Chapter 13
Silas
The basement was damp, emitting an earthy scent that was once a comforting shield that now felt heavy and suffocating.
I sat down on the floor across the room from Rosalie’s bed.
She lay curled up in her little nest of blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals.
Her face was usually vibrant, but today it was pale and drawn.
The sharp angles of her cheekbones were more pronounced.
A tremor ran through her. My brow furrowed, realizing that she was burning up with a fever.
I bit down on my lip, rising to my feet. I went to the bathroom and ran a washcloth under cold water, making my way across the room. I sat on the edge of her bed, placing the cool cloth onto her forehead.
A sickening certainty tightened in my chest. I couldn’t keep her here forever; she needed sunshine. As much as I wanted to keep her hidden from the world for forever, I knew that wasn’t plausible. She would wither away down here, and I simply refused to allow that to happen.
I reached out, my calloused fingers gently brushing a stray strand of her strawberry curls from her forehead.
Even while sick, she was the most beautiful thing I had ever laid eyes on.
I remembered the first time I met Rosalie, how nervous she was for her first day of training at the cafe.
Her laughter was a ringing melody above the sound of the espresso machines and milk frothers.
I missed working with her, but I prioritized her safety and well being above all else.
I had kept her down here for nearly two months now, and the lack of sunshine and fresh air seemed to be taking its toll.
Rosalie whimpered, leaning into my touch.
My eyes softened. “How are you feeling, Rosie?” I whispered.
A soft breath escaped her lips. “Tired… achy… warm.”
I know that the word ‘achy’ meant more than mere fatigue.
I had seen these symptoms time and time again.
The creeping weakness, the burning fever, the subtle changes in breathing.
It was her cough that worried me the most. A dry, hacking sound that scraped at the back of her throat.
I wasn’t a doctor, but I had enough medical knowledge to know that she needed medical attention.
God damn it…
“I need to get you some medicine…” I said softly, combing my fingers through her hair in an attempt to comfort her. “I’ll get you feeling better in no time.”
She smiled weakly at me, but her smile didn’t reach her eyes in the way it usually did. I held myself back from frowning. “How? I can’t… just go to the… doctor.”
“I’ll figure something out, don’t worry,”
She was right. They would recognize her.
The whispers, the news broadcasts and missing posters.
This town was small, and they talked far too much.
My eyes drifted around the basement, and the various supplies I knew I had hidden within the cupboards and shelves.
It was enough, but not for a cough like that. Not for the long term.
The first thought to cross my mind was obvious: we need to get the fuck out of this town.
Staying in this small, tightly-knit community where everyone knew everyone wasn’t an option.
We needed to disappear, to become ghosts in a crowded tapestry of a larger city where the people didn’t ask questions, let alone acknowledge the strangers they passed in the street.
The real question was how could we vanish without a trace? Her strawberry curls gave her away and…
A lightbulb went off in my head.
We could leave at night, and have her in a disguise.
I didn’t want to dye her hair, but maybe we could cut it.
It would grow back, and then have her wear a wig.
Las Vegas, Nevada was only about a nine and a half hour drive from Silverton, Colorado.
No one would ever look for us there. I needed to get her better, to get her on the same page with the plan.
There we could start anew… change our names, our identities.
She could go back to ballet, I had more than enough cash in my trust fund, not to mention my savings.
I leaned down, planting a soft kiss against her temple. “I’m going to get you some medicine, okay? I’ll be back as soon as I can… just rest while I’m gone, okay?”
Rosalie nodded, rolling over.
I took the washcloth I placed on her forehead and took it back to the sink, running it under cold water again.
Making sure it was as cold as it could be before I returned to her side, placing the cloth back onto her forehead.
I lifted her sheets, pulling them over her to ensure she was comfortable.
I then filled her water cup with ice water, leaving it on her nightstand along with a plate of saltine crackers in case she wanted to try to eat something before I returned.
Making my way back upstairs, I locked the door to the basement behind me.
