Run Away

Chapter 33

"Rhiannon," Ryan exclaimed, "Get in the car."

Evie's heart thumped quickly in her chest, panic-stricken she was momentarily frozen to the spot.

Ryan let out an exasperated sigh and climbed out of the car, looking at Evie once more over the roof of the car.

"Get in the car, Rhiannon," Ryan commanded.

"No," Evie whispered.

Pushing through her fear, Evie mentally ordered her body to run. Her legs started to move, taking her in the opposite direction, back towards town, away from Ryan.

Ryan banged a fist against the roof of the car, dove inside and squealed the tyres as he turned around, going the wrong direction on the road. He pulled up in front of Evie once more, blocking her way. She moved to get around the car, but Ryan was out of it quick as lightning. He grabbed Evie around the arm and pushed her up against the car, pinning her body with his own.

"Why are you running? It's me, Ryan. We can finally be together Rhiannon. No one can keep us apart."

Evie's heart pounded harder than it ever had, her breathing was fast and her head began to spin. She tried to focus on calming her breathing, refusing to blackout with Ryan. Using the adrenaline coursing through her body, Evie brought her eyes up to meet Ryan's.

"You found me," Evie whispered, trying to figure out how he had found her.

"Of course, I did, I told you I would never stop looking for you. I love you," Ryan replied, obviously misinterpreting what Evie had said.

"H- how?" Evie asked gently, not wanting to upset him.

"I got your message," Ryan smiled at her.

"My message?"

"Yes, when you typed in your name, I got an alert. I came as fast as I could, but I had to wait until the right time to show myself to you. Then I saw that guy who is apparently your cousin?"

Evie closed her eyes briefly, realising she had been her own undoing by searching her name on the internet. If she had just left it alone, she would still be safe; she would still be with Owen.

Opening her eyes again to look at Ryan, Evie knew she would have to play along with Ryan, to keep Owen safe and the rest of the Taylor's.

"He's nobody," Evie lied, forcing herself to lay a calming hand on Ryan's chest.

"Then why were you living in his house?"

Evie could hear the anger and jealousy in Ryan's voice.

"The police made me after I was caught shoplifting. They put me into care with that family. I wouldn't tell them who I really was, so they told the school I was their cousin to be able to enrol me. I had to wait for the right time to escape."

Evie told only a half-truth, lying to keep Ryan focused on what he really wanted. Her.

"I have you now, I will keep you safe. I know a place we can live, away from everyone else. It will take us some time to get there and I need to collect some supplies and my things from the motel. Get in the car."

Even though Ryan bought Evie's story, he still gripped her upper arm tightly as he directed her into the passenger side of his car. He closed the door, locking her in and ran around to the driver's side. Evie felt sick, a mixture of cigarette smoke and whisky fumes filled the air.

Ryan didn't talk during the drive. Evie clasped her hands tightly in her lap, watching the trees then the buildings whizz by as he went over the speed limit. Something felt familiar to Evie about where Ryan was taking her. It wasn't until she saw the corner store; Sam's, that she realised where they were. It was where she had become lost that day on her run and Owen had come to rescue her.