Breaking Free

Chapter 34

"What was that?" Ariel questions, her eyes glazed over in fear.

"N-nothing," I quickly answer. "Let's go."

"That sounded like a gun," she continues, stating the fact I'm trying to ignore.

"I know. But we have to go," I order, hoisting her up onto the horse before climbing on myself.

"Did they- did they shoot mom and dad?" she asks.

"I don't know," I quietly reply, before digging my heels into Ezhno's side.

I know I should be worrying about my parents, but I can't think of anyone except Carter.

He could be dead.

He could actually be dead.

I'll deal with that later- right now I have to focus on Ariel. She's a child, and I have to protect her.

Trees fly past us in blurry forms as Ezhno runs at full speed. Each step he takes is confident, as if he's been running this path his entire life. He moves us farther and farther away from the dangerous scene I left behind.

I can't believe I left Carter in danger. I should have tried to bring him too. Even as I think it, I know it would have been impossible- though Ezhno is strong, he couldn't have carried the three of us.

I did the right thing. I had to protect my sister. I did the right thing.

Didn't I?

"Look, up ahead!" Ariel shouts, pointing to a light in the distance.

As we draw closer, the light becomes two lights, which become four, until i can see that it's a little town. Not Oakville, but at least it's something.

We stop at the first building we come to, which happens to be a grocery store.

I jump down from Ezhno, and glance to Ariel.

"Stay right here. He won't move if you don't ask him to," I instruct, before running into the store.

I catch a glimpse of myself in the glass of the doors. My normally straight hair is disheveled, my eyes bloodshot. My wrists are raw from where the tape was. My clothes are torn and wrinkled from what I've been through. I look awful, and that explains the reaction I get when I run in.

"I need a phone," I yell desperately, causing heads to turn. "Please someone, it's an emergency!"

Someone, a woman, hands me her cell. Her face is concerned, and she asks something though I don't take time to answer or even acknowledge what she said.

I dial in Chief Peters number without a second thought. Each ring seems to take an eternity. But after a few seconds he answers.

"Hello?" his voice is tired, and worried.

"What the hell happened over there? I heard gunshots!" I yell, my voice quivering fearfully.

"Taylor, calm down. I'm happy you called, we were worried about you. Calm down," he urges. I take a deep breath before replying.

"What happened?"

"Taylor- I think it's better we have this talk in person," he nervously advises.

"What happened," I ask again, this time my voice breaking.

"We came in and Clint and Jones had found where you hid them. Clint grabbed one as a hostage at gunpoint, and told us he'd kill them if we shot. Jone's tried to shoot at us, so we shot him. That was the first shot you heard. Then we shot Clint- but not before he shot his hostage," he quietly informs me.

"Who was it?" I question.

"Taylor-"

"Who was it!" I demand, my eyes brimming with tears.

"Taylor-"

"Just say it," I cry, not caring that I'm in a public place.

"Carter"

A/N

I feel bad leaving it like this. Happy Valentines Day!

Sorry for the short chapter.