ENDS

43- Choice

THIRD PERSON P.O.V.

Jeanie walked into the ward and met Santiago spoon feeding Louisa on the bed.

It was Two A.M. in the morning, they needed to leave as soon as they could.

Judging from the time they had left; the alarm would've gone off at the base by now that the three were missing. It was going to take several incantations to not be seen as they furthered their journey.

"We need to take that food to go, the doctor is out for a while and this is the only opportunity we have to leave" Jeanie said and her partner understood exactly why.

"Hey girl, we need to leave now okay?" he muttered to Louisa and she nodded in understanding.

It seemed like she was well aware that they were on the run to save her life.

Jeanie walked up to Louisa and detached the catheter attached at the back of her wrist and picked her up while Santiago rushed out ahead of her probably to use the restroom first.

From her back pocket, she dumped a wad of cash on the bed and started a little race for the vehicle outside.

They had been outside too long; the tracking of the vehicle should've started by now.

The plans they had in mind were to drive to a reasonable extent, abandon the car and rent a new one.

Then find their way to Da Lat.

If Hunter was looking for Soldo and he was smart enough, that's exactly where they'll find him and give him his baby.

When she was outside and the cold wind brushed upon her face, she couldn't help but shiver a little and so did Louisa in her hands.

"Don't worry baby, we'll soon be in the car" she told her and held her tighter so she could at least catch some warmth from her body.

The car was close by, she entered into the back seat and now patiently waited for Santiago to exit the building.

But in the meantime, she thought it was necessary to continue feeding the girl she was carrying.

"Louisa?"

"Hmm?" Louie murmured into her sweater like she was already falling asleep.

She could understand why she was so tired, anyone who went through what she had been through would be drained.

Literally!

"Would you like to finish your meal?" Jeanie asked her and she shook her head in a 'no' response.

Jeanie was confused because a few minutes ago she was just eating

Or would she only accept food from Santiago?

"Do you want Santiago to feed you?"

"No" she said again and Jeanie was relieved that it wasn't because of her that she was rejecting the meal.

"Do you want some water?"

The little girl had a few moments of thoughts before whispering a little 'yes' and Jeanie stretched into the front seat to retrieve a bottle she had left there, thanking God that there was still a little left.

A few seconds later the driver's door was yanked open and Santiago hopped in.

"Are we ready?" he says as he buckles his seatbelt and starts the engine.

The question was more of rhetoric because he didn't need anyone's answer before moving.

Jeanie was glad for the speed he had chosen, it seemed to her that he also realized the grave danger they were in.

But on their way, they saw a familiar outfit walking down the road.

It was the teenage boy they had seen at the waiting area; he was walking all alone to who knows where.

Santiago looked back to Jeanie who was cradling Louisa like he was asking her if they should help him out.

She only looked back to him speechless because she wasn't so sure if that was a good idea, either way he stopped beside the boy who jumped away a bit out of fright.

He hadn't heard them coming while he was wallowing in his own thoughts. His face held a myriad of sorrow and tears streaked all over.

"where are you headed?" Santiago asked the young lad because he felt really sorry for him.

No one should be left all alone on the night they lose their mother.

'where were his family?'

That was the question he wanted to ask but decided against it.

A boy lonely at this hour without a family member would definitely have an explanation to it.

"I don't know" he managed to blurt out in between tears and two hiccups.

"Care to join us?" Asked Jeanie from the back.

Seemed like she had agreed to San's plan.

The boy nodded and decided to ride shotgun.

After all, he thought to himself...

What other choice did he have?