I'm in it for the Long Run // Edge of Winter

18

Freedom was right up that hill, barely ten feet ahead of us. I felt so powerful, yet so scared still. I watched helplessly as Luc struggled to keep Elliot down.

My feet unable to move, my lungs unable to breath, my mouth unable to speak. I stood there motionless, like any other tree in the snow-covered forest. Petrified was the word I would use to describe it, the loss of any ability to move.

"Belle what are you waiting for?!" Bradley shrieked, grabbing at my hand. "We gotta go!" He tugged on me lightly, causing me to stumble in his direction.

I lost my balance and landed face first in the snow. I couldn't even muster up enough strength to push myself onto my feet, instead, Bradley and Caleb heaved me up.

"Go!" A strangled order came from behind me as I whipped my neck around. Elliot had Luc pinned against the ground with one hand holding his throat, and the other repeatedly beating him.

I watched as the life was sucked out of his eyes with every punch Elliot landed. Blood spewed from Luc's mouth, creating a line of maroon in the snow. The air froze up all around us as Caleb and Bradley stopped tugging at me. My mind was clouded from the scene before us.

Another life taken by Elliot, right in front of our eyes this time. He gradually looked up at us with his blood-stained, devil-eyed face. Before he rose, the three of us had already turned tails and began running towards the truck.

"Thank you." I whispered up to the sky. I put my hand over my heart, and thought of Luc and Richard. If it hadn't been for them, I don't know how long we'd have been stuck here.

But now, with the winter wind slapping our faces and a madman nipping at our heels, I let everything go. A scream escaped my lips as I threw a stick back at Elliot. He easily swiped it away and continued, in hot pursuit of us.

The tears started pouring down my face like a waterfall in the middle of a rainforest. I wiped my cheeks with the fingertips of my frost-bitten hands as we continued into the dark night.

We came upon the final hill, climb this and the truck would be sitting there waiting for us. I heard the keys jingle their way out of Bradley's pocket and into his palm. I took a quick peek back at Elliot, and saw exactly what I expected.

He was closer now, a lot closer. I was starting to question wether or not we would make it to the truck before he made it to us! No matter what, I kept running. All of us ran our scarred hearts out until we saw the end of the hill nearing.

We were so close. So close, yet so far from our freedom. I lugged myself up the hill until I heard the sound of our footprints on the asphalt of the road. It only took about two seconds before I heard another pair of feet approach the concrete.

Bradley began his course to the driver's side of the car as Caleb bounded for shotgun. Caleb reached the door first, holding it open long enough for both of us to hop in. It was a tight squeeze, but we made it work.

Bradley soon joined us, slamming the door shut behind him. A large 'clang' sounded from outside the window, catching the attention of me and Caleb. We both cocked our heads to the left and saw Elliot running at us full sprint, and a gun a few feet behind him.

The gun must have caused the loud bang when it fell out of his pocket. But now, we were only seconds away from Elliot reaching the car. I reached across Caleb and rolled up the window as quickly as I could, hoping that would hold him up for a bit.

"C'mon Brad he's coming!" Caleb yelled, as his brother restlessly turned at the ignition. Once, twice, a third time, no luck.

"Keep trying! It's got to work at some point!" I instructed. He turned the key a few more times until the engine revved and the car started up. He put the car into gear as fast as he could, but unfortunately, not fast enough.

Elliot came crashing into the side of the car, causing the window to shatter inward. I covered Caleb's face from the glass, but forgot about my own. A few shards raked across my face, cutting at the skin of my rosy-red features.

I gasped in pain for a second and wiped the blood off my face. Oh great, now even more blood has been spilled thanks to Elliot. I felt the car lurch forward underneath us and half-expected Elliot to be gone by the time I opened my eyes.

We were on the move now, starting out slow but picking up speed. I carefully pulled my hands away from my face, scared to look to my right. I eventually built up enough courage and took my chance.

When I turned, my eyes were met by a scene unfathomable for any sane person. Elliot's fists were clenching onto Caleb's coat as he grappled for something to hold onto. At first he was running alongside us, but the car became too fast for him and his legs gave out.

Now, he was holding onto nothing but Caleb and the car door handle. Caleb shrieked as Elliot delivered a hard blow to his chest. What was it Elliot promised? That he'd never hurt us? He wanted to protect us? Well look where we are now.

He's ripping at Caleb's chest, otherwise known as hurting him. We were running away from him, he was the danger we needed to be protected from. It pained me to see a man so torn to shreds, lost his mind and afraid to lose this battle.

I did my best to pry Elliot's grip from Caleb, but his hand was holding on so tight they didn't even budge. Caleb continued screaming at his father, begging him to please let go.

"Stop please!" Caleb yelped.

"Elliot let go!" I ordered.

"You're hurting him!"Bradley shouted. Elliot's eyes scanned over us three, giving Caleb time to think up and execute a perfect plan.

The sound of the door popping open was followed by a loud yell and a hard 'thump' as a mass of white and black flailed throughout the air. I couldn't believe my eyes as I turned around and saw Elliot laying on the floor, highlighted by the red lights of the car.

He picked his head up and stumbled onto his feet. He tried to regain his structure and chase after us, but we were long gone. Caleb and I watched him slow down and come to a complete stop as we drove off.

Elliot's figure slowly became smaller and smaller until we turned a corner and he was gone.

Gone.

The words sounded so good in my head, but it never rendered on my face. Instead, tears threatened to fall once again. I've probably cried more in the last week than I have in the past five years. All because of him.

But we were done now, he couldn't hurt us anymore. We all knew that, but fear still possessed our hearts and flowered through every inch of our bodies. I heard the quiet sobs come from Caleb as he leaned his head back against the seat and squeezed his eyes shut, trying to wake up from this terrible dream.

I could see Bradley's stiff arms driving the car away from his father, but I knew he'd never really be that far from us. Forever in our minds. Forever in our thoughts. Forever in our nightmares.

I put a hand on Bradley's arm, causing him to jump. I calmed him by leaning my head on his shoulder and curling the hair that came out from under his hat. His breathing was staggered and I could feel the sickness crawling within him. He opened his mouth, preparing to speak.

"We're going to be ok now. Everything will be alright."

A/N
What an amazing journey it's been guys!!!! I can't believe the book is over, I'm so sad. :( I was having so much fun with this and you guys always commenting super sweet stuff made it even better.

I love you guys so much and I want you all to know that each and every one of you mean so much to me.

When I first started out with this book, I didn't really know how it was going to turn out. But now look at us! 2.5k reads and counting!!! I can barely believe it!
Once again, thank you all for everything you have done!! I really don't want to do this but....

Thank you and goodbye <3