The Tracking

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The lock made a slight click when Adira opened the door to her apartment. She made a sweeping gesture with her hand into the tiny living space.

"It's not much, but it's all I have." She murmured before following me into the room. She was right- it wasn't much- but it had a certain appeal to it.

Every inch of the room was either shrouded in light, or was occupied by something colorful. The curtains over the window were blinding white and they reminded me of gauze and I understood that she used her decor as a weapon against her demons.

The entire apartment was barely the size of my family's living room. Well, the third living room they would banish the young children to during holiday meals. To the left of the front door was a cramped kitchen. The counter was covered in plants and the sink had a few unwashed dishes in it.

To the right was the living room. It was sparse with only a coffee table and a mustard yellow couch with a few tears eating away at the space. On the wall a few feet away from the couch was a door. I turned to her with a smile.

"I love it!" And I did. Growing up, the only interior design I was exposed to was wealth- which was a style all in it's own. My mother had a soft spot for Victorian Era antiques and fit as many expensive artifacts into the Redford Estate as was possible. Some days I would stare at the seams of the walls just waiting for them to burst from the pressure of it all.

The simplicity in this tiny living space had me mesmerized.

"Thank you," She smiled at me then walked towards her fridge. Turning back to me she said, "We have a long drive be ahead. I suggest you grab a shower while I whip us up something to eat." I could tell she was nervous. I was high risk and I admired her for helping me. She pointed to the door at the opposite side of the living room.

"Go through there. My bathroom is to the right."

"I won't be long." I said as she made her way to the kitchen shrugging off my thin jacket. I left it sitting on the mustard yellow couch. 

When I got out of the shower, Adira had laid a change of clothes out on the toilet. It was a simple forest green sweatshirt, with a pair of black leggings. I quickly pulled on the clothes, then slipped back into my sneakers. I threw my half a head of hair into a side braid.

I decided that I liked when my hair looked when it was wet and the darker sheen the water gave it. For a moment, it almost looked like I hadn't destroyed my once lovely tresses. I blinked away the pressure building behind my eyes and made my way towards the kitchen after opening the door.

As I noticed the navy blue duffle bag in the middle of the kitchen, I realized that her apartment was a very temporary stop. She stood for a moment with her hands on her hips and scanned the room. Pursing her lips, she then turned to me. She then smiled softly at me. "I'm glad the clothes fit."

I nodded as I grabbed my jacket.

"Here," she smiled walking over to her kitchen table. It was small and simple, like the rest of the house, but made entirely of an earthy wood. It looked as though she plucked it from the forest itself. She set down a sandwich then turned and gave me a slightly embarrassed look.

"I don't eat meat, so you'll have to do with an entirely vegetable sandwich."

I laughed. "Don't worry. Food is food." I sat down at the table. "So what's the plan?"

"I finish packing and then we're off."

I shrugged. "Sounds foolproof, if you ask me."

Her smile was forced but I pretended not to notice. I felt as though it would have been rude to question her. "Yes. Foolproof."

The air was silent for a few moments. Suddenly, a crash and a muffled curse could be heard a few floors down. Adira instantly flew into action.

"We have to leave. Now." She called out to me.

My eyes were wide and my lungs were small. I could barely breathe, and I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up. "They found me," My throat was thick with a forthcoming sob. "He found me." I pushed the half eaten sandwich away and stood up. 

Adira ran to other side of the apartment. In a matter of seconds the door was blocked with a couch and a desk and any other odd ends she could move. She signaled to me to be quiet.

She chucked her duffle bag at me. She pointed towards the window. As she opened the window she shouted. "Bexley! In the bathroom quick."

I followed her out the window and down the fire escape instead. We stood with our backs against the apartment wall. She held her finger against her lips again, and pointed to the corner of the building.

We quickly made our way to the edge of the building and she peaked around.

"Coast is clear," she murmured. "Here." She pulled my hood up over my head.

My heart felt as though it was bruising my ribs.

"My car is a few blocks down. Are you going to be alright to jog it?"

"Yes, I'll be fine." I met her gaze, and tried not to show my fear. What if we were caught?

She took off at a steady jog, after taking the duffle bag out of my hands, her head angled towards the cracked sidewalk. I copied her actions and together we hurried towards her car and my freedom which was quickly growing brighter.

I barely had the door shut, before she was speeding away.

"They found me." I muttered. She grinned at me.

"But they didn't catch you." She threw her head back and laughed as she flipped on the radio.

"They didn't catch me." I repeated. The taste of victory in my mouth made me laugh.

"You were scared." She's not asking.

"I still am." My heart wasn't quite bruising my ribs but it was still pounding a marching pace.

She nodded. "I would be scared, too. Valcin exhales malice." She frowned and then glances at me. "You shouldn't have to fear someone like him. It's not right."

"Someone like him?"

She stops and thinks for a moment. Her lips purse and then she says, "Yes. Someone cruel like him," The radio turns to static and she quickly shuts it off. "I'm going to fix this."

I wasn't sure if she was talking about the radio or my betrothal. I sent a silent prayer that it wasn't the radio.