Liberation [Disclosure sequel] h.s

12

Evelyn

"This place is..." I begin to say, not finding the right words to describe the room we found on a cheap hotel in Detroit. We had just checked in for the night, not sure how many nights we would spend here, but after seeing how terrible the room is, I hope I don't have to come back here tomorrow.

"A shithole." Harry sighs placing his bag on top of the white covers, which even at this distance I can see it is filled with brown stains. What those stains are or how long they have been there, I don't know nor do I want to find out. I will have to sleep there tonight, it's best if I remain oblivious to what has happened on this bed before we got here. And to be honest, I'm extremely tired, I don't think I will even be bothered by that when I close my eyes.

"Well... Yes." I put my suitcase on the floor not even contemplating the option to take off my shoes, as I don't want my feet to touch the dirty carpet.

Our twelve-hour drive was the most painful one yet. It didn't help that we were both sleep deprived and hungry for most of the journey. I managed to drive for three whole hours, enough for Harry to sleep a little bit or at least for him to rest. He then wanted to drive again and I let him, not feeling my legs at that point. Knowing Harry had slept a little bit, eased my mind so I could sleep for a while too. It was never a restorative sleep, nor was it deep but I felt a little well rested afterwards.

Harry and I didn't share many words during the whole journey, mostly because one of us was always sleeping, or at least trying to. Honestly, I'm glad we didn't speak much because it gave me time to think about the conversation we just had. I kept replaying the scene where Harry cried so many times in my head, feeling my heart get smaller each time I remembered the suffering we was in. He opened his heart to me which I'm thankful for, but I can't forget how he treated me for the past weeks.

I don't trust him like I once did, nor do I have much faith things will actually change between us. I will just take one day at a time, and try to be patient, even more than what I have been. We both have a goal which is to find Collin, before that is done none of us gets to walk away. I want to find the boy, make him see we didn't give up on him, apologize for what happened because I will always think it is my fault.

And hopefully Collin will come back to us, safe and sound, happy to see us again. Although I don't think it will be that easy. Each day he spends with Howard is another day he is suffering, maybe even being tortured by that man. Collin might be his son, but I'm sure he wouldn't have second guesses when it comes to sacrificing his child. Howard is mentally ill, or maybe just extremely twisted. Either way, he belongs behind bars, away from his child.

"If we have to sleep here again tomorrow we will find a better place, I promise." Harry says.

I know why we aren't staying on nicer places. One reason is to remain low profile, the other is because we might have some money, but that doesn't mean, we have a lot to spend. The cost of fuel, food, and the hotel stays are getting bigger each day. We are just being cautious because, even if we hope to find Collin soon, we don't know how long we will have to continue searching.

And looking for him implies many unplanned expenses just like the ones I mentioned. Harry has saved quite a bit of money over the last years, but we all know, spending money is much more quicker to do than earning it. Besides, Jay is the one responsible to send us money here when we need it, as it would be too risky for us to carry it all and we can't make the transactions ourselves. It could take a while for him to send the money here, the last thing we need is having to sleep on the car, or not having enough money for gas, for example.

"It's fine, maybe the sheets are clean." I say hopeful but don't dare to check it myself as I don't want to be disappointed when I find out they are as filthy as the rest of the room.