Running Scared

Chapter 7:

Staying at god-knows-where was like being cut off from the rest of the human population. There was a TV in the living room but it was never on. There was a radio-alarm clock next to the bed, it never turned on. It was like being in my own personal hell, almost.

The silence woke me up in the mornings just for me to see James. I never wanted to wake up, I wanted to sleep until this was all gone. But I wasn't giving up that easily.

My eyes opened to the soft morning light. I added one more day. 30 days. Counting helped me keep track of time. Helped me hold onto a piece of reality. Especially when I felt like I was losing my mind.

I rolled over and saw that James was still soundly sleeping. His hair was tousled and his lips were slightly parted. He would be handsome if he wasn't such an ass hat, or a psycho. Actually, both. I was still staring at him when his eyes opened and the smile creeped on his face. I stared into his blue blue blue eyes.

“Good morning, princess.”

I stiffened but managed a ghost of a smile. The bruises on my cheeks felt sore.

“You're up early.”

I shrugged, “Not too much earlier than you.”

He smiled, a real smile, and leaned in for a kiss. His eyes were shut as he gave me a small little peck on the lips. I looked over his head at the wall while his lips were mashed against mine. He pulled away with a little sigh and whispered three little words. I love you.

It was early to say that, maybe not for a psycho but for me never would be too soon. I stared at him in his icy eyes and tried to find my voice. One, two, three seconds passed before he spoke.

“Well? Aren't you going to say something?”

I knew if I didn't give him what he wanted, it would hurt. I nodded. He waited. My voice was still hiding somewhere in my throat. Anger flared in his eyes.

“I... love you. Too.”

His smile broke the trance and he kissed me again. “That's my girl. Anyways, as much as I'd love to stay in bed with you, I have business to do.”

He rolled out of the bed and grabbed a pair of jeans that were strewn over the back of a chair. I handed him the button up shirt lying on the floor that he was staring at. “I will see you in a few hours.” He was still buttoning his shirt as he walked out the door.

I sat on the bed and listened for any sounds. The only sound that echoed through the house was the garage door shutting. After throwing on some clothes, I tiptoed to the door and popped my head out. Six seconds later I finally walked out the door and down the hall. My feet bare feet padded against the wooden floors. Empty living room, kitchen, back deck. Why would he leave me alone? But since I was left alone, I took full advantage. I was going to use the chance to leave and get the hell out of here.

I darted back to the bedroom and grabbed a pair of tennis shoes and shoved my feet in them. After I looked well enough to leave, I headed to the garage and saw why he didn't bother to have any of his big scary men play babysitter. No cars or any form of transportation was in the garage.

Without many other options and burning precious minutes, I snuck out the side door and made sure to lock it behind me. The bright beach sun beat down on my skin. It felt like forever since I had been outside. Like a breath of fresh air, freedom. I could taste it on my tongue. I started walking straight down the path, following the tire tracks. The driveway was longer than I remembered, if I was awake when we arrived. When I made it to the old paved road, I took a gamble on which way to go. And I looked at the tracks where the sand ended, they seemed to pivot right. I looked down the left side of the road and the blue ocean winked at me near the end.