Karma (The Exodus)

R ough brick meets my palms as we take a moment to rest and listen. Running amongst the shadows is exhausting. I touch a bruise forming on my shoulder as I stare at Sam’s back. I don’t understand what I do to make him so angry. If I’m as terrible as he claims I am, why is he with me?

He knows why I’m with him. He caught me in his web when I was in the prime of my daddy-issues phase. And by daddy issues, I mean the fact that my daddy is dead. Abandonment issues of the most permanent kind. He used that to his advantage, securing me in silk until I couldn’t leave.

I thought he wanted to take care of me, but he was only ensuring I had no finances with which to leave him. I believed he loved me, but I now know that he only loves two things: himself and control. Now...I’m stuck.

A scream breaks through the quiet, coming from the other side of the building we’re hunkered down behind. I look around for somewhere better to hide. A rusty dumpster stands in the alleyway, and when I look back at Sam, he nods. We rush for it as the screams grow closer.