Autumn Haze

29: 'The one where I find my way back to you...'

My heart is thumping erratically against my chest, bile burns the back of my throat as it threatens to leave my lips at any moment, I turn to Sammy who's knee is bouncing up and down anxiously. I hesitantly reach out and entwine our hands together.

'It's going to be okay.' I whisper, I don't know who I'm trying to convince more, me or him.

My eyes flicker to Rocky as he walks up to the car, my stomach churns as Ryan locks the doors from the inside. Rocky pinches the bridge of his nose before he bangs against the drivers side window.

Ryan rolls down the window, I shiver as the sharp breeze enters the vehicle, 'Go home, Rocky.'

'What the fuck, why?'

'Because you've got a daughter at home, she needs her father. I didn't get the chance to be a good dad, you deserve this chance.'

'I want to help Luke.'

'You'll help him by staying ay home and taking care of his sister and niece. I'm not letting you in the car.'

'Please...I need to help him.'

'And you will help him by taking care of his family.'

'Fucking bullshit.' Rocky mutters as he shakes his head and digs his hands deep into the pockets of his joggers.

...

I watch impatiently as we wait for the digital clock on the radio to change, three minutes.

That's all that we had left.

Three minutes until we save Luke or we die trying too.

'No matter what happens tonight, you should both be proud of yourselves.' Ryan murmurs as he turns to look out of the window.

I scoff quietly as I tighten my grip on Sammy's hand, hot tears burn the corner of my eyes as he launches onto me, I wrap my arms tightly around his waist.

'If this is the last conversation that we have, thank you...for everything.'

'Thank you too.' I croak out as my head nestles into the crook of his neck.

'On the count of three, we need to start running because our distraction is on it's way.'

My eyebrows knit together, 'Our distraction?'

'I called in a favour from an old buddy of mine.'

'And who is this buddy?'

'No-one you need to worry about...one, two...three.'

I quickly grab the handles of the car door and flee my body out of it, I look around frantically as a loud car alarm begins to blare violently, the guards that were due to change their shift begin running in that direction. My trembling body races towards the entrance of the warehouse, my chest tightens as the air is knocked out of my lungs. 

'You're on your own from here.' Ryan says, his voice soften than I've ever heard it, 'I hope to see you both back at the car, in exactly fifteen minutes. Have you both got your watches on?'

I nod slowly, as I turn towards Sammy, his expression falls as he mouths 'I love you' to me, I swallow a lump in my throat before I mouth it back,

I chew the inside of my cheek as I wordlessly watch as Ryan and Sammy separate into different directions, I turn on my heel and walk as quietly as possible. I freeze slightly when I notice how long and narrow, the corridor I turned down is.

Luke could literally be anywhere.

My hands tremble as I advance towards the enter of the dimly lit hallway, my head snaps up when I hear small grunts coming from one of the doors. I slowly pull out my gun from my back pocket gripping it tightly. I mutely press my ear against the door.