Revealed

17. Jeremy

I pick up Solie and place her over my shoulder. I have to be quick with this. Soon enough, she's in my car, passed out in the back seat. I run back into the store and scavenge through every closet and shelf until I find my gun about 10 minutes later in a dark closet.

I start driving. I don't exactly know where I'm going, but in the end, I hope it's worth it.

A few hours pass by and Solie is still not awake. We are far away from the city by now. It's about 1 am in the morning. I keep driving and only stop twice, once for gas and once for food. I had ordered a pizza. The leftovers are in the passenger seat for when Solie wakes up and she gets hungry. I don't know what made me feel like I had to take Solie with me, but something in my body is telling me it was for her own good. Plus, I'm very impulsive and never really think things over.

6 am comes around so quickly that it feels like no time passes. Then, I hear Solie begin to move.

She utters in a tired, but still cute voice, "Mama? Where are we going?"

She's so confused and in a vulnerable position. I don't say a word.

Then she slowly gets up. It must have taken her a minute to process where she was and who she was with because for only a minute, she stares into space peacefully. Then it's like all her anger and frustration pour out and she asks me in a tired but forceful voice, "Who are you?!"

I don't turn around. I can't let her see my face. If she does, she'll recognize me. Now I know for sure that I didn't think this through.

"Stop the car," she says demandingly. I shake my head to say no. And so, she pounces. She quickly climbs up from the back seat and grabs the steering wheel. I nearly crash into a sign so I hit the brakes. The car isn't even at a full stop but she still opens the door and struggles to get out. I should have put the child lock on. What a basic thing to forget...

Once she's out, she runs as fast as her tired and cute little self can take her. I immediately run after her yelling, "Stop, please!" She only looks back at me once for a quick second while still running. In that one second, I see tears in her eyes. They're streaming down her face.

"Give me a chance to explain myself!" I don't know if I can yell any louder. Cars are passing by us, every passenger probably confused by what they see, yet they continue driving.

Solie continues running into a forest by the highway.

"Solie stop!", I yell.

Her running begins to get slower as she gets farther along and higher up the steep hill like area. I can tell she really has no energy inside her but she keeps trying to get away. I like how she doesn't give up even when there's little to no hope for her. Finally, not too deep into the forest, she just can't run anymore and she begins to fall to the ground tired and crying.
I catch her before she hits the rocks below where she was standing. Her face is a complete mess and she's so out of breath that it seems like she had forgot how to breath.

"I'm gonna take you back to the car," I whisper. As I begin to lift her up in my arms, she continues crying, but she holds onto me for dear life. Her hands are warm and send electricity through my whole body. When we reach the car, I throw the pizza box into the back and place her in the passenger seat.

I don't start the car because I decide to give her a minute to think and I don't want to scare her. After what seemed like forever, she slowly turns her head to face me. Her facial expression is beyond tired and she looks like she's about to pass out again, this time on her own. It is hard for her to think and collect her words.

Then she asks me in an out of breath tone, "You're that guy from the library, right?"

I've been caught. "Um... yeah."

"Why did you leave so quickly? How come you ran away?"

I find it amazing how this girl, who I just kidnapped and chased through the woods, only asks about my whereabouts in a library.

"I was afraid you'd recognize me."

Shit, I sold myself out. Why was I so honest with her just then? Lying has always been my best quality, but with Solie, I can't even find any words to speak.

I can tell Solie's going through her memories to try and figure out where she knew me from because she examines my face without making any major eye movements.

When she seems to figure it out, she looks down at her hands which are resting peacefully in her lap.

"You're the robber," she says quietly. "You tried to kill me and now you've kidnapped me." There's a short pause. "What is it you want from me exactly?"

I take a deep breath and place my keys into the ignition, but Solie grabs my hand before I could start the car. I feel tingles where she touches me.

"I asked you a question."

She claims her control. Even though this girl seems like she's going to slice me into pieces, she's still extremely attractive.

I relax my posture and face her. "If you let me drive, I promise I'll explain on our way." I try to be as reassuring as possible. Solie lifts an eyebrow. The same way she did when I nearly robbed her a few weeks ago.

"Where are we going?" She isn't going to let this go. I look at her with pleading eyes. It takes her only a minute for her to give in, sigh, and put on her seatbelt. I start the car and we begin driving.

Solie looks straight ahead of her with weary eyes. I know she's very weak right now and confused and wanted answers. And I also know that eventually, I'll have to give her some.

"Solie, I know you're super tired right now. So just rest a little and get your energy up. When you wake up, I promise I'll have answers for your questions."

Solie gives a little nod and positions herself comfortably so she can sleep. This is by far the craziest thing I have ever done in my whole lifetime.