On the Run

Chapter 12: We both cried ourselves to sleep that night

A/N: The end is near..

"Hey cutie, how are you? Did Auntie Tiff take good care of you this morning?" I cooed as I picked Kenz up, stepping into the foyer of Tiff's place. She giggled, clapping her hands together,"Yeah! We had cwookies. And wachd Dwagon Tawes!"

I grinned at Tiff, "Ahh, the classic. Thanks again for watching her, sorry it was so last minute. The board just called me to tell me it was today like ten minutes before I talked to you..." She smiled as we sat at the table and ate the few cookies that were left, "You know I love her, I'd do it anytime. And Rob is pretty good with her too."

Though everyone was surprised, I hadn't been the least bit shocked when she and Rob started dating, and had been delighted to be the Maid of Honor just last month. He and Adam laughed from the living room--home during their lunch break, I suppose. "Like she wouldn't kick me out if I wasn't. Kenzie is her favorite thing since ice cream."

We talked about random things for a few hours; Rob's promotion at work, the high school graduation next month, the guest speaker at church last Sunday. Sitting around like this nowadays was weird; almost like an extension of high school, but everything was different at the same time. Jobs, taxes, bills, marriage, kids...crazy stuff. But it was nice to have worries less trivial than what position you would be playing this Friday, and if your parents were spying from the kitchen. Don't get me wrong, it was frustrating as heck, and some days I wanted to rip all my hair out, but I felt so much more significant knowing I was in control of my own life. And of course I wouldn't trade my precious Kenzie for the world, even though she gives me more stress than anything ever has; shooter included. Missing my brothers, my own death, or Alex's, even those were minuscule in comparison with the thought of her getting hurt.

My phone began to vibrate, listing the caller as Private. That was a little weird, but I brushed it off. Plenty of professionals did that.

"Hello?"

"Hi, it's so nice to finally speak to you!" An eerie, almost gruff voice spoke.

"May I ask who's calling?"

"That's not really important. You see, I need you to do somethin for me, Ms. Bender."

My blood ran cold. "My name is Mrs. Hernandez. I don't know who you are, or hwat you're up to, but I want you to refrain from calling this number again, especially considering you don't know who I am."

I hung up and leaned against the fridge, a sheen of sweat on my brow. I wanted to wonder who it could've been, but I already knew. There was only one person determined enough to hunt me down and access my number.

My phone rang again, and I snapped it open but remained silent.

"Forgive me for that lapse, I am aware you're no longer Ms. Bender. There was a marraige to Alex, yes? So pardon me Mrs. Torrez, but as I said before, I need you to do something for me. If you decide you don't want to...well, my sources tell me Miss Kenzie is just adorable. It would be such a shame if something were to happen to her."

I struggled to keep my voice down, "Don't you dare come near her. If you so much as look at my daughter I will kill you myself."

A cruel laugh came through the speaker. "What shall you do, Scarlett? Throw a cheerleading shoe at me? We both know you're incapable of exacting any revenge on me. I know how your mind works. I've done my research, and I was a psychology major. You're intelligent-- very. Brightest of whatever group you're with. And you care, far more than you should, I might add. You would die ten times over for those you love. But you know your own limits. You know exactly where the line is, when you can't do anything to protect anyone, and so you toe it very carefully. We both know there is nothing you can do to stop me. Call the police, and I'll get away. I always do. Your little friend, what was her name? Oh yes, McKenzie, the very one you named your daughter after. Well, when I found her and her little boyfriend, she tried that one. She was clever, I'll give her that, but no one is smart enough to evade me. She even sent her little boyfriend off to bring back a gun..well, we know that didn't end in their favor. I expect the authorities will find their bodies in the next few days."