Reaching for my motorcycle keys, I paused as I heard my phone ding, but I ignored it for the time being. Rosalie’s health and wellbeing was far more important than whoever the fuck was trying to contact me right now.
I made my way into the garage, opening the door. I put my helmet on my head, mounted my bike, and I took off, closing the garage door behind me.
The sky was obscured by a thick blanket of clouds.
It was chilly this morning, but not too bad given the time of year.
I drove across town to the pharmacy. I knew this town like the back of my hand.
Every nook and cranny, every hidden sidestreet and unguarded corner.
I weaved through the cars with ease. Within ten or so minutes I made it to the general store where the pharmacy was located inside.
Parking my bike, I flipped the visor of my helmet up so I could see while inside the store.
It was owned by some old grumpy senior citizen named Fabio.
God I fucking hated that guy. Who names their kid Fabio anyways?
The store smelled of prunes and old wood with a faint aroma of Pine-Sol.
Terrible smell, if you ask me. I grabbed a basket, carrying it in my left hand through the store.
I moved through the aisles, my footsteps muffled by the wooden floor.
My eyes narrowed in the medicine aisle, searching for whatever medicine I could get my hands on that would alleviate Rosalie's symptoms.
NyQuil, DayQuil,, nosestrips, Vix VapoRub, a few boxes of tissues, the list went on.
I shifted aisles,grabbing some juice, more saltine crackers and a few cans of soup.
Things that were easy on the stomach. Though, I planned on picking up to-go from Panera on the way back.
Only the best for my Rosalie. This town was small but there was no shortage of fast food options thankfully.
I tossed a few more things into my basket, walking past the maps.
I stopped, took two steps back and turned to the display of maps.
My eyes scanned the various cities and states, looking for one in particular.
Where is it… where is it… ah! There we go.
I grabbed the map of Las Vegas, and another of the United States. If I was going through with the idea I had, I would need to make sure I knew the best way to get from here to there.
I took one last look at all the items in my basket before going up to the counter. Fabio stood there, arms crossed. “You sick?” He asked with quite the attitude, scanning my items one after the other.
I held my tongue, “Yes.” I fake coughed.
Fabio glared at me, turning back to my items. He paused, staring at the maps before continuing on without a word.
I flashed a friendly smile, pulling my Amex card out of my wallet I kept in my back pocket. Tapping it, I paid, took my receipt and shoved it into the bag full of items I just purchased. Placing my wallet away, I pulled out my phone to put in an order for Panera.
“Hey buddy, what are you doing out this morning?” A voice called from my left. A voice I recognized.
You got to be fucking kidding me.
“Uncle Joe, what's up?” I replied with a smile.
He approached me with a cup of coffee in hand. “Oh, you know, important police work.” He chuckled.
“As always,”
“Still no word on your friend? Such a shame… she was really pretty.”
Don’t react, don’t react, don’t react.
I sighed. “Yeah, it’s a real bummer… I hope you find her soon. Work isn’t the same without her.”
He smiled, “I’m Sheriff for a reason, kiddo. I’ll find her. We have some leads we’re looking into…”
Leads? Fuck… who? Better not be me, the fuck.
“I texted you this morning; I was going to ask if you wanted to get dinner on Friday. Catch up. It’s been a while.” Uncle Joe grinned.
I nodded. “Friday? Sure. Just let me know a time and a place and I’ll be there.” I paused. “I really need to get going though. It’s been nice seeing you, Uncle Joe.”
Shit…
“See you Friday,” he replied, watching me as I turned my back to him.
He doesn’t suspect me, does he?
Peering down at my phone again, I finished putting in my Panera order.
For Rosalie, I picked Broccoli Cheddar Soup and the Half Chicken Bacon Rancher.
I also added a brownie and a strawberry smoothie.
For myself, I picked Rustic Baked Potato Soup with cheese and the Half Smokehouse BBQ Chicken sandwich.
Flipping my visor down, I shoved the plastic bag into the storage container on the back of my bike and made my way to Panera to pick up lunch before heading back to my place.