Breaking Free

Chapter 33

After we've blocked up the door so it will take them a while to get out, we start to drag Carter and my parent's unconscious bodies to a storage closet I noticed while looking for my cell phone. It's fairly large. and filled with boxes and cleaning supplies.

Ariel and I make them invisible to the naked eye by covering them with the boxes, before quietly closing the door.

"Are you sure they'll be okay?" Ariel asks, worry flitting over her features.

"I promise nothing will happen to your parents," I whisper.

"What about that boy?"

"He'll be okay," I assure, trying to make myself believe it. "But we have to get out of here."

I grasp her hand, and lead her over to Ezhno, who is still lying obediently on the floor.

"Climb onto his back, and hold onto his mane, okay," I quietly order. Fear crosses over her face, but she does as I say. I grab Ezhno's halter and pull his head up. Understanding what I'm trying to do, the stallion stands to his feet.

"Can I get down? It's really high up, I don't want to fall," she worriedly begs.

"I promise you won't fall. He's a good horse. He won't let you," I assure her.

Her eyes are the epiphany of fear, but she stays on, clinging desperately to his mane.

"Stay here- I'm gonna go find an exit," I whisper, letting go of Ezhno's halter.

I quickly walk around the warehouse, searching desperately for a way out. There is what appear to be a large garage door, maybe where trucks would unload supplies at one point, when this was an active warehouse and not just a desolate, abandoned building seemingly pulled straight from a horror movie.

I quietly run back over to Ezhno and Ariel, and take hold of Ezhno's halter.

"I think I found an exit. Come on," I whisper, leading Ezhno towards the garage-like door.

Each time one of his hooves strikes the ground, I flinch, terrified that Clint and Jones are going to hear. Thankfully though, they don't try to enter.

"Ariel- I'm going to open this door, and then we're going to ride away. Okay?" I whisper.

"Okay, but- how do I know I'm not going to get hurt? I've never rode a horse before," she worriedly asks.

"All you have to do is hold on. I'll steer him and make sure he gets us safe. Just hold on, okay?" I assure.

"What if I fall off?"

"You won't. It's in your blood to ride," I whisper.

It saddens me that she's been deprived of riding her whole life. Especially when I know it's what she was born to do.

"Okay, let's get out of here," I whisper.

I start to pull the garage open, struggling due to the rust. It makes loud, squeaky noises, but I pull it up nonetheless.

Then I hear the noise I've been dreading.

Banging on the door we walled up.

"Clint, they're getting away!" I hear Jones yell, along with some other choice words.

"How the hell are they getting away?" Clint bellows.

I don't stick around to hear the answer. I swing myself up onto Ezhno's back, and dig my heels deep into his sides. Sensing the urgency of the situation, Ezhno pulls into a full blown gallop.

Terrified, Ariel yelps and takes hold of his mane, clinging to it tightly for dear life. I place my hands just above hers on his neck, wrapping my hands around his mane.

"Can we slow down?" she begs.

"No- or else they'll catch us," I whisper.

The farther we run, the more I start to take in my surroundings. It seems like we're in a never ending forest, trees as numerous as the stars.

"I can't see the warehouse anymore- do you want to stop for a minute," I ask, slowing Ezhno to a walk.

She nods, though she seems to be in shock. I climb down, and then help her to dismount.

The moon provides enough light for me to see we are in what appears to be a meadow. I sit on a fallen tree, and pat the space beside me, beckoning Ariel to join me.

"How old are you," I question.

"Eleven," she replies, her voice quiet and shaken. "What about you?"

"Seventeen," I answer, combing my hands through my hair.

"Are you really my sister?" she asks, glancing up at me.

I run my eyes over her features that are oh-so-similar to mine, before looking into her eyes that seem to mirror my own.

"I'm afraid so," I whisper, hugging her head to my chest. "Welcome to the Evan's family. We're complicated. Consider this as your initiation."

She chuckles, before glancing over at my horse.

"What's his name?"

"Ezhno- it means 'he who walks alone'," I reply.

"What about that boy?"

"Carter. He's my-" the word 'boyfriend' starts to slip out, but I can't bring myself to say it. Is he still? How mad will he be when he finds out I lied about dying.

Oh my god- will he find out? Or will I still have to go along with this horrible plan to disappear.

"He's my everything," I whisper. An inconspicuous tear rolls down my cheek. I would wipe it away, but I don't want her to know I'm crying.

"Come on, let's go. We need to find someone who can help us," I order, standing to my feet.

We start walking toward Ezhno, when I hear a muffled bang. And then another. And another.

Somewhere, far off in the distance, a gun was fired.

Three times.

A/N

Hope you liked my chapter. I love you guys!

What do you think of Ariel?

Because my surprise may have to do with her (dum dum DUUUUMMMM)