Heart's Games

Heart's Games|Chapter 33: Crappy Birthday

Chapter 33: Crappy Birthday

I didn't sleep at all that night. I didn't have the guts inside of me to keep on listening to the recordings. So I went inside the pharmacy, bought myself some cold coffee, and waited for Dylan's phone call. (Yes, I did receive glares from the guy at the counter table, considering that my head was kind of bandaged.)

At midnight, I took out my phone to text Harold. It was finally his birthday, and I wanted to congratulate him, but what was I supposed to tell him? Happy birthday! One more year of life? It's probably neither of those, honestly. I don't even know if he is still alive. So I swallowed hard, and tried making up a message. Of course, as expected, I failed. All I wrote was erased every single time I began a sentence. That's why I settled with three dots. They could mean anything, and I hoped that, if Harold is still alive to celebrate his birthday, he would interpret it however he wants to.

It was around five in the morning, while I was reading the newspaper that was just brought in to the store, that Dylan called. I picked it up with no hesitation, hoping that my waiting was over.

"Hello."

"What do you think you are actually doing?" Dylan asked me through the phone, his voice hinting annoyance.

"Currently, I am reading about the drastic change in economy. Just a bunch of B.S. if you ask me. I mean, I know we're not under the best circumstances but-"

"Solomon! Just freaking focus! People are looking for you!"

I scoffed. "No they're not."

"Yes, they are. Josh texted me, asking me where the hell you were."

I let the newspaper down as panic began to take over me. Really? This early? They were looking for me this early? "What did you say?"

"I told him the truth...that I had no idea where the hell you are!" Now he sounded mad and irritated. I felt like if I was talking to Seth.

"Would you please relax? You're not the only one who doesn't know where I am. To be quite honest, I don't know where I am."

"They called your uncle. You can't hide forever."

Small laughs escaped my lips. "Sure. You think that scares me? Just because he is an investigator or police man or whatever the hell he calls himself?" I swear I heard him scoff. "I could be sitting here for a year and he wouldn't find me."

"Katherine, I have no time for your little snarky comebacks. I want to know what the hell you want! Why did you want me to call you?"

"I want to know where Lorena Adams is," I said, my voice strong and determined.

There was a long silence as I heard him breathing. A small flashback came to mind, of the time I was on the phone with Dr. Houston, and I realized that I had to do all of this fast if I want to get to Florida any time soon. "What makes you think that I know?"

"You're the one who helped her run away."

"Why do you think that?"

"I don't think it is a coincidence that her mystery guy matches with the rumored guy seen in the hospital's footage."

"I'm not telling you."

I felt the rage in me grow. I forgot that the only piece of information I have doesn't want to give me much and is too stubborn to understand that we need to find our easiest way out of this.

"Do you want to die or live? Do you want to see the people you love suffer?"

"No! And that's why I'm not telling you where she is!" he yelled through the phone. "I care about her," he whispered. "I don't think we're exactly in the same conflict, but we're both involved in something and she was scared to death. I had to do something."