My pocket vibrated and I stopped, sucking in deep breaths. My phone almost fell to the sidewalk as I fumbled it out of my shorts and shoved it against my ear. “Hello?”
“Phoenix, did you mean to try to call me? You didn’t leave a message, that isn’t like you.” Daddy’s tone was cheerful, and I felt terrible bringing something horrible like this to him. It wasn’t necessarily my fault, but it felt that way.
“He’s chasing me.”
“What?”
“He almost got me.”
“Who?” Daddy sounded upset and that wasn’t what I’d wanted.
I tried to force my mind into action, but it was difficult. “Perry saw me. He told me to get in his car, but I didn’t want to, and I ran away. I don’t want to. I hate him. He hurts me and I’m never going back.” I rambled more things, worse things. My vision went fuzzy, and I stared at my feet while I babbled about some of the awful things Perry had done to me. The memories were there in my head, fighting to part my lips and burst free into the air—before they split my skull open and spilled out onto the ground to splash everywhere in poison puddles. Tears leaked from my eyes and snot dripped from my nose. I sucked in air. I hated this. After my last breakdown, I’d promised myself I would get better and not put Daddy through this, but I wasn’t okay.
I didn’t know how to rein in these awful feelings.
Daddy was silent on the other end of the phone, and when I struggled through dragging in a breath, he cut me off. “Get here, I’m at the church. You’re already on the move, right?” His tone was cold and I wasn’t certain what that meant.
“Yes.” There were a couple of women on a sidewalk nearby staring at me with wide, sad eyes, and I turned my back on them. How much of my ranting had they heard?
“Get here. Under no circumstance should you ever get into his car. Fight. Scream for help if you have to. But don’t get in his car.”
“I know, Daddy. I’m not stupid.”
“Never said you were, boy.” His tone was soothing, and I sucked in another deep breath.
“Then why did you say it?”
“Once upon a time, I believe you would’ve gotten into his car. You’ve done a lot of growing, though, and I’m sorry I’m putting my old fears on you.”
Rubbing the back of my neck, I looked around. “I’m not sure where I am, but I’m going to... I’m going to use the map on my phone to get back to you as fast as I can.” It was a relief as my brain started offering helpful solutions to the problem I was facing. It had gone terrifyingly blank while I was running.
“Good idea. I’ll be waiting for you. Do you need the address?”
“No, Daddy,” I whispered.
“Call me again if you need me. I’ll be outside watching for you.”
Nodding, I talked myself through putting in the church address on my map app. I was only about fifteen minutes away at a fast pace, and while I knew if I called Daddy back and told him exactly where I was that he would come find me, it would take longer. No, I had to do this.
I tried not to stay on the same street too long as I jogged to the church, but I got the crawling sensation I was being watched on the last half-mile stretch I chose to take on Piccadilly Street. I felt like someone was staring a hole in the back of my head, and I picked up my pace to a real run as St. Michael’s came into sight. The sun glinted on the black slate roof of the bell tower and the pink stones, and my heart soared. I wasn’t sure when the building had become my haven, but I couldn’t wait to be inside. My clothes stuck to my skin and the soupy air didn’t do me any favors as sweat ran in rivers down my body.
Daddy stood out front with his arms crossed, as promised, pacing a circle, and I nearly sobbed as his tall, strong form came into view. When he noticed me he rushed to meet me, and I huffed and puffed and couldn’t get any words out because I was running as hard as I could.
We crashed into each other, and only his arms around me kept us upright. He dragged me against his chest, and I huddled there.
“Sorry, Daddy,” I murmured.
He shushed me. “It’s okay.” Daddy stiffened, and I glanced over my shoulder in the direction he was staring. My stomach seemed to vanish, and my head felt like it was floating above my shoulders as Perry parked alongside the curb. I’d thought I’d dodged around enough on the way here that he wouldn’t be able to follow me, but apparently not.
“Is that him?” Daddy asked.
I nodded, and he turned me toward the church. We walked quickly to the front doors, and tears slid down my cheeks when we were inside the cool interior, surrounded by the smell of fresh furniture polish. The nuns did a lot of the cleaning at the church, and they must’ve already been here for the day.
“Shouldn’t we lock the doors, Daddy?”
“No.”
A quiet horror worked its way through me, but I didn’t argue.
