Finding Him

C H A P T E R - T W E N T Y - S I X

Love Too Strong

V A L E R I U S '    P O V :

I'm out of the door within seconds of getting my restraints off. I need to catch Ellie before Katerina takes her too far away.

My heart is pounding, my mind racing.

I just keep repeating her name over and over again. My daughter. My Ellie.

The hall is empty. The cold cement walls bare.

They couldn't have gone far.

She has to be here close.

I'm running fast, fast until another body hits me. I catch them quickly. It takes me three seconds to register it as Ellie. A heavy relief washes through me.

She goes to speak but we don't have time. "I'm getting you out of here." I tell her, grabbing her hand. "Where's the exit?"

"Go right." Ellie breathes out and just like that, we're off. We're going fast, so fast.

I don't know how we'll get home. I don't know what waits for us when we get out. I don't know how the fuck this is happening right now.

Helplessness. My least favorite feeling.

When guns start shooting outside, I pull myself in front of Ellie to block her. Spotting a truck, I pray it's unlocked and I shield Ellie getting in before I hop in for myself too. She's breathing heavily and so am I. I'm lucky my papà taught me how to hot-wire a car, I get it started.

"Papà—"

Her voice is shaky. She's terrified.

Ellie's head is snapped around, trying to find where the shots are coming from.

"Get down." I tell her, tugging her arm. "Ellie!" My raised voice makes her comply quickly. She tucks her head down as I whip out of the gravel and onto the grass. There has to be a road around here somewhere.

"Papà..."

The wobble of her voice takes a hold on me.

"It's okay, Ellie. I know."

My arm is shielded around her like a seatbelt.

"I'm— I'm sorry! I-I— I didn't mean it. I didn't want to do it—"

Uncontrollable tears seam to stream down Ellie's cheeks. Her emotions have to be on overdrive.

"Ellie." I interrupt. "Ellie, just breathe." I swerve through a patch of grass to get onto a main road, pops sounding behind us. Ellie's hands tighten around my arm, locking me in.

"I love you." She cries, holding onto my arm for dear life. I squeeze her arm in acknowledgment.

I need to figure out where the fuck we are.

"I love you, Ellie."

Flying ninety down the road, I pray I can find a way home quickly.

I need answers.

• • •

I think guilt might be one of the worst emotions created. Truly.

I know what it's like to have guilt eat you alive. I understand the weight of it all. That's how I can understand why Ellie hasn't stopped crying for the past hour. I've tried to hush her but it was no use.

We got home a short twenty minutes ago. I got Ellie to calm down enough in the car to help lead us home. Since she was with Katerina, she knew the way around.