My spine straightens just as Lilly asks, “What’s that?”
“The phone,” I answer. I sit up and reach into the nightstand, grabbing the phone.It’s not the scheduled time.“It’s from Ottar.”
I click on the message and feel all of the blood drain from my face.
Ottar:Get out. Now.
“Fuck,” I yell as I stand. The phone buzzes again.
“What?” Lilly asks, standing as well.
Ottar:Head to Harrogate.
I toss the phone on the bed. “Get dressed. Now.”
“What? Why? What’s happening?”
“Lilly, please, no questions, just get dressed.”
She must hear the desperation and tension in my voice because she doesn’t ask another question. She starts pulling out clothes from the dresser.
“Your warmest clothes. I know there isn’t much,” I say.
I throw on some clothes, my hands shaking. I try to calm my rapid breath so as to not scare Lilly, but my mind whirls to worst-case scenario. Ottar said now. What kind of time does that mean? Do we have hours? Do we have minutes?
Seconds?
Either way, I move around the house, packing my backpack with supplies.
First aid kit.
Drinks.
Non-perishable snacks.
My notebook.
The phone.
The security monitor.
“Move, Lilly,” I say as she comes into the living room in a pair of leggings and a long-sleeved shirt. “Shoes, now.” We both slide on our shoes, and I go to the cabinet where I kept my runaway bag that contains maps, the keys to my plane, a gun, and a few knives.
I strap on my backpack, take her hand in mine, and I head out the front door, no time to lock it.
“Keep quiet.” I can feel her tremble next to me. To reassure her, I squeeze her hand three times, and she shakily squeezes back.
The house now behind us, we stay close to the rocks, and I realize I’m walking around unarmed, so I stop us, reach into my backpack, and pull out my gun.
“Oh my God,” Lilly whispers, her voice terrified.
“I got you,” I whisper back. “Stay close, watch where you step.”
Still holding her hand, I work her around the bend that leads to the rocky cliff. The water crashes into the rocks at a dangerous speed, startling us both. A yelp pops out of her mouth, and I grip her even tighter. This is exactly why I used the boat to transport the boxes of supplies, because I wasn’t about to carry them up the slippery stones.
Knowing only one way to the boat, I guide her down the steep stones.
“Careful, Lilly,” I say as I move us down some makeshift stairs and into a shelter covered by ivy. “Wait here.” Gun out, I move it past the ivy and point, looking for anyone who might be hiding in there. When the coast is clear, I pull the ivy to the side and say, “Hold this.”
