Book Two in the "Alcaraz Duology"
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐱𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
Catalina Alcaraz is a single mother with a past that she doesn't wish to revisit. She has managed to become a successful doctor and to create a life of her own desp...
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I'm watching a foreign drama on the TV, completely unaware of what is being said when there is sudden banging on the door.
I switch off the television, causing the room to go completely dark and silent. The banging continues and Orion wakes up in a state of confusion. At the realization of what is happening, he briefly shows that he is afraid before putting on a mask of bravery.
"Who is it?" Orion very quietly whispers.
I motion for him to stay quiet. "Stay calm. Everything is going to be okay."
He only nods, clinging to my arm. I kiss his head and stand from the bed to peer through the peephole. It's covered so it's just an indication that it isn't Silas. Silas wouldn't be this aggressive either. He would probably just enter the room somehow without me noticing.
The banging continues and becomes more aggressive if possible. I quickly put my shoes on as Orion does the same. He puts his backpack on, and I put my bag over my shoulder as a thought comes to me when I glance at the huge window across the room. I'm afraid it's the only way out of here because I'm certain that Kane is behind that door.
Orion follows me over to the window. I unlock it and pull open the curtains before fully opening the large glass. Crisp, cold air hits my face as I look down at how high we are above the ground. Fortunately, there isn't much of a gap to the grass below. From the chair next to me, I grab my coat and put it on Orion. I don't want him to catch a cold.
I then give him a very seriously. "We're going to climb down this window. Do you think you can do it?"
He nods right away. I plant a big kiss on his forehead and say a small prayer in my head.
"You go first, and I'll follow." I urge him to go and without any questions he begins to climb out the window as if it's nothing.
Anxiety heavily shoots through my body as it now sounds like bodies are pounding against the door to break it open. As soon as I see that Orion has safely made it onto the ground I climb down after. I make clear eye contact with Kane just as I decide to jump down. Without getting hurt, I land on the grass safely and grab Orion's hand. We're surrounded by a forest, so I don't think twice before running into it with him.
It doesn't take long before I hear men yelling and entering the forest far behind us. I'm afraid of what will happen if we're caught. I rather us run into a wild animal than into Kane and his men. Wild animals are less deadly.
We make it very far in before I choose to take up a stand behind a massive tree. I want Orion to take a break and catch his breath.
My hands are a bit shaky as I hug him tightly and close to me. I am very aware that there may not be a way out of this. I can't just keep running through the woods forever. We'll be caught at some point when something goes wrong in this void of silence and darkness. I can't let us get caught especially not my son.
