For Love | DAVE EAST

Shadows Closing In

Morning light filtered through the thin curtains of the motel room, casting a pale glow across the bed where Kacey still slept. Dave hadn't slept a wink. He had spent the night in the chair by the window, his eyes fixed on the parking lot below, watching for any sign of trouble. Every noise, every shadow that moved in the darkness outside, set his nerves on edge. He knew they couldn't stay in one place for long. The clock was ticking.

As the sun began to rise, Dave finally allowed himself to relax slightly. The night had passed without incident, and for now, they were safe. But the feeling was fleeting. They needed to keep moving.

Kacey stirred in the bed, her eyes fluttering open. She blinked a few times, disoriented, before she remembered where she was and why. She sat up slowly, her gaze finding Dave by the window.

"You didn't sleep," she said softly, her voice still thick with sleep.

Dave shook his head. "I wanted to keep watch, just in case."

Kacey frowned, worry creasing her brow. "You can't keep doing this, Dave. You need to rest too."

"I'll be fine," he replied, his tone dismissive. "We need to get moving. I want to put as much distance between us and the city as possible."

Kacey nodded, though she could see the strain in Dave's eyes, the exhaustion that was beginning to wear on him. She didn't argue, knowing he was right. They needed to keep going.

They packed quickly, neither saying much as they gathered their belongings and prepared to leave. The tension between them was thick, but it wasn't the tension of anger or resentment. It was the weight of the situation, the knowledge that they were being hunted, that every decision they made could mean the difference between life and death.

As they walked out to the car, Dave kept a wary eye on their surroundings. The parking lot was quiet, the only sounds coming from the distant hum of traffic on the highway. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, that danger was lurking just out of sight.

They climbed into the car, and Dave started the engine, pulling out of the motel with a sense of urgency. The plan was simple: drive until they reached the contact Victor had given him, a man who could help them disappear. But Dave knew that getting there wouldn't be easy. They would have to avoid the main roads, take back routes, and stay off the grid as much as possible.

As they drove, Kacey broke the silence. "Where exactly are we going?"

"South," Dave replied, keeping his eyes on the road. "There's a guy I know, someone who specializes in helping people like us disappear. He'll set us up with new identities, new lives. But it's going to take a while to get there."

Kacey nodded, though the uncertainty in her expression didn't fade. "And then what? We just... start over?"

Dave sighed, knowing how overwhelming this must be for her. "That's the plan. It won't be easy, but it's our best shot. Once we're off the radar, they'll have a harder time finding us."

Kacey was silent for a moment, staring out the window at the passing landscape. "Do you really think we can outrun them?"

"I don't know," Dave admitted, his voice heavy with uncertainty. "But I'm going to do everything I can to make sure we do."

Hours passed as they drove through rural roads, the landscape growing more desolate with each mile. The farther they got from the city, the more isolated they became. It was a strange feeling—both comforting and unsettling. The vast emptiness of the countryside offered a sense of safety, but also a reminder of how far they were from everything they knew.