Takeover

8- Escape

I Just Wanna Run

by Downtown Fiction

“I love you, too.” 

His sorrowful, unwavering, frown that he had worn this whole time, turned into a surprised smile that spread from ear to ear. His dreary eyes gained back a little of the sparkle she fondly remembered from when they were children playing in the garden. She couldn't resist mirroring his expression. She wanted to stay there, looking into his eyes, being able to know that he loved her, and she loved him. Finally, the world she lived in and tried to understand her whole life, made sense, and she wanted it to last forever. Just the two of them. 

Of course, the world never worked very hard to fulfill her wishes, and her fantasy had been hindered, once again, by the raucous voice of Elijah. “Isn’t that adorable? I hate to interrupt this special moment, but I do have other things to do today, and if you don’t mind I’d like to hurry this up.” 

They're eyes never left the others. She may lose him, but at least she could die knowing that someone loved her. That she wasn't alone. 

“I’ll go with you, but only if you let me talk to him alone. Call it my last wish. If I’m going to die, I at least want to be able to explain to him why it has to be me, and not him. Don’t we both deserve that much?” she asked. 

He considered this for a moment, before saying, “Not really, but I’ll give it to you anyways, just because of the nice person I am. I’ll be waiting downstairs. You have ten minutes to say your good-byes and what not. Do yourselves a favor and don’t try anything. I haven’t beheaded anyone in a few days and I’m beginning to miss it,” he warned, all while maintaining his near indifferent stature; lapsing only for the glint in his eyes that let her know he was enjoying this. Without saying another word, he motioned for his guard to release Evan, and they both walked silently out onto the narrow stairway, leaving them alone. 

As soon as the door was shut, and the men’s footsteps had ceased at the bottom of the staircase, he quickly walked over to her, picking her up from the floor with ease.  

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice filled with genuine concern. “I’m so sorry. He found out that you were in the area I had been assigned to yesterday, and when he asked me if I had heard or seen anything, I knew I couldn't get out of it without killing us both. And if you think you are dying to save my life, you’ve lost your mind.” 

“I don't want to have to worry about that now. What’s done is done. We only have a few minutes. I’ll decide if I want to be mad at you later, if we survive this.” 

He looked at her, confusion spreading across his face. “If we survive this? How do we survive this?” 

“Oh come on, you think I’d give up just like that? It really has been too long.” 

“Okay… then what’s your plan?” 

“Well,” I said looking around the room, “I’m thinking we have about eight minutes left. That’s enough time to hop out that window and put a little distance between us and them.” 

“That’s your plan?” he asked incredulously, “Crawl out the window? That trick didn't even work on my mom when I was eleven.” 

“Elijah’s a narcissist. He truly believes that we would never even think to try and escape. He thinks he is powerful enough that we will just go quietly, because we are too scared to go against him. He won’t expect us leaving with him just downstairs,” she explained. 

“Okay,” he said nodding, showing he was accepting her theory. 

“Okay, let’s go!” she said, turning to the window. 

“Wait! Before we go,” he called out, grabbing her hand and spinning her back around to face him. He pulled her in close, holding her by her hips in his sturdy grip, before crashing his lips to hers. She stood shocked for a second, before fluttering her eyes shut and joining in. Her hands found their way to his chest, positioned as if she was going to push him away. But -- no way, no how -- was she pushing him away. Instead, she glided them up along his chest, memorizing the way the muscles curved, and every indent that shaped them. Slipping them up across his broad shoulders; around his neck. Her fingers finally found his hair and she couldn't help but string the soft strands through them. As he wrapped his arms further around her waist, effectively pulling her even closer against him, she felt herself tug on his locks that were now clenched tightly in her fist. 

Before she could loose herself further in him, he pulled back slightly, forcing their lips to break contact, though she desperately wanted the warmth they brought back the second they were gone. He looked down at her, resting his forehead against hers. He was a few inches taller than her, and she had to look up to meet his eyes, seeing his face through her lashes. “In case something happens, I didn't want to die without doing that,” he whispered in her ear. She shivered at the feeling of his warm breath on her neck. 

He pulled away and went to the window, leaving her there still slightly shocked, slowly recovering from the spontaneity of his actions. 

“Are you coming?” he asked from behind her, standing beside the now open window. “We only have about five minutes before he comes to get us,” he said, slightly chuckling at the flustered expression he had left on her face. 

“Yeah,” she mumbled, walking over to him. 

“Ladies first,” he said, gesturing for her to go through the window. 

“Such a gentleman,” she teased as she regained her composure, as well as her ability to think somewhat clearly. At least to the extent she knew how to move her mouth, as well as her body. While her mind was still racing and processing the event, she reached her left leg through the rather narrow opening. As soon as she was straddling the wall, she swung her other one over, so that she was holding herself up by her hands pressed against the ledge, locking her elbows for more support. Carefully, she lowered herself down far enough for her to rest her toes on the windowsill of the back room of the butcher shop. She slowly brought the other foot down. Evan grabbed her hands, allowing her to get a better footing on the small ledge. She gave him the signal to let go, and she jumped to the ground. Once she was safely on her feet, he climbed out and mimicked her actions, only with much more ease. He was beside her in a matter of seconds. 

“Ready?” she asked.

“I’ve been waiting to run away with you my whole life. I’m ready,” he said, making her blush. 

“Perfect, then let’s go!” she said, taking his hand in hers and running to the alley behind the shop. They ran through until they reached where the narrow walkway connected with the main street that ran through town. She looked over to him, wanting him to know where to go next. He smiled down at her and pulled her onto the road. She followed without question. 

From that point on, she could trust him about anything and everything; forever.