Chapter 30
CHAPTER THIRTY
I kneeled on the floor of my cousin’s room, placing my clothes, toothbrush, and other items into the duffel bag. We were leaving at first light. As I was packing away what little I had, along with any remaining food, Emery finished readying the boat. I might have told him to wait a day, but I could see he was anxious. And, really, I was too. The house didn’t feel like home anymore anyway. It was just a place that held memories, nothing more.
It wasn’t the house that made me nervous to go. Taking a spontaneous trip like this with little planning was terrifying. But I trusted Emery to see us through to the end.
What little planning we did was more preparing for what we would do once we were gone. After I agreed, my brain—being the critical, overthinking bitch that it was—started to quietly panic as the realization of what we were going to do hit me and what that all entailed.
Emery said it would be somewhere warm, somewhere with clear skies and the ocean. I told him he had to give me a better idea. After a little looking around, we found an old, water-damaged book of maps in the attic and flipped to the region around the gulf between the southern US and South America. He tapped his finger on Merida in Yucatan.
“We’ll start at the coast there and work our way along the east bend,” he explained.
“So that means getting to the Gulf of Mexico. Which means…” I flipped through the maps till I found the waterways. “We're going to have to go around the state till we get to the Illinois River and take the Mississippi down.”
“Better than the alternative.” He traced his finger along Lake Erie and up the coast to Maine.
“How long?” I asked, nervously.
“A couple weeks. If we don’t make too many stops.”
I cursed.
Emery smirked at me. He left his mask off longer now, trying to become more accustomed to keeping it off. Since his mask was more recognizable now than his actual face, he knew he’d be too easy to spot if he kept it on when we sailed through the narrower, more populated areas.
And that was another thing. There would be canals we’d have to pass through. Which meant possible checks by patrols. Emery didn’t have a license and mine was expired. If I had access to the internet from my laptop, I could get it renewed online but that meant the risk of our location being compromised.
Then there was food. We didn’t have enough for a couple of weeks, let alone more. So, we’d have to make a stop somewhere.
If we made it out, there was the gulf to deal with. Would the boat even make it? Would the coast guard be waiting for us? What if we got caught in a storm? What if…
It was nerve-wracking as hell. And it almost pissed me off that Emery was so calm about all of it.
“We’ll figure it out as we go,” he said with a grin.
Dammit, we needed a week just to prepare. Instead, we were leaving in the span of a night.
After we’d figured out our heading, I went to start packing, keeping myself busy and occupied.
As I folded the rest of my clothes, I started to think about what came after instead. If we made it to Merida, we’d probably have to lay low and live in the boat for a while. Then when the time was right, I could start getting into my accounts. Dad didn’t leave me with nothing after all. I had a decent inheritance that was doubled since my brother wasn’t going to be able to grab his own. The email and eventual call to the family lawyer was going to be interesting to say the least. And when I felt we were truly safe, I’d contact my friends and Uncle Wes, let them know I was okay. I wouldn’t tell them I was with Emery, no way in hell. But I’d have to tell them I wasn’t coming back.
Once everything was taken care of, our dream might really come true.
After I stuffed the duffel bag full, I emptied the bathroom then used the cooler and a couple bags Emery had taken from my apartment to take out the food from the kitchen. I looked at the clock after and saw it was half past six in the morning. Less than a couple hours till sunrise. I saw Emery on the backyard camera, lugging a bag of tools to take on the boat. It had started to rain.
Almost done packing. There was just one more thing I needed. I climbed up the stairs two at a time, then veered left into the garage. My laptop lay on the workman's table. I took it back downstairs and plugged it in. As I set it down, the screen popped up. I did a double-take and felt my heart flip, then sink a little.
The background was a picture of Sammy, my cat on her back, paws in the air. I stared at her cute pink paws and suddenly felt a sharp ache in my chest. I sat there thinking about my cat, about Jamie and Lena, even Uncle Wes and felt the ache again. I really was going to miss them. I couldn’t pretend that I wasn’t still sad. Despite what I agreed to do, that I was willing to leave with Emery and never come back, I felt sorry. I loved them all, I really did, but I’d felt so alone for so long. None of them needed me. Sammy would be okay; I trusted Jamie to take care of her. They’d be okay without me and so would Lena. Uncle Wes had his family to support him, so he’d be fine too.
No, none of them needed me. But Emery did. And, as fucked up as it was, I needed him too.
I stared at the screen for a moment before pulling up a blank word document.
I couldn’t send anything to them yet. But I could still write to them and save the letter for later. When we got to where we were going, I could email it to them when I was ready.
