Traffic

Part 13

"Kelsey?"

I began to stir while laying my head on Thomas's chest as it rose and fell and then I heard small laughs coming from the make shift crib. I stood rubbing the sleep from my eyes and walked over to see the little boy playing with his toes which made me smile. The innocence of him and the way he was still happy even while being locked in here for days to come lifted my spirit a little bit. 

"What's his name?" I looked over to see Thomas using his arm to push himself upright against the wall to stand but I quickly looked back thinking about last night. "We need something to call him."

Thomas stood and then i could see his knees quake and buckle from under him as he grabbed onto the wall for balance. I was ready to sprint over as Thomas laid his sweat covered forehead against the cool concrete wall and took a deep breath before turning to me with the strength slowly building in his legs and the pain welling up in his eyes. "You're not okay. The blood loss is making you weak--"

"Kelsey, promise me that if I ever get caught or shot, you will run and forget about me. Try to have the most normal life possible." 

I shook my head. I knew I couldn't make that promise. I looked back at the baby boy so that I wouldn't see the limp arm that was clutched to Thomas's side and his face with dark circles surrounding his red puffy eyes. "Michael. I like the name Michael."

"Promise me." Licking my dry cracked lips, he saw the look on my face and then reached in his bag and pulled out a shotgun with the clip only filled with one bullet. "Then carry this, and if you get stuck back in with my dad and those motherfuckers, use the last bullet on yourself. You can't be auctioned off and sold. The things those people do..."

"Either way I'm leaving you to be killed."

His response was a small peck on my lips. It only lasted a few seconds but it was followed by his forehead against mine, and I never realized how his eyes had a ring of gold surrounding them. His lips then lightly pressed against my temple. "Just promise me that you will run and get away no matter what."

I took me a second as I swallowed away the tears welling up.  "I promise."

His hands wrapped around my back lifting up my shirt before tucking the gun underneath my belt. The metal was cold against my skin but at the same time it gave me a sense of relief. 

>>>

We remained in that storage closet for a couple more hours. Thomas's skin was pallor making me worry if he was even going to be able to stand up. His hair was drenched in sweat from his body overworking to keep him alive, and I was waiting for him to go into shock. I grabbed Michael from the old drawer as Thomas used metal storage racks to pull himself up avoiding the use of his bad arm to avoid any tearing in the scab that had healed over it. He had trouble moving in fluent motions. Each step was rigid and made him wince, and one that was off center had him hunched over screaming in pain. 

"I don't think we can get out of here without being spotted." He spit on the concrete floor and grabbed my shoulder to use as a guide on the way back up. "Take the baby and go. Make sure he is somewhere safe."

"What about you? I can't leave you here to die in a closet."

"Find a safe place for the baby and then come back. Bring bandages and anything you think I will need." He said as he lead me to the door. "And don't forget about that bullet."

He opens the door for me and caresses my face giving me one final kiss before I see the door close behind me. Michael was crying as I quickly ran towards the exit. I thought that signs about a missing child would be everywhere but so far their seemed to be nothing about Michael's mother or family saying they were looking for him. There were buses that lined the street, but I had no cash so I walked a couple blocks looking for a fire station or somewhere to leave Michael but there was nothing nearby. Everywhere I turned, I saw someone who could have been one of the traffickers men. There were men in black suits that looked at me with the same expression the shooters did which made my stomach turn. I kept walking, trying to stay in the most public areas but after the train incident, I doubt it would stop them. After a couple of miles, Michael was asleep on my arms probably exhausted and staved. I fixed the hood of my jacket so it would continue to hide my face, but my legs were barley taking steps. I finally stopped on the steps of a pub and sat down as everyone else continued by.