Saving Lily

You can run but you can't hide

Lily's pov

"Alright, now stand with your feet slightly apart." Mason said as he stood behind me.

I looked down and parted my feet a little bit.

"Like this?"

"Yes, good. Now square your shoulders even with your feet."

I did as I was told. Mason put the gun in my hands.

"Now, do you remember where the safety is?"

I nodded. He'd been teaching me how to use a gun. He said he would feel better if I knew how to defend myself. I slid my fingers around the gun and swallowed hard.

"Ok, take the safety off." Mason instructed.

I slid my thumb over the safety and pushed the button up until I saw the red dot indicating the safety was off.

"Good girl. Now focus on the target. When you've got it locked in your sight, shoot."

I took a deep breath and lined up the target. My finger slid over the trigger. BANG!

I hit the target right in the center.

"Excellent!" Mason said smiling. "If you keep this up, you're gonna be a better aim than me."

I smiled and handed the gun back to him. It made me nervous, but I was getting used to it.

There had been a missing person's report out for me and my face was plastered everywhere, along with an awful generous reward. So I hadn't left the house in days. Riley had stayed with us and ran most of the errands, sometimes Mason would go to keep himself  from seeming suspicious. He knew that I was getting bored so he sat up a target for me to practice in the backyard. He didn't want to take a chance for anyone to see me.

"I'm gonna go get something to drink." I said.

"Alright, I'll be in in a minute." He nodded towards me.

I walked up the back steps onto the porch and entered the house. Something felt off. I looked around a moment before my eyes fell on the front door. I realized it was cracked a bit.

I made my way across the living room to shut and locked it just as Mason came in the back.

"What's going on?" He asked.

"The door was cracked a little. Could Riley have forgotten to shut it?"

"Riley left last night to go help Joeson and Kent." He said, pulling out his gun.

"Stay here." He said, as he went to sweep through the house 

I stood close to the door in case he yelled for me to run. I took a few deep breaths trying to calm myself down.

I swallowed the lump in my throat just as Mason came back into view. He put the gun back in the holster on his side and walked over to me.

"It's all clear." He said, taking me in his arms.

"That's good." I said nervously.

"What is it?" Mason asked, picking up on it.

I looked up at him and then down at the floor and sighed.

"Please talk to me." He said.

I hesitated for a minute before I spoke.

"I I just feel like something bad is going to happen." I whispered. I mean, it's been ten days since I left, and things have been....quiet."

Mason nodded. "I know what you mean. I've been feeling on edge for the last couple of days as well."

"What do we do?" I sighed.

"Right now we just keep doing what we are doing. There's no reason to change anything yet."

I nodded and bit my lip.

"What?" Mason said.

"I was just wondering if you had any more information about, my....dad?" I asked, hopeful.

Just then Mason's phone rang.

"That's them now, I'll be right back." Mason said, as he left to answer the phone.

I tried not to read too much into the secrecy of the whole situation. I'm sure there was a reason for it. Mason had to do things a certain way and I didn't want to ask too many questions. I figured the less I knew, the better.

Still deep in thought I made my way to the kitchen and got a cup down from the cubbord. I went to the refrigerator for some ice and poured some water on over it.

I had already drank half of it as Mason came back inside.

"I have to...go check on something?" He said.

"Can I come?" I asked. "Please, I'm starting to go stir crazy in here."

Mason paused, thinking about it for a moment.

"I don't think it will be a good idea this time." He said.

My face fell at his words.

"If everything works out the way I'm hoping it does, then you won't have to stay hidden away in here. But I just need to do this one last thing and I need you to trust me."

I shook my head. "Ok." I said.

"I lock the door behind me. Remember where I put the spare gun?"

I nodded.

"I shouldn't be gone for more than an hour tops. Don't open the door for anyone, Ok?" Mason instructed.

"Got it."

"I'll be back soon." He said, kissing me on the forehead before shutting the door behind him.

I quickly locked the door and went to take a shower.

I finally relaxed a little as the hot water ran over my skin. I had been getting used to being able to take actual showers.

It was way better than the bucket I had in the basement back at home...home the word echoed in my head. More like hell.

I tried to remember what it felt like being at home, with my mother, safe and happy. A tear fell down my cheek as the memory of her danced in my mind.

It had been so long since I'd been able to think about her. I was so ashamed of what my life had turned into, of what they had done to me, that I couldn't even bring myself to remember the best parts of my life.

I shook the thoughts from my head as I turned off the water and wrapped a towel around me. I went into my room to get dressed.

As I dried my body off and slipped into some comfy clothes I noticed a piece of paper tucked under my pillow.

I pulled it out and slowly unfolded it, gasping when I saw the cut out letters that were glued to the paper.

"You can run, but you can't hide!"