Oh, Marcel!

My Hideaway

~Marcel~

The road ahead is still dark except for the headlights of Jimmy's car. Ember is chewing her fingernails nervously in the seat next to me. She has the window rolled down slightly, the cool air flowing in the car. Her eyes darting all around while her index finger is in her mouth.

Neither of us have said anything for awhile, we've just been sitting here in silence. I turn on the radio as I drive to the only place I know we will be safe for tonight. My hideaway.

I have never told anyone about it before, Mrs.Slovak didn't know either. It overlooked the river and even though it was quite expensive, I was able to purchase it with the money I had stockpiled from my mother.

Ember clears her throat getting ready to say something. I stop my thoughts and prepare for her words.

"W-where are we going?" She asks and I nod my head because I knew she would eventually ask.

"A place on the river. My place actually."

"Your what?"

"I uh, bought a small house that overlooks the river. I used to go there when everything was too much for me. Like when Mrs. Slovak was too annoying or Johnny and Jimmy really did some damage. Of course I haven't been there in awhile, but it's a safe place for the night."  I sigh and pull onto the road that leads to the house. It's a ways back so it's pretty private.

"Should I call my parents?" Ember asks. I look at her and her face is twisted in confusion. Her eyes watery.

"I don't know. They already know you are with me. Besides it's only until morning."

"Okay." I don't know what else to do so I take my hand off the steering wheel and offer it to her. She sort of looks down at it, trying to decide what to do.

After a moment she wraps her small hand tightly around mine.

"I love you, Marcel." She whispers, still staring down at our hands.

"I love you, Ember." I say and try to concentrate on the road. It's still so foreign to hear those words come out of her mouth. To have someone actually feel that way about me.

The car started to gently shake as the road turned to gravel. Ember let go of my hand realizing that I must need two to keep the car steady. I grip the wheel and follow the path. Soon enough the small house appears on the hill. It looks peaceful and cozy. I had never even thought I would be bringing anyone here besides myself.

"Well, uh, this is it." I shift Jimmy's car into park. He must take really good care of it because it drove like a dream.

"Your house is stunning...even in the moonlight." Ember says. I can tell her eyes are wide staring up at the little house.

"Really, it isn't a special as you think. Well it's special to me, but ya know." She nods absentmindedly and opens her door.

I step out of the car and walk around to Ember. She's standing there just staring at the house.

"M-marcel...I'm scared."

"Scared of what?" I say before mentally scolding myself.

Duh, of Johnny.

"I'll protect you, Em." My arms immediately wrap around her shaking shoulders and I pull her into me. I put my lips to the top of her head, inhaling the smell of her before I plant a kiss there.

She doesn't seem to relax.

"C'mon, I'll read you some stories and then we can lay in bed and I'll hold you tight. Okay?" I try to look into her eyes, but they become unfocused on everything. She manages to nod her head, however.

Her warm little hand finds its way around mine as I pull her to the house. The shutters on two of the windows seemed to have some wind damage done to them. It made the house look a little spooky. I tried to bend down while holding Ember's hand to retrieve the key that I slid behind a crack in a brick.

At first I couldn't find it, but then my fingers hit the small piece of cool metal and the nervous feeling in my stomach disappeared. Well for the most part anyway. I stuck the key in the door and opened it, a musty smell wafting from the house.

It really has been a long time since I had come here. I reached to the left of the door and found the light switch. It turned on right away, but started to fade a little bit. I'm going to have to get new bulbs.

"Marcel, where is the bathroom? I think I might get...um.." Ember says covering her mouth.

"Down there and take a left. The door straight back!" I called as she ran away.

This is not good. It's making her sick and she shouldn't even be involved.

I looked around the small living room. The old red couch I had bought from a yard sale had a thin layer of dust on the top. There was a small brush so I picked it up and began to dust off everything. By the time I had the couch and chair mostly done, I was in a fit of coughing.

I gave up and went to check on Ember.

The bathroom light was on and she was leaning over the toilet, letting everything out. I walked up and kneeled next to her and rubbed small circles on her back with one hand. With the other a scooped her hair together and held it back for her.

She seemed to tense at first, but then she relaxed and sat up a bit.

"Marcel something isn't right. I can feel it." Ember say and looked at me.

"Of course something isn't right. Someone wants to kill us." I said and handed her a towel from the closet. I was surprised there wasn't any spiders on it.

"No." She swiped at her mouth. "Something else. It's like someone close to us is involve. I'm scared and scared for them. But I don't know who."

Tears began to form in her eyes. One slowly creeped out and I reached to wipe it away with my thumb. My arms found their way around her and I held her tight into me.

I didn't care if she had just been sick or not. This was my love and I brought her into this. I'd do anything and everything for her.

Although it was quiet for awhile now, I couldn't help but think about her words. I think I knew exactly what and who she was talking about.