“Yes, yes. We were watching for you. Sorry about Alek, he is… not well.”
“Come on, let’s go, we need to move quickly,” Taylor said as she stepped inside. I stood in the doorway but kept my head on a swivel, watching both directions of the road but also scanning my surroundings inside the house.
“Is there anyone in the house or on the property aside from you and the kids?” I asked.
“No, it is only us.”
The floor was solid wood planks, and as I walked, there was a hollow echo to my footsteps. The sound my shoes made on the wood and the ice-cold draft wafting upward convinced me that there wasn’t a solid foundation beneath me. There was a room below the floorboards. Most likely a cellar, and god knows what else. The space in front of me was part living room and part kitchen. There was a single old, worn chair near the fireplace and a blanket on the floor where the little girl sat. She was quietly sucking her thumb. There was a metal table near the kitchen, but it only had one chair at it. Nothing adorned the walls to show this was a family home. The house was shabby and pitiful. Even the house that Michael grew up in looked like a home. It looked like a happy place to anyone on the outside. But not this place.
“We’re running out of time,” I said.
The oldest boy paced nervously and braced his hand. His eyes moved frantically, his movements hurried and erratic as fear shook his core. He was on the verge of having a mental breakdown. He reminded me so much of Michael.
“We need to go,” Taylor urged Anna gently.
Suddenly, Anna looked unsure.
“Can you take my children and leave me? My other son is still not back, and I cannot leave him.”
Shit. Three kids, not four.
“No. Anna, that’s not part of the plan. I need to bring you and your kids to safety, and we need to go now,” I said. I stepped closer to her as she started to cry.
“Mama, please, let’s go! I don’t want to see Papa anymore!” Alek yelled. “We’re not leaving without you!”
Alek took the bag Anna handed him and slung it over his shoulder. He bent down to pick up the little girl and stumbled forward as he clutched his head.This kid needs medical care.Taylor hurried over to help Alek with the little girl. I was shocked at how malnourished and neglected they were. All of the kids were thin with gaunt faces.
“Anna, time is scarce. Let’s go,” I said again.
She nodded but broke down in tears.
“Bowie… Bowden, baby, we need to leave.” Anna hurried over to the little boy whose face was pressed against the window, staring out back toward the forest. As Anna pulled him away, he let his hand linger on the window as long as possible.
Was Jensen out there?
I stepped to the window quickly and looked outside. I couldn’t see anyone, though.
“Sawyer.” I turned at the sound of Taylor’s voice. She stood by the door with their bag in hand. Anna had taken the little girl from Alek’s arms and held on to the little boy’s hand. “Let’s go,” she said.
I nodded and took one more glance around the shack and then outside before joining everyone at the door. Taylor took hold of Bowden’s hand and hurried with him to the passenger side back door of the SUV. I led Anna to the door behind the driver’s side. I helped her and the little girl inside before I took her bag and placed it in the hatch. I had just shut the hatch when I noticed the older boy had wandered away from the car. He was holding his stomach, silently crying, and facing the forest. Everyone was in the car but Alek and me.
“Alek,” I jogged over to him. He had tears running down his face and quickly wiped them away. “Alek, we need to go,” I urged him gently. I could hear Anna and Bowden yelling for Alek from the SUV. We were like sitting ducks right now and had to move. “Alek.”
“My brother is gone.” He turned to look at me, and my heart broke for this kid.
“Alek, do you know where he is?” I quickly asked.
He shook his head, but his eyes went back to the forest.
“Then I need you to get in the car. Your mother needs you. Your little brother and sister are relying on you. Can you be strong for them?”
He nodded and looked down, his shoulders trembling as he cried.
“I hate my papa,” he sobbed.
“I hate him too.”
He looked up at me with hopeful eyes.
