Chapter 14
Asmita
I try to stop crying, but the tears keep coming. I wipe them from my cheeks as quickly as I can. They make me feel weak in front of him and since we’ve just met, it’s also embarrassing. I pull myself together and tell him again.
“I have to get my bag. It has all of my things inside it. I don’t think George would let them hurt me,” I tell him.
He spins around and looks at me. He’s looking at me like I’ve grown a second head.
He tries to keep his voice low, but he’s seething, “Are you crazy?” he asks me.
“You can’t go in there! I think George is probably the one who told them you were here!
He’s the one who sent for them! Wake up and realize that, and you actually might survive through the next day. ”
I feel his words hit me like a ton of bricks to my chest. It makes perfect sense.
I trusted George from that first night he took me in.
I even trusted him enough to consume the food and water he was giving me without question.
The more I look back at the past week, the more I realize Jesse’s words are right.
I never even questioned George or his motives for being so nice to me.
I bet he poisoned me to keep me there. He knew I was planning on leaving town, and that’s how he got me to stay.
He had to do something drastic to keep me under his watch.
“We have to find a way to get my bag. It has everything I own in it, and I need those items to make it to the island,” I tell him as I erase the tears from my face using my shirt.
“You really are crazy, aren’t you? George knows we both want to get to the island. If we don’t show up at the bar, he’s going to know that’s where we both went. And if he knows anything about that bag of yours then it’s probably already gone or will be soon with those Dome goons showing up.”
He turns his back on me, and I rest my head against his backpack.
I was so stupid to leave my bag behind. I always have it with me.
I can’t leave it behind. I just can’t. I must have those items. The diamonds can buy my way into places I need to survive, and I’m so close to the island that it’ll take everything I’ve got to make it inside and survive there even if it’s blocked off.
Wait… I bet George was lying about that too.
Then I remember the conversation I had with the tradesman; he wouldn’t have any reason to lie, and he didn’t know that I was staying in George’s inn when I met him.
“Hey, do you think George was lying about the island being closed off. trying to keep me here and just telling me that?” I ask Jesse.
“Maybe, I don’t know. I’ve never been there, but I’m willing to take the chance and find out for myself.
Let’s blow off your bag and just get out of here.
We can go to the island together and see for ourselves.
If it’s closed off, I’ll help you get back out of the woods and into safety,” he tells me more calmly.
He puts his hand on my arm, and I feel a shiver inside me.
How many times do I have to stress this to him? “I’m not leaving here without my backpack.”
“Tell me something inside it that would make it okay to risk going in there and being caught just to get a backpack,” he says as he stares at me.
I’m just going to have to tell him. “A bag of diamonds!” The look on his face instantly tells me what I need to know.
He’s going to help me get my bag. He understands now that it can’t be left behind.
I’m going to have to trust someone, and I’m placing it in him.
I hope I’m not wrong this time. I can’t afford to be.
I trust him with my entire life. That bag holds everything for me to get to the island and survive.
If he’s serious about going to the island, then I’ll go with him.
There is safety in numbers but first, we must get my bag.
Jesse stands beside me and takes off his backpack.
He tells me to hold out my arms to the side, and I do.
He puts my arms into the straps and gently lays the bag on to my back.
It’s much heavier than mine, but I pull the straps tight and adjust it on my back.
The straps are worn and frayed from overuse.
He sees me struggling with the weight of the bag and smiles.
He smiles as he tells me, “Don’t worry you won’t have to carry it for long.
Now I’m the one trusting you with my entire life.
That bag has everything I own in it. If something happens, and you have to get out of here quickly, and you can’t make it with the bag then hide it. I’ll come back for it.”
“Where’s your bag inside?” he asks me.
I knew I shouldn’t have left it, but I got comfortable. It’s going to be hard to get. “It’s inside my room upstairs. I’m the last room to the left of the stairs, but there’s one more problem.”
He rolls his eyes at me. “What would that be?” he sarcastically asks.
“My door is locked, and I don’t have the key. George does. It’s hanging on a hook under the bar. He offered to let me leave it behind and lock it up for the night.”
“Geez! I can’t get a break here. Okay…let me think. That was probably another way to keep you tethered to the place, a guarantee for him to know you wouldn’t leave it behind. You’re sure he doesn’t know anything else about you or what’s inside your bag?”
“I’m sure. Only what you already know. He knows that I was passing through town and that I was going to the island. He’s never seen inside my bag. When I paid for the room, I did it in trade and got the items out of a pocket. I never opened it up in front of him.”
“Okay, here’s what is going to happen. I want you to stay here.
Stay out of sight. If I’m not out in five minutes, I want you to start making your way north toward the island.
I’ll catch up with you, and we'll trade backpacks. Stay off the main path and stay out of the sunlight as much as you can. I’m going to go in there and get that bag.
If something goes south and I don’t show up, don’t come back for me. ”
“How do I know you aren’t just taking my bag and ditching me?”
He looks me straight in the eye and with a serious face says, “I wouldn’t do that to you. If I don’t show up then I’m dead.”
This is such a selfless act, and I’ve never had someone behave like this for me besides my parents. I have to ask him, “Why are you doing this for me? We barely know each other.”
“Trust me on this one. I feel like I’ve known you a lot longer.
” With that, he leaves the safety of our hiding spot and starts making his way toward the bar.
I look at my watch. He’s got five minutes and then I’m following his instructions.
I’m nervous and sweating. The sun is almost completely up, and I don’t have any cover where I’m standing.
I’m hidden out of view from others, but the sun finds me.
If I have to spend the day outside, I don’t want to do it alone.
It’s going to be hot, and it’s been a long time since I’ve been without cover.
I peek around the corner, and I can see Jesse approaching the door of the bar.
The Dome guard standing at the door looks him over.
They talk for a few seconds, and he lets him past and into the bar.
Time starts ticking now. The fear I feel for him surprises me.
I care for this complete stranger, not only because I know what the Dome guards are capable of but because I actually like him.