Wild Hearts

Only The Truth

I don't know where I'm running, only that I can't stop—refuse to stop. I'll keep running till I find him.

I don't run far. I'm halfway out the door, the winter chill embracing me when there's a jingle behind me. Pivoting, I smile as Connor approaches me, car keys in hand.

"I mean you can leg it out of here without a plan... Or I can take you."

Isaac's voice carries in from his office. "Good luck!"

Connor glances over his shoulder, hand on hip.

"You're coming too."

A pause.

"Shit." Another pause, followed by an exaggerated sigh. "Reallllly? Guess I am."

Five minutes later we're on the road, past the districts of steel and stone, through the heart and onwards to my neighbourhood, my quiet city. Connor drives a freaking Mercedes! I was awestruck, soberingly aware of the fact this thing costs four times my house. Of course I claimed shotgun!

Isaac still hasn't stopped grumbling, and he sits in the middle, leaning forward, shoulders on both our seats.

"Is your seatbelt on?" Connor warns.

"What?" Isaac snorts, flicking his hands up in annoyance. "Are you seriously being my mum right now?"

"Seatbelt!"

"Fine," he mumbles, sitting back. I grin as I hear the click, and he resumes his whining. Ten minutes pass, and now he's stopped, realising no one is indulging him.

I stand by my earlier claim. He's just a big kid. I don't think he'll be too hard to handle.

I catch his eyes in the rearview mirror, two burning holes of pure white, and I shudder. OK, maybe I shouldn't underestimate him.

I'm glad Connor's in the car, because despite my teasing, I don't think I'd quite like a trip in the car, alone. With Isaac.

***

I wanted this next part of the journey to be my own, but my mismatched companions: a fashion designer and a dangerous creep, accompany me through the snow, over hills and under trees that sparkled with sunlight. I feel almost like this is some big adventure, an adventure to find Ryder. Then it hits me.

This is what Ryder promised me. Adventures. New adventures. All the time. Never a dull moment. Maybe this is unintentional, but damn if this doesn't feel like a scene from a movie. My heart hasn't stopped pounding, and its sheer adrenaline that keeps me going through it all.

Man, running through snow is harder than it looks.

As we near the traintracks, I stop and turn to face Connor. He doesn't say anything. Just takes one look at my face and he nods. Holding back Isaac, he lets me go.

This is my moment. They can't have it. Only Ryder can.

Only I can.

I walk slowly, eyes always darting about, thinking perhaps Ryder will be waiting in the wings, watching me like some silent phantom. The white sky is now smudged grey, and the frosty air has taken on a harsher quality, as though it cuts rather than bites. I flex my fingers a lot and pull my beanie further over my ears. It's times like these where I wish I had Ryder's earmuffs.

I have to stop myself from checking my phone every two seconds. He won't pick up, and my only lead is the last place I saw him. I don't know, he may be hurt or something. I just need to know. I need to see for myself.

In silence I continue, only the crunch of snow, the crackling of trodden leaves and twigs breaking that peace. I pass the broken fence and shiver. Not from the cold. This is something far deeper than that. Perhaps the realisation that... soon I'll see him. If he's still there.