Short Cuts

More Emotionally attached than Fordo was to the ring.

I chucked the empty travel bag onto the freshly made bed; the intimidating man had indicated he was coming for Chloe and not in a hospitable way. Chloe was still lifeless in my bed, just like an angel. This is why we have to get out of here as soon as possible; I’m not taking any chances, not this time. Chloe rolled onto her stomach, I froze, I didn’t want to wake the princess from her slumber, and as much as I loved Chloe she’s not the pleasantest morning person. I continued packing, I empty out all the draws, shirts, pants, yep everything’s packed for me, now Chloe’s turn. I tiptoed down the stairs into the basement that I had set up for Chloe to sleep in. Come to think of it, I had put a lot of time and effort to make this place presentable for her, the furniture, and the new fresh coat of paint, it was a lot and it really did pay off; it looked great. I strolled over to the wardrobe. It was old oak wood with only a few scratches around the edges; it was good for a second hander. Shirts, pants, dresses, skirts, umm underwear, all done, wait what’s this? I rummaged through the pile of neatly folded clothes and pulled out a tiny screwed up picture of Chloe smiling down on a small delicate figure.

“What the …”

“What are you doing?”

Damn it.

Chloe stood leaning on the door entrance inside the basement, she was wearing an old wore jumper of mine, it fell like a dress on her, she wondered over to where I was planted and hovered over my hand.

“Where hell did you get that?!”

I didn’t have anything to say for myself, I mean what could I say, oh yeah it was in the bottom of your underwear draw probably hidden from the world but possibly mostly hidden from me.

She seized it from my hands; she easily scrunched the picture.

“Chloe I’m sorry…”

“Stop! You have no right to go through my things like that! What hell were you doing anyway?”

I stood motionless rerunning the sentence that I was preparing to say; I was already in hot water I didn’t want to push the cutisation further.

“We have to leave, now.”

Chloe looked back at me confused.

“Why? Is this because of what happened yesterday? Because you’re safe now, there’s nothing to worry about.”

I recollected actions from beforehand and continued packing.

“This isn’t about my safety.”

I began to furiously stuffing clothes into the empty travel bag, how could she be so miss led, but then again I didn’t want her to worry.

“Is this about me?”

I didn’t answer.

“Is this why you came home like that? Because of me?”

I still didn’t answer.

She started to fit the pieces together very gradually.

“Who’s after me? Ed, who’s after me?”

I gazed up at her for a brief second, anxiety and panic was captivated in her, inside and out, I flung my gazed back to the bag and began to stuff again.

“Killers.”

Chloe crossed her arms in frustration. 

“And who are they?”

I started to shove the last pile of clothes in the travel bag.

“People that want to kill you.”