The River Speaks

Chapter Thirteen: Run

Chapter Thirteen: Run

Fingernails dig into my hips. My heart is pounding so hard I can hear it in my ears. Elliot's breath is fanning against my neck.

Think Lily, think!

I could scream but Elliot is charming ad he could talk anybody out of a situation. I could run but he'll chase me.

Or I could go with him.

Part of me wants to, because if he kidnaps me, he gets arrested.

But who wants to be kidnapped? Nobody.

He's going to take advantage of me.

"Now. Let's go." Elliot pushes me forward.

"Wait, I left my wallet at the bar." I blurt.

"Where?" He snaps.

"Over there." I point to the spot of the bar behind Aiden.

I need Aiden to notice.

He may not be my best friend but he wouldn't have gotten this far of getting me safe just to let me get taken by him.

I glance at Maddy who is talking to Dylan, the bartender.

Hopeless. My friends are hopeless.

"I'll get it." He says angrily.

He walks toward the bar, and the second his back is to me, I bolt.

I sprint out the door, thinking frantically.

The Burke's live across the street from the bar. There's a road splitting my family's farm from the rest of the town. One side of the road is my family's property, and the other side is the Burke property.

Taking a deep breath, I run, scaling the fence and jumping over.

"Lilliana! Get back here!" I hear Elliot screaming.

I don't know where I'm going or what I'm doing, I just know I need to get the hell out of here. Now.

I sprint across the Burke's property and jump the fence, my feet hitting the grass. Running forward and few steps, I hit the concrete of the state road. I run to the other side, past a couple of trees, and over the fence.

I'm on my parents property.

I run hard, tripping over sticks and roots.

The bag from my night with Aiden is still packed.

If Ruby is out in the pasture, she probably isn't, but if she is, she'll come if I call her.

I start whistling, glancing over my shoulder.

Elliot isn't here.

But he might be coming, and it's cloudy so I can hardly see without lights of the city.

I reach the barn and see Ruby locked in her stall.

Frantic, I let her out and throw her riding gear on, hurriedly strapping it to her back. I grab the backpack and the rifle, along with a spear. I hurriedly lead Ruby out into the pasture and get on.

I need to send a distress signal. Something to let everyone know I didn't just go on a midnight ride.

Frantic, I try to think of something, but Elliot could be right behind me.

I need to go now.

I urge Ruby forward, skipping a trot and going straight to gallop. She takes off into the woods.

At night.

When all the coyotes are probably out hunting.

With my family thinking I'm going on a joyride.