I took a deep breath and wrote everything I needed to say to the ones who would miss me the most.
I finished my letters just in time for us to depart. Emery helped me carry things from the basement. I took my duffel bag and swung it over my shoulder. We checked all the rooms one last time and, when we were sure we grabbed everything, I followed him up to the garage.
The garage was a mess from Emery sifting through things. As I walked through, I said my last final goodbye to the house, never expecting to set foot in it again.
When I got to the door leading outside, I hesitated. The rain had gotten heavier in the hour, the sky so stormy it still looked dark out despite the clock saying the sun was starting to rise. Emery was heading straight for the boathouse, hardly even considering the rain. I caught up to him, getting soaked despite my jacket, having to blink more than usual to keep the droplets out of my eyes.
I hesitated again by the dock, noticing the current was flowing fast down river. It would be a slog to get out to the bay and into choppy water.
Inside the boathouse, I tried to keep my anxiety hidden and stick to loading things into the boat. Or rather watching Emery do it as he was quicker. He packed everything in as I took note of the water rising.
“Is that everything?” he asked as he steadied himself by the edge.
“I think so,” I replied. There was a small flash from outside, then the quiet boom of thunder in the distance. “Maybe we should wait,” I added. “You know, for the storm to pass.”
Emery looked out to the entrance, his eyes narrowing. He wore his mask now, I assumed to keep the rain out of his face, so I couldn’t see his expression.
“Might be a little rough at first, but this rain could last all day.” He glanced at me. “What do you think, sweetheart, eh?”
I pursed my lips. I was nervous to go out in this. But also, anxious to be away.
“Just a half hour,” I said at last. “If it doesn’t slow by then, we’ll just go.”
“Alright. I’ll check things over one last time, make sure the electrical is good, let the boat warm up.”
I nodded. “I think that’s a good idea.”
He grabbed my hand, pulling me closer while making sure I didn’t fall in the water. He pressed his forehead to mine. “We got this, baby. We’ll be in the sun in no time, just wait and see.”
I closed my eyes, imagining it. “I know.” I took a deep breath. Forgetting his mask, I kissed his skull face and smiled knowing he would eventually lose it for good. Once we were in our little paradise, there’d be time to heal.
I heard his soft intake of breath, saw his eyes light up. He brought my hand to his skull face and pressed it lightly to one side. He let it drop then turned back to the wheel of the boat, taking out the keys.
“Oh, the generator!” I blurted. “Better make sure that’s off.”
He lifted his head. “Ah, yeah, I might have forgotten about that. Doesn’t really matter, it can run itself dry.”
“It will only take a second. I’ll be right back.” I turned for the door, zipped up my jacket all the way and headed back outside. I ran up the yard and around the side of the garage. I opened the little door to the box and turned the switch off.
The generator powered down, the humming dying. I closed the box and started to head back.
As I came around the corner, I noticed I’d left the garage door open. I went to close it, then paused, peering inside at the darkness within.
I thought I saw figures standing in the dark staring at me. My heart dropped and I blinked away raindrops, wiping my face. I looked again and they were gone.
I felt cold and shaken at first. Then I felt like I understood.
“Goodbye,” I said aloud this time. “Don’t wait around for me.”
I shut the door, taking a slow, shaky breath. The ghosts could move on without me.
I turned around, ready to return to the boathouse, and found myself face-to-face with a man.
Not Emery.
“L-Liam,” I breathed.
He put a finger to his lips to warn me not to make a sound. In his other hand was a gun. He wore all black, which contrasted with his bright slicked-back hair.
He grabbed my hand and started to drag me across the yard toward the woods.
I tried to tug my hand away. “Liam, stop!” I snapped.
He turned to me, confused, then leaned in, his hand gripping my arm tight. “It’s okay. I got you now,” he whispered. “Don’t be scared, he can’t get you, I know where he is and if he comes after us, I’ll shoot him down. But we have to go now, Eve, okay?”
I shook my head. “No, no, I can’t!”
“SWAT is coming through the front. They’ll mow down anything that moves. I barely had time to head them off.” He pulled me again toward the forest.
I wanted to call out to Emery but knew I put his life at risk if I did. And if the cops were really coming…it would be very bad.
I looked back at the boathouse in panic but Emery didn’t come out.
Liam tugged at me again and this time I let myself be taken into the woods.
Please, Emery, just leave . Take the boat and go!
If he left before they came, he might have a chance to get away. He could hide for however long he needed to, then he could find me again when he was ready.
Liam took me down the narrow path through the woods. Passed the firepit and on toward the edge of the property.
