Running From The Big Bad Wolf

32.

"Caity." I heard the soft voice woke me as I stirred. Last night had to be a dream. All a dream. Rhydian is safe in bed. I'm in bed. It was all a dream.

"She is petrified. Look at how she was shaking earlier. You can see it in her eyes. She doesn't know who to trust. Especially now."

"You were the one that blew the cover!"

"It was the only thing I can think off to get her to talk."

"Great job, Harrison. She fainted. She will talk now, hey?" Was the sarcastic tone.

"Eli?" I murmured as my eyes fluttered open. I saw a face before me. It couldn't be. It wasn't. My heart dropped as I took a deep breathe, looking at a man in front of me, a man that looked like Eli, but wasn't Eli.

"Caity." He said so softly, so caring it surprised me.

"You're not Eli. Why do you look like my brother?" I muttered, sitting up.

"Are you okay?"

I looked around and noticed I was on a different couch to Rhydian, even in a different room.

"My son..." I whispered trying to get up.

"Is fine, Caity." The man placed a hand on my shoulder and I brushed it off.

"Don't call me that." I snapped at him. "I don't know who you are. I want my son."

"Your son is fine, Caitlyn. Someone is watching him."

I looked at the man, concern written over my face. "Who are you? Why do you look like my dead brother?" I asked him.

"I'll explain later. The whole lot. We need to get you and your son out off here, now."

"Where?"

"Somewhere safe." He answered and I shook my head. The older version of Eli tilted his head, looking at me. "Trust me, Caitlyn."

I let out a sadistic laugh. "The last time I trusted someone, I ended back in to Axel's life. I don't even know you to trust you. Why should I? None of you have said where you are from, who you are, what you are doing here? You have scared the shit out of me and my child!" I ranted.

"Harrison. Wrap it up. We leave in five." The man from before, Frank said. This Harrison turned and nodded.

"I understand you are hesitant. That you don't trust people. But you need to trust me." Harrison said softly.

"Prove to me that I should trust you all!" I yelled out. The room was starting to light up with the dawn, letting me know what time it was approximately.

"Then trust me." I heard and turned to the voice.

I inhaled, gasping at what I saw. Immediately, the tears sprung forward as I stood up, hesitant about going closer.

"Trust me, Caity." He said to me.

A sob escaped me and before I knew it, I ran to him, pressing myself in to his arms.

Then I pulled back and punched into him. "You bastard! How could you. You let me believe you were dead! For over three fucking years! How could you?" I cried. "I hate you! I missed you so much, Eli. How could you?"

Eli wrapped his arms around me as I cried in to his chest.

"I know, Caity, I'm sorry. I will explain it all, I will. But we have to go. I'm sorry, but we need to go."

Immediately, I was nodding.

"Get the minimal. We need to make it look like you and the child were inside when it happens."

I paused. "When what happens?" I asked softly.

Eli looked at me, I saw the sorrow and regret in his eyes. He had aged terribly in the past three years. Stress and worry. "Tonight, Mrs Caitlyn Wolf and her son die in a gas explosion."

I didn't need prompting. I packed a bag for myself and Rhydian and we left. Eli carried his sleeping nephew and we climbed into a car. I could smell the gas as I ran out off the house. I could smell petrol on some people.

We were in the car for a few minutes when I turned around to see the kaboom. It lit up the sky. On the cusp of dawn.

I was still shivering. All this was too much to take in.

"ETA ten minutes till we arrive at the safe house, Harrison." Frank called out from the front of the car.

"Copy." Eli said then turned to me.

I had Rhydian snuggled in to me, asleep as I leaned in to the corner of the car seat and the door, wearing a deep frown. "Harrison? Isn't that the name of the other man?"

Eli smiled sadly at me. "We are nearly there. Then you get some sleep for a couple hours while we do clean up."

"Why won't you answer my questions, Eli? Why did you let me believe you were dead? Why are they calling you Harrison?" I whispered so I didn't yell.

"Caity, I told you. I will explain it all. But you need to sleep first."

I took a deep breathe and nodded.

"So this is my nephew?" Eli asked, changing the subject.

"Yes. He is my ray of sunshine. He is what made me stay alive these past few years." I replied.