Running From The Big Bad Wolf

16.

"No. Because I will be leaving here and I will be going back. I will go back to Eric's."

"To your brothers killer?"

"Yes! If I have to." I roared.

"What is so important there for you to go back in to the hands of Eli's murderer?" Axel asked me, narrowing his eyes.

I kept my mouth shut. I can't tell him. I won't.

"Eli borrowed money from them." Axel let out, his voice calmer. "Then when he found out how much exactly he had to pay back, he came to me. I paid his debt and he worked for me."

"How the fuck did I get involved in all this then?" I snapped out.

Axel pursed his lips together. "For Eli to secure the loan from me, he needed collateral and he couldn't use the house. He already did. The only thing that he could use was you."

I frowned. I've heard this before but it still hurt. I was hurt.

"The only way he could secure your safety was to sign over his guardianship to me, to protect you."

"And the whole time he was 'missing,' how many times did you hear from him?" I asked, crossing my arms.

I saw the flash of guilt run over Axel's face. "Five times."

I shook my head, trying to not believe what I just heard. "You fucking bastards." I muttered. "I don't understand any of this."

"Eric is the leader of my rival gang, Caity. He killed your brother. He had you. Yet you want to go back there? For him to kill you too?"

My breathing was shallower than usual as one thought ran continuously through my head.

Rhydian. I had to get Rhydian. I felt myself go cold. I walked straight into Eric's trap. With my son. All because I thought I was protecting Rhy. Squeezing my eyes shut, I exhaled the air from my lungs and pressed my lips together.

I was safe. I was timezones away. Axel had no clue where I was. Yet here I am, in my childhood house.

"Why here?" I suddenly asked Axel. "Why my house?"

"Because I thought you would be more comfortable here, waking up somewhere familiar." Axel said softly.

I ran a hand up my head and through my hair, gripping it. I was shaking uncontrollably and nasty thoughts of Eric ran through my head. Nasty stuff that he might do to my child.

"You need to let me leave! Now!" I demanded at him. "I have to leave. I have to go back!" I cried out to him.

"You are safer here, Caity."

"Don't call me that!" I screamed at him.

"You are safer here!" Axel roared in return. "You aren't leaving ever again. You won't be running from me ever again." He said darkly to me, making me shrink.

Axel turned to the door, closing it and I heard the distinct sound of a lock. My door never had a lock on it. That is new. I looked around and tried every window in my room and bathroom. They were all nailed down, not budging.

I went and picked up my hair straightener and went to the window I climbed out off last time and with all my might, I stabbed the window with the straightener.

It cracked at the pressure and I did it again and again until it broke. Running against time, I pushed the broken shards out of the frame and climbed out as best as I could without cutting myself.

My jeans got snagged on a sharp piece and I tugged at it, at the same time, slicing my upper arm. I bit back the pain and climbed down the window, hanging before letting go and landing on the grass.

Getting up and brushing myself off, I looked around me. The usual little wooden fence now gone and replaced with a tall brick wall.

"Oh no, no, please no." I whispered and bolted to the back gate. I stopped in my tracks when I noticed it was gone. "No!" I tried not to yell. I followed the wall from one end to another and found no exit except the laundry door. There use to be a gate here.

That was when I was spotted.

A man came running to me and even though I had no where to go, I ran. I had to. To get to my son, I had to run. And the only path I can take is through the house.

So I did that, I went through the laundry, hoping everything is exactly where I left it. I used the wall for my brakes as I turned to the next set of doors, entering the sitting room and turning to the front door. I had about eight more steps till I was at the front and I was nearly there till someone came out of the kitchen and barged me into the wall.

I groaned as some one gripped their tight grasp around my arm. I was winded but had no time to recover as I was dragged.

I tried fighting back, I did, but I was also trying to breathe.

I found myself back in the study. Everything was the same. I took deep breathes, welcoming the air in to my lungs as I pushed the man off me.

Axel glared at me with cold eyes, a phone to his ear and a look of hatred on his face.

It was enough to make me pause. He hung the phone up, placing it gently on the desk and took a deep breathe before he spoke.

"You have a child?"