Chapter 30
THIRTY
FENRIR
PRESENT
We drive back to the house in silence. Hayami’s probably lost in thought about what Kevin told her. She has that quizzical look on her face when she’s trying to work something out.
This outing was supposed to help clear my head, put a bit of perspective on things. Instead, it’s only fuelled my anxiety.
I don’t like the fact that he knows we’re here.
Although Devall ordered supplies, he wouldn’t have told Kevin who was staying at the house.
When other people know your location, it can lead to trouble.
Anyone could approach Kevin and force answers from him; in fact, you wouldn’t even need to get the thumb screws out.
He’s a chatterbox and would unwittingly divulge anything to anyone.
It amazes me how some people are so unaware of basic safety, about not sharing personal information or asking too many questions. Then I remember that this is how most people live their lives, and I’m the exception because of the people I work for, the job I do, and what became of my family.
What he told us of Junko’s stay at Belial House is new information to Hayami. I, of course, know about her one-time visit, but so far, I haven’t come across anyone by the name of Kevin.
There’s a temptation, as we make our way along the winding road that surrounds the large forest to the right, to drive in the completely opposite direction, to take this car full of supplies and head out somewhere no one would ever find us.
Would she come willingly? She admitted to me that she’d thought about running away when she dropped Willa off at the airport, but the thought of Devall hunting down Willa and me and killing us in revenge stopped her.
What’s to stop us now? What’s to stop me from turning this car around and getting us both the hell out of here? Because even when this ends, when it’s time to return her to reality, what awaits her?
“You’re wondering about it, aren’t you?” Hayami says, splintering my thoughts.
“What?” I keep my eyes on the road.
“About not going back to the house and driving off somewhere else instead.”
I straighten in my seat, wondering how she knew.
“It’s okay. I was thinking about it too. How easy it’d be just to drive to someplace else and forget about everything and everyone.”
There’s a strange feeling in my gut, and before I can think it through, I say, “Then why don’t we?”
We’re approaching the turn-off that heads up the mountain and to Belial House. It’s ten feet away. Hayami eyes the road ahead. I ready myself to hit the gas, to keep on going. To never look back. Because I’d do it, without any hesitation. All she has to do is say the words, and we’re out of here.
Instead, she looks down at her hands. “Because he’d find us,” she says sadly. “We’d run and run and run. Never stop running. Never stop looking over our shoulders. We’d never be free. None of us.”
“You’d rather live in your cage?”
“I’d still be caged. It’d just feel bigger. But there’d always be an end to it, a line I can’t cross. He’s made sure of that.”
We drive in silence the rest of the way.
Once we’re at the house, we unload the car and bring everything into the kitchen to unpack.
“I hate tinned food,” Hayami says as she places various cans in the tall cupboard. “It all tastes metallic.”
“Beggers can’t be choosers,” I tell her, retrieving my phone from the countertop where I left it and opening the weather app.
Between the lack of sleep, Hayami’s strange nighttime incidents, and the en suite rescue, I’ve taken my eye off the ball concerning the weather, and Kevin’s parting comment is niggling at me.
The app takes a while to load, and as I’m waiting, I notice Hayami placing the gun I gave her on the table.
“Won’t be needing it in here, I hope,” she says, eyeing the gun.
“No,” I reply, but I’m focused on the weather report because, when it loads, the first thing I see is the red weather warning marked for the day after tomorrow.
I click on the alert.
A Red Weather Warning is in place for the local area for snow, ice, high winds, and freezing fog. Red Weather Warning means there is a threat to life, and you must not travel unless it is to reach safety or you are in immediate danger.
Fuck.
This is the last thing we need.
Hayami opens the fridge and places the chilled items inside.
There’s a pang of something in my gut. I’ve already kept her mother’s journal from her, so keeping this information from her as well feels like a step too far, even though the last thing I want to do is cause her to worry.
“There’s a weather warning out for snow.”
Hayami glances at me. “It feels cold enough. When for?”
“Two days from now.”
“Did you bring a sledge?” She smiles. She doesn’t see it. Doesn’t realise we could be stuck up here for days, totally cut off from the world. Safe, at least, but stranded.
“I’ll finish up in here,” I say, moving over to the fridge. She eyes me suspiciously. “Haven’t you got some work to finish?”
“Yeah.” She sighs heavily. Her studies are the only thing keeping her focus right now, the only link she has to her life before this shit went down. I don’t want her falling behind. “I’ll set up in the library.”
She leaves the kitchen, and I finish unpacking, relieved that I’ll get a chance to pick up Junko’s journal, as I’m eager to know if Kevin had been telling the truth or whether something else entirely is going on here.