Running Free

Chapter 2 | Road Rage

~Attached is of Noah~

Scrolling through my laptop, in search for a sitter in the local area to take care of Toby, I knew my patience was beginning to come to an end. I wanted to be sure that the person was trustworthy; the last thing I wanted was something happening to the only person I had left. Most of the profiles, I noticed were in French, and although I was able to speak a fair bit of the language, it would have been nice to find someone who spoke English. I trawled the Internet, hoping for the possibility of a nearby daycare center, at the need least. Whilst at college, I would need someone to take care of Toby, but it was easier said than done.

After over a half and hour of searching, I finally came across a place that just happened to be in the next town over. Their profile seemed pretty safe, considering the fact that they have kids of their own and are a married couple of 10 years.

What if they're lying?

No, You're being too paranoid, I argued with myself.

After brushing my caramel colored hair, I threw it up in a messy bun at the crown of my head. I hurriedly applied usual minimal makeup; though it was light, it still acted as my mask that concealed everything.

"Toby, can you come here?" I hollered down the hallway.

Trotting contently out of his room, wearing his Super Mario tee shirt and an adorable brown pants, Toby beamed up at me. "I'm here!"

"Can you go grab your jacket and put it on for me, please? We're going to go for a ride," I said with a smile, pushing my arms through the sleeves of my own jacket. Toby clambered cutely onto his step stool, stretching to reach his jacket from off the hook. Pulling it off, he climbed back to the ground, placing it onto his small frame.

"You ready?" I asked lightly, grabbing my wallet from the countertop.

"Yeah!" Toby exclaimed excitedly, jumping up and down with a grin.

I swallowed, knowing what I was about to say would bring me to the verge of tears. "Now, do you remember the rules mommy and daddy made?" My voice hitched in my throat as I uttered their names, but I closed my eyes monetarily to prevent any tears.

Toby rolled his eyes with a sigh, irritated at the thought of having to run through them once again. I often made him recite them to me; I couldn't risk him forgetting. He knows that before we'd go anywhere, I'd always have him recite the list of rules. "No talking to strangers, no accepting anything from strangers and never go with anyone unless I know them."

Since that day, I was adamant that he remembered those very rules. Toby was the only thing I had left; he was my soul purpose for living now, my only priority. His safety had become more important than my own life, and those rules were just a small hope of keeping him protected from the vicious reality of the world.

"Good, you remember," I smiled, patting his head.

"I always do, Mia."

Again, I forced a smile. "I know, I know," I nodded my head, taking his hand in mine and leading him out our apartment, ensuring to lock the door behind me. Together, we headed to the parking lot outside of the apartment complex, approaching my car.

Placing Toby in his car seat, I then got into my own, starting the ignition and peering at my rearview mirrors to ensure that no one was behind me as I reversed out.

At the road, I reached a four-way intersection. Wit the roads on either side of me red, but my lights flashing green, I continued driving through. My eyes widened instantly as I noticed a dark blue Chevy truck heading towards me at full speed on the right side of the street.