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41📚| Set up (End)

I had no idea how I did it. Maybe it was the burning desire to survive and make it through this, or the need to get justice for my best friend and Sarah. But I sat around the table and put on the best poker face.

I even smiled. Laughed at his jokes and told him that I accepted his apology.

I wanted to vomit.

"You okay?" he asked.

Shit. My facade was being broken.

I smiled for the thousandth time this morning and nodded.

"Hmhm."

I stuffed my face with the waffles to give my jaw an excuse to do anything else except stretching to the sides.

"Is it good? I got the maple syrup from the neighbor down the street."

The words felt like lead against my tongue but I forced them out. "Really? We should go say thank you sometime. Speaking of, can I go to the mall or go for a walk? I've been cooped up in this house too long."

Kyle's dark eyes searched mine, and because of the pins and needles coursing through my veins due to how stiff I've been moving since the morning, I thought he could see right through me.

I felt like a child having to ask but under the circumstances, I knew it was because we were being hunted. But I understood now that no one was after us.

When he cracked a small smile, crinkling the side of his eyes, a weight lifted off my shoulders.

"Sure, why not? It's been a couple of weeks. I don't think Gianni will find us after one day."

My eyebrows shot up and my shoulders stiffened.

"Us?" I asked.

He froze too, eyes slightly wide as he stared at me.

"Yeah, you know, just to make sure that you're safe."

I chewed on the inside of my cheek and looked down at the table, trying to hold back tears, but I failed.

"Celine—?"

"I just wanted to be alone, you know? I don't think you understand how much this is for me, Kyle."

When I looked up and he saw the tears, I could see hurt flashing across his face. He winced as if he had been hit in the head with a bat. He broke my gaze and stared at the floor, arms crossed.

"I'm sorry. I guess...one day won't hurt."

Something stirred within me. I'm not sure how much I could compare it to anxiousness but I felt my bones shaking. This was my chance.

I nodded and pushed my chair away from the table. I was heading up to my room when his voice called. I paused at the first step.

"Celine?"

I turned to face him once more and he was still staring at the floor. "Yeah?"

When he looked up, his eyes were dead, pitch black, and intense. "Don't do anything stupid."

I swallowed a lump. Did he know? I had to call his bluff. I can't let this opportunity go to waste.

"I won't," I replied, then headed upstairs to change. I quickly closed my room door and put on some running shoes, leggings, a t-shirt, and threw on my sweater since it was still chilly outside.

The plan was simple. I didn't have my ID, passport, or any cash. I was stranded and I would have to wait for the next train to get out of the town. So, I was going to call the police. It can't be that hard.