked furiously on the door until they awoke.  Telling them quickly what had happened and what he suspected, Jesus felt his chest constrict and he couldn’t breathe. The world swam before him as the Wes got dressed and ran downstairs to figure out what to do.  All Jesus wanted was for them to find Alessandra.  All he wanted was for her to be safe and for it to be a mix up.

Yet, once again, what Jesus wanted didn’t matter.  Alessandra had appeared, but she wasn’t safe.  Her neck was bruised black; her lips and the skin under her eyes were streaked pale purple; the hair on her head and clothes on her body were messy and sprinkled with dirt.  When she collapsed against the door and Master Wes caught her, Jesus was too stunned to even act.  He thought his heart had stopped. 

Now, looking into Alessandra’s eyes, he knew no matter how much he wanted to stay and be safe, it wasn’t going to happen. They had to run while they had the chance. 

Kayla watched her friends talk and grew angry in disbelief at how easily Jesus was changing his mind.  Didn’t he have a spine?  Why should they have to leave such a wonderful place just because Alessandra had a hunch?  It wasn’t fair!  It was always about Alessandra!  What about what Kay wanted? Huh? She liked this town.  She was like a movie star here. There was always some visiting son or grandson who found her beautiful, intelligent, and fun.  Why the hell did she have to leave it all just because Aless had a “feeling?”

It wasn’t like Aless ever thought of Kay’s feeling.  Aless didn’t notice how all her free time went to Jesus or how she always seemed too busy for Kay.  Aless hadn’t once asked if Kayla was alright after Aless had never come home the night she was attacked.  Unable to sleep without Aless, Kay had tossed and turned in bed, worried sick.  Then suddenly the bedroom door as flown open and Master Wes had carried Aless inside.  It had been terrible.  Removed from the room, Kay hadn’t been able to see or talk to Aless for two days.  But Aless didn’t care about that.  No.  It was always about Aless!

Jesus nodded his head in a silent consent.

“No!” Kayla snapped. “This is bullpoop, Aless.  This place is great.  We couldn’t be anywhere safer.  Just because you pissed someone off enough that they hurt you doesn’t mean it has to be ruined for the rest of us!”

In utter surprise, Rafita and Jesus swiveled to look at Kayla.  How could she say that? Kayla didn’t notice as her eyes were locked with Aless’s.  Aless’s face was impassive, not showing a single inch of what she was feeling. That was how she always ways.  She never showed her real feelings to Kay.  Heat pricked the back of Kay’s eyes. 

“If you want to stay, Kay,” Aless started.

“Damn straight I want to stay.  They aren’t going to find us here.  You are just paranoid.  They don’t even care that much about us as slaves!  There are tons of other slaves.  We aren’t and you aren’t that important,” Kayla cut in her teeth bared.

Jumping to her feet, Kay stood with her hands on her hips in a defiant stance.

“If you want to stay, Kayla,” Aless repeated.

Her voice was soft and rough from the damage to her throat.  The sound made Kay’s inside twist and burn. How could Aless be so cold to her?  Her best friend!  

“Then you may stay.  I’m leaving.  I will take my money and backpack and leave in two days.  None of you have to come. If this is where we part, it’s where we part.”

“Oh please!  Don’t try that martyr, ‘you’re a passive saint’ stuff on me, Aless.  It won’t work.  I won’t be guilt-tripped!  And why should you keep the stuff anyways?  We are supposed to split it.”

“I’m not trying to guilt-trip you, Kay.  I’m telling you what I am going to do.  And if you stay, you have no need for the pack or the money that was in it.  You have a job and home.  You don’t think we are important enough for them to hunt, so you will never need to run.  That’s why I will be taking it.”
            Kayla tried to think of a reason that her friend couldn’t take the bag, but all the ideas came to mind she knew automatically were lame and stupid.  Grinding her teeth, Kayla hated that Alessandra always won the argument.  She hated how Alessandra got everything and didn’t see that! She hated how Aless, who always worried about other people’s feelings, didn’t see how the people closest to her felt. 

“Fine!” Kayla finally snorted.

Turning on her heels, Kay stormed out of the room.  Everyone watched her leave with varying looks of pity, distain, and regret.  Jesus watched Kayla leave and he felt such irritation that he wanted to run after her just to slap her across the face.  She was a spoiled brat.  Aless bent over backward to help Kay but it was never enough.  How many times had Kayla almost gotten them killed or caught?  At least three times that Jesus could think of.  The girl was a leech or a parasite of some kind, so unhappy with her own life she had to suck it from Alessandra.  It had been Kayla who had almost messed up everything when Jesus and Rafita met Alessandra.  She could still mess up everything.  Glancing at Rafita, Jesus felt his stomach tighten.  He couldn’t allow that.  Jesus had to ensure that everything went according to plan. 

Rafita slipped her hand into her big brother’s and squeezed.  She too was watching the door in which Kayla had left but she was smiling sadly. Rafita pitied Kayla.  Even at her young age, Rafita knew that Kayla was hiding something, not only from her friend, but from herself. It was making her unhappy, greedy, and insecure.

“It’s a pity,” Rafita sighed.

Shifting her gaze to Aless, who had a mournful look encompassing her façade, Rafita smiled sadly.

“That your friend is so blind to herself.”