Whispers After Dark

Chapter 23

The moonlight bathed us, and for a moment, I felt a sense of freedom wash over me. We were finally escaping, and there was no turning back now. With Emily by my side, I put the problem of explaining all this to her later. Right now, I just had to put as much distance between myself and the orphanage.

The night air was cool against my skin as I held onto Emily's hand. I had no clear destination in mind, but I knew I had to keep moving. I began walking in the same direction the car had come in from at night the other day. Perhaps it would look towards town or somewhere we could get help. Or getting yet, find a new home.

The swaying tall pine trees, straining under the moonlight brought me the peace of mind that the orphanage had denied me. A bird standing on the pines chirping through the woods curled my mouth into a delightful smile. A rabbit scampered across the tracks and disappeared into the forest. Emily held my hand drowsily. He had half a mind to chase it.

The night wore by tediously slow. I began to worry as we hadn't seen any sightings of a building. Around a bend, Emily coughed and slowed down a bit. She was definitely feeling sleepy. I touched her bare hands. Numb. In a rush to leave, I had forgotten our jackets. The cold now pierced our chests. Our legs cried out for rest. Emily fought the growing desire to sleep.

Emily was too tired to stay awake for long, and I put her up on my shoulders. Her head bopped with every step I took. Her head rested heavily on my shoulder, and I could feel her soft breath against my neck as she dozed off.

The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silvery glow over the deserted road we followed. I was beginning to panic that they would catch us so soon. Switching between jogging and walking, my legs felt heavy and my body begged for rest. I forced myself to push on. I couldn't afford to stop now. Not when I was so close. The adrenaline-fueled my determination, and I tried my best to ignore the growing exhaustion.

Taking a moment to catch my breath, I set Emily down beside me. Emily groaned, waking up, standing on her own two feet now. She rubbed her eyes awake and looked around at her unfamiliar surroundings.

"Come on, Emily," I said, gently rousing her from her drowsy state. "We have to keep moving."

She was too worn out to ask questions and moved incontestably. I helped her stand, and together holding her hand, we continued on our long trek.

The hours passed slowly, and the sun peeked out behind the trees. The first rays of the sun began to paint the sky with hues of orange and orange. Walking with Emily, I began to think back to the orphanage. By now, they would have realized our disappearance for breakfast, and panic would be setting into the heads of the orphanage. I couldn't shake off the fear of being caught, but I had to put those thoughts aside. I was going to make it. Staying optimistic was all I could bear right now amidst the hopeless journey on this path.

After what felt like an eternity, the aquatic scent filled my nostrils once again, and I felt a sense of familiarity. There wasn't a town here. It was a port. People, wrapped in jackets and scarves, were already going about their business, their footsteps creating a rhythmic symphony on the cobbled streets. The smell of saltwater hung in the water, not much of a refreshing change from the orphanage's atmosphere. I had expected the busy nature of a town, but a port wasn't as bad as I had thought.

The pot came alive with more activity as the rising sun marked the beginning of a new day. Vendors set up their stalls, selling fresh fish and other maritime goods. Sailors began to return from their early morning expeditions, their laughter, and chatter filled the air.

Fishing boats bobbed gently in the water, and sailors shouted orders as they prepared for the day's work. The smell of various fresh fish mingled with the salt water. Looking around, nobody seemed to notice Emily and me. We were just in the crowd, as people pushed their way around us, busy with their own life.