Our Last Summer

Chapter 40, Safe House

(Ethan's POV)

Finding Ayanna was an accident. I was out one night, forming the escape plan. I've been looking for a boat since I've been with Casper and Rebecca and the only time I could sneak away was at night. I was going to meet Kaeo because he said he could get me a boat. I walked out of the building and toward the road to find some sort of boat dock or even a jet ski rental place. Anything to get us out of here.

Once I got to the road, I felt a knife press against my throat and I instantly raised my hands as a form of surrender. A tall woman stood behind me and placed her other hand on my shoulder. It was weird that she was out here in the middle of the night. I figured I was getting robbed or something.

"What do you want from me?" I asked her. "I don't have any money--"

"I don't want your money. You know exactly what I want, and you're not going to play dumb." She said, pressing the knife on my throat harder. I gulped, breathing in so that I could stay calm.

"Look, lady, you don't know who you're dealing with. If you know what's good for you then you better let me go."

"If you try any magic on me, you will lose. That's a promise. Now, where are the seven kids?" She asked. My eyes widened. Seven kids? Like the six who are in cells and me. "And my son."

"The seven--" I tried to turn to face her, but she kept me still. "--seven kids? Why are you looking for them? How do you know them?"

"I only know six of them. You kidnapped the seventh. Ethan Smith. Where is he?"

"That's me. I'm him."

"Don't mess with me." She said, digging the metal into my skin. I shook my head.

"No. I'm Ethan Smith." She paused for a second like she was trying to process what I was telling her. She pushed my shoulder so I turned around. I kept my hands up and she held the knife out at me. She was examining my face. "What do you want with us?"

"The real question is: where are they?"

"Who are you?" I quickly questioned. She walked closer to me and I took a step back.

"Don't try to trick me. Where are they?"

"They're in there. Rebecca and Casper have them." She looked like she was examining my face and I was worried that she wouldn't believe me.

"Is my son in there?"

"Who's your son?"

"Kaeo."

"No, he should've gone home."

"He wouldn't willingly join your team."

"Don't underestimate him," I smirked.

"If you were Ethan, why would you be roaming the street?" She placed the tip of the knife against my throat again and I licked my lips. "You got kidnapped."

"Sort of. I left to find them and when I did, they let me be a part of their team. I've been 'working' with them ever since." I used air quotes around working.

"You've been playing them, haven't you?" I nodded, smirking at my plan. "My son must be doing the same." I shrugged. "Why wouldn't you just come back?"

"I don't need to explain myself to you." She dug the knife further into my skin and I breathed out sharply.

"Don't get mouthy with me. Your story isn't adding up." I was tired of her threatening me.

I quickly pushed her arm away from my throat and turned her around. I grabbed the knife from her hand and placed it against her throat, holding her in place with my arm. I let the electricity in my body present itself by allowing the electricity to swarm my arms.