Catch Me if You Can (18+) (FINISHED)

51 - Marco, Polo

Aspen
Present

I looked down to my phone, noticing that it was at five percent as I scrolled through my social media to see what my family was up to, so I pushed my phone back into my pocket after locking it.

I was almost there, anyway.

I strolled down twenty-second avenue, eyes darting around the darkness as I searched for dangerous predators.

You could say I was overly paranoid, but I honestly didn't care.

I needed to be, anyway.

I squinted my eyes after passing by the swing sets and obstacles, noticing the long, five acres that eventually turned into a farm far ahead.

The grass was greener than I expected after the rainfall we had this summer, but it shaded over with grey as the sun set completely behind the mountains.

The eerie sounds of crickets and owls filled the air, followed by flaps of a bat's wings and the small howl of the wind.

I felt sweet fear course through me, but I swallowed it down and continued ahead.

After making it to the field, I scanned the area for Ace, finding it completely empty and deserted.

Was I at the wrong place?

But my vision suddenly went dark, and I exhaled a shaky breath when I felt something tie behind my head.

A blindfold.

"Ace?" I whispered at this, feeling his familiar minty breath sting my senses as he stood in front of me.

He was silent for a moment, and I remained still, vision enclosed in darkness.

"Games, games," he cooed, "we love games. So, we play a game tonight, and it's going to be fun."

I was silent but felt my body tremble.

I was scared, but I didn't want to run away and cower in a hiding spot.

I was excited, too.

I loved being scared, and he was the only one who really noticed.

"Count to thirty," he instructed me, "and come find me."

"Marco Polo?" I guessed, facing toward his voice.

"Mm—hmm." I felt him lean closer and whisper in my ear. "Start now, baby."

And his footsteps padded away.

I counted down from thirty in my head, tipping my head to both sides after each number; to busy myself while waiting for him to hide.

Right as I got to ten, I heard a:

"Aspen?"

I turned toward the sound of his voice, knowing from the deep, kind tone that it was Miles.

"What are you doing out here?" he asked me, clearly confused.

I couldn't see him, and I wasn't allowed to peek, so I just shrugged. "I'm looking for Ace."

"He's out here?" Miles questioned.

"Yeah."

"Why is his... tie blindfolding you?" Miles said then.

"Because this is a 'game.'"

"Ah," he responded, clearly getting it now.

We were both silent for a moment.

"Wanna cheat?" Miles said then, making my head perk up.