My heart was jackhammering out of my chest, wondering where the hell Liam was taking me. By now, Emery had to wonder why I had been gone so long. He’d see I was missing and freak the fuck out. He’d search for me, I knew he would. Even when I didn’t want him to because it meant not leaving and I believed Liam when he said he hadn’t come alone.
We made it to the creek that served as the line between the family property and the neighbors. He took me over a shallow section, keeping me running with him even though I could barely keep up and stumbled more than once as I had no shoes.
“Liam, wait,” I tried to talk, breathless. “Liam—”
Through the hiss of the rain, there came a thunderous, ground-shaking bang that made us both jump. Not the sound of thunder but more like a bomb going off. Liam stopped in his tracks, looking back toward the house.
Blood drained from my face. Oh god, Emery’s trap at the gate. It had gone off.
“Fuck,” Liam cursed sharply, then pulled me onward. “We're almost there.”
We slipped through the last bit of woods. When we broke out into the yard, Liam turned us toward the back.
Down a small incline, I saw the neighbor’s dock that stretched out far into the river. At the very end was a boat tied to the left side.
He slowed as we crossed, making sure I didn’t slip. As the boat got closer and closer, the more my feet seemed to drag under me, not wanting to move.
We were only a few feet away when I saw something whoosh past and heard Liam suddenly cry out in pain, letting me go. He hunched over, cursing, and I saw blood run down his arm, dripping onto the dock. As he twisted around, I saw the knife dug deep in his back shoulder.
Too shocked to move, I turned my eyes back along the dock toward the shore where Emery stood. His head was bent, his shoulders hunched, his chest rising and falling like he had been running.
Even from this distance, I could see the fury burning in his eyes. And it made me shudder.
I took a step toward him, and Liam caught my arm in a vice grip. Emery moved across the dock toward us. As he got closer, Liam forced me behind him and brought up his gun.
“No!” I cried out.
Liam aimed but didn’t pull the trigger. “Stay the fuck where you are, Emery.”
Emery slowed, then halted only a few feet away. The rain pouring down made his suit stick to him, made his wavy hair stick to his mask.
I tried to grab Liam’s shoulder. “Put the gun down, Liam.”
His finger was on the trigger.
Liam held me back with one arm. I wanted Emery to look at me but his focus was only on Liam.
“You think you’re a hero?” Emery said. “You think you're saving her?”
“I am saving her,” Liam said. “And if you try to stop me, I will shoot.”
Emery shook his head. “No. You're not saving her. She doesn’t want to go with you, understand? She’s chosen me.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Ask her.”
Liam wouldn’t look at me. He only shook his head. “You're either a liar or you’ve stockholmed her.”
“Liam.” I shook his arm. “Just put the gun down. I’ll…I’ll go with you if you swear not to hurt him.” I glanced at Emery and we locked eyes. “Emery, let me go with him. Take the boat and go.”
Liam gave me a stunned look. “Eve.”
“Please, Emery, they are coming.”
We could hear the shouts of men and the barking of dogs in the distance. Emery looked over his shoulder, then turned back to me.
“I’m not going anywhere without her,” he said to Liam. “She’s coming with me.”
“No, she’s not,” Liam said.
Emery tilted his head. “You think you got a chance to hit me?” he said, taking one step then another. Prowling toward us like some predator. “With one bad arm? You think you can hit me enough times before I close the distance between us and take you down?”
Liam’s arm shook. “I’m willing to take that chance.”
This was really happening. They were going to fight. And I couldn’t stop them.
I opened my mouth to shout at them to stop anyway, ready to shove Liam’s arm down and force myself out from behind him to get between them.
But Emery was quicker. He lunged toward Liam to get to me.
It all happened so fast my brain couldn’t process it quick enough.
The first shot came from Liam. The second came from behind, somewhere in the tree line.
Liam’s shot caught him in the shoulder. The one from behind got him in the back.
Emery staggered. But he still kept coming.
Then Liam fired again. Two more rounds, one after the other.
Blood splattered across the dock. Emery took a step but couldn’t take another.
“Eve,” he said distantly. “Eve...e.”
Emery sank to his knees. Before I could move, before I could even think, he fell.
He fell into the dark water. His body went under and the current took him.
No.
NO.
A scream pierced my skull, and I realized it was mine.
“Emery!” I screamed.
Liam held me, and I struggled against his grip. I tried to jump into the water but he refused to let go.
A man came out of the tree line with a long gun. Then the others came with their dogs.
All I could do was cry out for Emery.
Emery, who was now taken by the river.