Chapter 17 #3
"No, I’m just going to bed, go to work. I will be fine, promise.
" He stares for a few seconds before leaving out the door.
As soon as I can no longer see his car out the bedroom window, I throw my things in a bag.
If I follow the driveway, it will lead me to the dirt road heading toward the City.
I just need to get to my car, then I can hopefully leave the City before they get home.
They said we are only half an hour away from the City, so hopefully, that means an hour or a little more on foot.
I grab only what I need and everything else I can replace eventually.
Ducking downstairs, I snag my photo album off the bookshelf and cram it into the blue backpack I found.
Snatching my tennis shoes, I slip them on, before getting my phone and wallet from the kitchen.
Rustling through my handbag, I find the car keys to my beast.
Walking outside, I walk toward the driveway, stopping to glance in the direction of my mother's plant. I can't take it, and the idea of leaving her is eating at me, but I know she would understand.
The driveway is so long it takes me nearly ten minutes to walk down it.
I’m dreading the walk, but hopefully, I will see a car and can hitchhike into the City.
When I get to the end of the driveway, I turn left and follow it all the way to the paved road.
I glance at the time, and it is a little after 8:30.
I still have plenty of time, but I am also miles away from the City.
I see no cars, just proving how deserted this area is.
After another hour of walking, my phone dings a message coming through.
An idea hits me. I ignore the message asking how I am from Tobias.
Guilt pangs me, but I push it solidly away.
I’m not going to regret running away to save my own life.
Instead, I scroll through my contacts and find Mark's number before dialing it. He answers after a few seconds.
"Imogen?" His voice holds a note of suspicion. Not that I can blame him.
"Hey Mark, are you at work?" I chirp, trying to sound casual. I can't let him know things aren't perfectly normal.
"I am on the way. I'm running a little late. What do you need?" His voice warms at the end of his question. I almost feel bad about asking him for this, almost. I would not regret my decision to survive, and the things I have to do in order to bring it about.
"I'm stuck outside of town, and it's going to take me at least ten minutes to walk it.
Is there anyway I can get a ride?" I try to stress the last word. Let him take it dirty, I’m not letting anything stop me.
I rattle off the address, and continue to trudge forward.
No point in just sitting down, if he falls through, I have to find another plan.
But within ten minutes, he pulls up in his blue Mazda. I have to wonder how fast he sped to get to me. Relief washes over me at seeing his smiling face. I’m going to escape this time, get my life back. He slowly rolls his window down, eyeing me from top to bottom. "Need a lift?" he jokes.
"You're a lifesaver, thank you." I climb into the car and sigh against the heated leather seats.
"So, work?" he asks with a chuckle, but something in his eyes tells me that if I want to go home with him, Mark is more than willing. Not that I want to follow that route.
"Um…" Can I trust him not to tell Tobias and Theo? I decide I can because I don't really have a choice, and I also know he won't willingly seek them out after the other day. "Can you drop me at my apartment by any chance?"
"Everything okay?" Mark shifts straighter, glancing over at me. "I can pull over, we can talk if you need it."
"Yep, everything is fine. I just need to pick up my car." I wave his concerns away with a too-wide smile. Come on, Imogen, keep it together a little longer.
"Oh, okay, then tell me where to go, then.
" He turns the car around and heads toward the City, listening to my directions.
He looks like he is dressed for an interview in his black slacks and white button-up top.
I really hope they don't fire him. Why can't Tobias and Theo have been ordinary like Mark?
Not that Mark isn't attractive or anything, but he definitely isn't my sort of bloke.
He is nice and friendly, but there is no chemistry, which is a shame.
Being with him would be easy, normal. Not this shit storm I live in.
I don't feel the best using his feelings for me to get what I needed, but when you're desperate, sometimes there's no other way.
"So, what were you doing all the way out there, anyway?" Mark glances over at me again, a friendly smile on his lips.
"I was visiting a friend, but they left before I woke up," I say, not wanting to tell him that Tobias and Theo have a house out there.
When we pull up to my apartment, I tell him I will meet him at work.
He waves goodbye, and as soon as he is out of sight, I race for the car garage, careful to stay very far away from the valet station.