Aira

Chapter 2

Aira's POV

The second I got out of the hospital I called Claire. She didn't answer it for a while and I wasn't surprised. She rarely answered unknown numbers.

"Who is this?" An unknown man's voice asked.

"This is Aira? Who are you and what are you doing with Claire's phone?" I couldn't stop myself from asking with accusing tone in my voice. I disliked the guy before I even met him.

"Hey, Aira! How are you calling I thought you were trapped in that place with crazy people?"

"Well, I sort of escaped. Look, Claire I need your help. I need a place to lay low for a while. Do you have any ideas?"

"You could just stay in my house for a while. I am never home right now since I spend all of my time with my new boyfriend, Luke. Oh, he was the one who answered the phone."

"I'll just put some of my stuff there if you don't mind. I can't stay there. It would be the first place Joshua would look for me in. I have to go. You still hide the key underneath the... right?"

"Yes"

"I have to go. Bye!"

I quickly went home to get my stuff ignoring the lurking danger of getting caught and then moved it into Claire's house. I took a much needed shower in her house but didn't turn on the lights. I decided to take a short nap before leaving and I fell asleep before I could decide if that was a mistake.

I was woken up by the bell that was later followed by knocking on the door. I didn't dare to move a muscle in fear of being found. Whoever it was left after a while and I dressed and left quickly. It was far too dangerous to stay there any longer. But before I could leave I got a phone call from Claire. I flinched at the loud sound and jumped to answer it. I could not afford to be heard I whispered into it.

"Hello?"

"Hi! Luke just remembered the perfect thing for you. His grandmother's friend lives all alone in a house and is having some troubles taking care of everything because of her age. She is looking to hire someone to help her with that and that includes moving in with her. It's perfect! You wouldn't even have to pay the rent! It's perfect!"

"I'm in. Just tell me where she lives and tell Luke I said thank you. I would also appreciate it if he could tell her I'm coming and recommend me."

That's when I finally left the house but not before I made sure it wasn't watched. I took a taxi to the address Claire send me and paid the cab with the money I took from home. I rang the bell. The door was opened by an old lady that smiled at me nicely and asked. "Are you Aira?" I just nodded in response anxious to get out of the street where I could be seen.

"Well come in dear."

She led me to a small bedroom and told me it was mine. She then told me my daily duties and asked if that was alright with me. I just nodded. I was still shocked by things that happened. I didn't have enough time to stop and think about it before. I mean first I was admitted to a mental institution where I was drugged most of the time so thinking wasn't an option and then I was preoccupied by the escape and not getting caught. Inside that small bedroom I allowed myself to relax for the first time in a while and think over everything that happened.

I stopped myself from thinking too much about it. Joshua would say that it was too late to change anything and I agreed with him. Thinking about it would only give me a headache. I needed to focus on my job.

"So where should I start?"

It turned out that my first mission was to go to the store with Helen and help her with the bags. As we walked through the aisles Helen started a conversation.