Breaking Free

Chapter 13

RECAP

"Somebody better tell me what the hell is going on," I shout, my voice shakey. Carter tightens his grip on me as the room goes silence.

After a long lapse in conversation, Mrs. Stone opens her mouth to speak.

"You were never supposed to find out this way," she mutters, before she meets my eyes- and I know she's about to tell me everything.

Chapter 13

"Taylor, we have always been good friends with your parents. I've known your mom since high school, and I was even maid of honor at her wedding," Mrs. Stone starts, her eyes looking glassy as if she's dangerously close to tears. "When you were five years old, your parents went out on a ride in the woods one day, alone.They thought they heard muffled screams, so your father went to investigate, ordering your mom to stay behind. She was stubborn though, and she followed him. What they saw changed them forever."

She tries to continue, but her voice starts shaking uncontrollably, and she can't speak anymore. She turns to her husband for help, and he goes in for her.

"Clint Harris, the man you saw on the news, is a convicted serial killer. He rampaged Oakville for five years, claiming 23 lives before finally being caught. And he wouldn't have been caught without the help of your parents. You see, when they went to investigate, they discovered an underground shed, almost like a storm cellar. They witnessed a woman, named Crystal Osprey, being brutally murdered. And they instantly recognized Clint Harris. Oakville is a small town, and Clint was well known. He and his wife owned a quaint little bakery. Mrs. Harris was completely unaware of her husbands murderous habits, and had such a hard time believing it that she had to go to months of therapy."

"But this isn't about her, it's about your parents," he goes on. "Clint Harris saw them, but wasn't fast enough to catch them while they were on horseback. He shouted after them that he'd kill them if they told anyone."

"But they couldn't keep it to themselves. They told the police anonymously, and he was arrested. All was well until about two weeks before they, um, died. But then they found a note taped to their door- it said that Clint had a partner who the police had no idea about, and he was going to kill them both."

"What does that have to do with Taylor," Carter asks, never loosening his grip on me.

"You see, the killers never knew that Taylor existed. They didn't know if a daughter. Your partners went to the police and decided what they had to do to keep both you and your parents safe," Mrs Stone whispers, her face white as snow.

She stands up, and walks to the bookshelf. Lifting up the family bible, she pulls out and envelope, and hands it to me. Written in my mothers curly handwriting is the word 'To My Dearest Taylor.'

I can't being myself to open it, so I look back up to Mrs. and Mr. Stone, my eyes watery.

"The police thought it would be best if your parents- relocated. Changed their identities, got new jobs, started a new life. Your parents wanted so badly to take you, but the police cautioned them that if the killers ever discovered where they were, you'd be killed along with them. If you were in an adoptive home, you'd be safe," Mr. Stone gravely states.

"What- what are you saying?" I whisper.

"Your parents had to fake their deaths. Everyone thought it was an unfortunate accident, but it was no accident. They watched you through the night and made sure you made it home okay. Then, they were taken away, to an undisclosed location."

I can't comprehend the words that they are saying. This can't be real.

"Taylor, your parents loved you so much, they-" Mrs. Stone starts.

"Then why did they leave me?" I shout, interrupting her. "If they loved me, why did they make me go into foster homes throughout my whole life? I ran away because my life was so horrible! If they loved me, why would they let that happen to me?"

"They never knew it would get so bad! We were going to adopt you, but the judge wouldn't tell us where you were because you had already been put in foster care. They wanted to protect you," Mrs. Stone cries.

"Well, they should have thought about that before they left me alone in the woods during a flash flood. I thought I would die. Then when I found out they died, I spent nearly a decade trying to get over that. And now that I'm so close to finally being happy, you tell me THIS? No. I can't take this," I sob, standing to my feet.

I run out of the house, and into the barn. Without thinking, I tear open Ezhno's stall, and jump onto his back.

"Run boy," I whisper, before digging my heels sharply into his side.

And even though the vet said to take it easy- I don't care. Tonight, we're riding like the wind.

And if I'm lucky, I'll get blown away.


A/N

Sorry it's so
Short!