Rules of Escape

Chapter 2 - Evan

Evan stands at his front door and watches Ana leave. Her pale blond hair is just long enough to blow across her face and into her large, round eyes. He wishes they could have had more time together. He liked sitting with Ana and somehow, they had talked. He wanted to keep doing that. He had always wondered what Ana thought about when her eyes lit up, filled with some idea or joke or mischief - he could never tell which.

Ana fiercely pushes at her hair with one hand. Carli has her arm linked through Ana's other arm as though, at any second, Ana might break free and run away. Carli mistakes Ana's movement as an attempt to run away and reaches across Ana's body to secure Ana's other hand. It looks a little ridiculous, Evan thinks. Carli is much heavier and taller than Ana. She must know Ana, well.

Stay calm, stay calm, don't resist, Evan thinks.

Ana climbs slowly into the back seat of Carli's car and buckles her seat belt. She looks sad, kind of broken, but not resistant. Maybe it's the heat that saps her energy, drains her anger. Evan's glad Ana's not resisting. He knows the consequences she might face if she does resist.

As the car slips around the corner at the end of the street, Evan hears Ana. Evan!  He tries to answer, to reassure her, but her voice disappears with the car.

Evan goes to his bedroom and sits on his bed. He turns the key Ana had given him over and over in his hand. He looks out his window and remembers Ana's hazel eyes, wide with excitement. He had felt her before he had seen her. And when he opened the door to his house, the air seemed to spark around her. After all these years, she had remembered him. She looked the same, still short and thin, but stronger, somehow. And so alive. Gently, he pushes the key deep between his box spring and mattress. He isn't sure why, but for some reason, the key is very important to Ana. He will keep it safe for her.

His father's words come back to him, "Evan's a great kid. He's just a little slow." For days after hearing his dad's words, Evan had run everywhere. "Slow down," his mother had said. "It's not a race." But it was. He so badly wanted to make his dad proud. Dad, I miss you so much, Evan thinks. Can you hear me? Answer me!

He hums while he rocks. The humming is all he hears. Usually, it covers his thoughts, makes him feel better. Not this time. He makes a fist and hits his head. It isn't hard enough. He tries again. And again.

"Hey Evan, you lucky dude!" Peter says, coming into Evan's room. "What do you think of that, eh? There's a cute, little girl that's willing to get into trouble just to see you." Peter smiles at Evan. "I can understand why you'd be upset that she had to go... but I think her coming to see you calls for a celebration. What do you think?"

Evan looks at Peter, warily. Who is this new guy? He doesn't even have the helmet with him. Maybe he doesn't know when Evan is supposed to wear it. Peter has only come to Evan's home a few times. He is pretty big, though, maybe he thinks he can control Evan without using a helmet. Or maybe he doesn't know what Evan can do. But celebrate? Celebrate? This isn't a birthday party.

"Whose birthday?" Evan asks, punching his bed.

"No, not a birthday party. We can celebrate for any reason. We can celebrate just because something good happened. And I think Ana coming to see you is kind of cool. You like Ana, right?"

Evan looks at his bedroom window. Like Ana? Evan fears Ana's defiance but is drawn to it at the same time. Was that "like"? The air had cracked around her, between them. They had "talked." Did he like her? His insides ache and he feels sick. Ana will resist. He knows it. She does what she wants when she wants. She doesn't follow the rules. She will get in trouble. Maybe a lot of trouble.