Where She Went

09. Two Steps Ahead

New character (;

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A smirk filled his face as he glanced over at me, and I shivered slightly. I should've been used to it by now but it's hard to get used to something that scares you to death.

He flicked his cigarette after he brought it to his lips and started to stand up to his full height. I held my ground and made a blank expression as best I could. Fear wouldn't help me, and it wouldn't save me either. He came to me slowly, and brushed a hand down my cheek while his dark eyes wandered mine.

"Savell," He says in a type of tone as if I was in trouble. "It's almost time to get the girl isn't it?"

I slowly nod my head, my grip on the knife he passed to me hardening.

"Be a good girl and go get her." He whispers and I start to nod again but am caught by his finger lifting my chin.

"I will get the boy." He states, his eyes boring into mine. Another shiver passes up my spine and up my neck, making the hairs on my nape stand up.

I longed to see November, my son. It's been so long and I couldn't stand it. I knew Harrison tried his best to find him when he was kidnapped, but he never did, and it's been too long. It's also been too long for me to love a person that couldn't find him too.

I finally look away from his intense stare and swallow down bile that threaten to rise in my throat. Soon enough my family would be together again, and I could live the life I've always wanted, right here.

"Okay." I whisper, pulling away from his finger that held up my chin. He starts to frown as I walk away to get my coat, and waits for me at the door.

"You know where to get her?" He asks, grabbing my wrist. I look up at him and nod once.

"Yes." Since he had a tracking device on Hazel, he was giving me the easy one. While I found her, he had to find November based on where Hazel has been the past few days.

I waited calmly for him to let me go, but he didn't. Instead, he tugged me a little closer and placed his lips on mine. I disgustedly shoved him away and opened the door, wanting to be ridden of him. I turned around and locked the door behind me to my small house in the woods. Thankfully it was big enough to keep both of them here, and no one would suspect a thing. After all, for the time being I was completely innocent.

We would all be a family, as I've always wanted, as Harrison promised me.

I hoped he was right.

***

21 years ago

Placing my hands over the small bump on my belly, I looked in the mirror at myself. My golden hair fell over my shoulders, framing my tanned face. My eyes wandered over my stomach, where a small being was being formed. A small smile formed on my lips, and I carefully pulled my top back over it. No one could know, except for him.

After all, it was his fault this happened. That everything happened.

A frown replaced my smile in only a moment, and I left the mirror. Nausea built up inside me and I placed my hands on my temples.

"Breath, Savell. Breathe." I whispered to myself. When the black dots started to appear in my vision, I decided to sit down on my bed to clear my head.

A knock on my door made me jerk up, and fold my sweater over my stomach to hide the bump.

"Savell?" My mother's voice drifted from the other side of the door. "We have dinner ready for you downstairs." She pops her head in, her blue eyes bright. I give her a small smile and place my hands in my lap.

"Okay." I murmur, waiting for her to leave. She smiles once more at me and finally closes the door as she walks away. I let out a long sigh, and fall back against the comforters. Pretty soon, I wouldn't be able to do these things anymore without being caught.

Looking up at the ceiling, my memories fall back to when I first found out. I was only fifteen, a sophomore. I turned sixteen at 5 months of being pregnant and I had no clue of what to do.

He told me to keep it, it was our baby. And then he suddenly left and never came back for me.

For weeks I wanted to abort the baby, but I couldn't will myself to do it. I couldn't kill the living, growing thing that was in my belly that was mine, that was ours.

Sitting up, I let me memories fall in the back of my head and stand up. I take a baggy hoodie out of my closet and pull it over my head. Checking the mirror, it was a close getaway. It was baggy enough to not see, but it was risky.

But wasn't everything risky now?

Sighing, I open my door and place my hands in the hoodie pockets. My heart beats rapidly as I walk down the stairs, and I take measured breaths to slow it down as I padded into the kitchen. Both my parents and my younger brother were sitting down, starting up a conversation about school. I make a small smile as I walk past and sit in my seat.

A plate of chicken and mash potatoes is placed in front of me, and I say my prayers before eating. Everyone eats in silence until my mother pipes up halfway through the meal.

"So, Savell," I look up as she smiled at me. "How is school? Did you complete that science project from the other week?"

She talks as if it's a normal day, another boring day in our simple, normal life.

"Fine." I answer, putting a bite of mash potatoes in my mouth. After I swallow, I speak again. "Yeah, I barely finished the paper that went with it though."

"Why?" My mother asked, a crease forming between her eyebrows. I look down at my plate.

"I don't know, caught up in studying for my finals, I guess." I mutter, glancing over at my little brother, who was playing with his macaroni.

My mother nods, her gaze fixed on my plate. Finally she turns to my father, a bright smile forming on her face.

"So honey, how was work?" I blur out their boring conversation as I continue to eat.

Placing a hand over my stomach under the table, my heartbeat pounds in my chest. Soon enough they would find out, soon enough I would have to tell them.

Looking up at my parents, I take a minute to look at their smiling faces and loving expressions.

"Mother--" I start out, my voice cracking.

"I have to tell you something."