Find A Way Out

Chapter 5 - Confidence

The alarm clock goes off. I reluctantly get out from under the covers. It's Friday, two days since the incident with Austin. I was half-expecting the same thing to happen as last time- meet once, and then not see him for ages. I hoped that he was okay. Sighing, I began getting ready for the day.

I would have a lesson with Jaquelin this morning, and today will be the longest session of the week. Mondays and Wednesdays, the other days when I see her, are only one hour, but today I get to see her for two. At least that might take my mind off of the other thing a little bit..

After breakfast (the same-old bland, lumpy porridge) I was taken to the room where Jaquelin tutors me. I was still thinking about what had happened to Austin though. As soon as the guard who brought me there had left, I looked up at Jaquelin with tears in my eyes. A look of what almost seemed like surprise, quickly followed by one of sympathy, came to her face, but before she could say anything, I ran up to her and wrapped my arms around her, my face buried in her shoulder as I started crying.

I didn't care that they could probably see us on the cameras, I had just suddenly had enough of holding back my tears all the time around her.

"Zina.. what's wrong?" she asked, concerned.

"I need to talk to you about something... it's important.." I whispered. I had decided there and then that I would confide in Jaquelin.

Alex stared at the boy in front of him with pity. He saw the dark bruises on his arms, and he knew the boy felt miserable after being separated from Zina again.

"Austin, what's the matter?" As soon as he asked, the boy looked up at him, and vanished from his sight. Alex sighed. He walked over to his desk and sat down. "Come on, I know you can't keep your eyes open forever... I just want you to tell me what's wrong..."

Austin stood in front of the desk, and blinked a few times, allowing his tutor to see him.

"How do I know they aren't listening in..." He whispered, suspicious.

"Because, my wife and I have cut the audio. They can't hear what we're saying."

"Wait.. your wife and you?" Austin said. "I knew you were married but.. Why would she..?"

"You answer my question, and I'll explain. I promise."

Austin looked at him, the nodded. "Okay... It's about... this girl.."

"A-a-and I'm s-scared that I won't see him again, Jaquelin.." I said, my head down on the desk on top of my arms.

The woman sighed. "Zina.. there's something I need to tell you," she said. I looked up at her. "I know about Austin... And I know about what Randson has been doing to the both of you... We've been trying our best to find a way to put a stop to it and we still are.."

I was confused. "Wait.. what do you mean 'we'..?"

After Austin had explained everything about Randson and Zina, Alex put a hand on his shoulder.

"Austin.. I've... I've known about this for a while.." He told the boy. The teen stared at him.

"Then why-"

"Because I had no choice, if Randson knew I was trying to help you he would have both me and Jaquelin fired, or worse."

"Who's Jaquelin?"

"That brings me to my second point... Austin, Jaquelin is my wife, and she is.. Zina's tutor."

"Wait- what!?" Austin said in disbelief.

But slowly, his awe-struck face shifted to one of anger.

"How come you've never told me this before?!" He near enough shouted. "You knew about all this! You knew about Zina! Alex, I've been wanting to see her or communicate somehow with her for two years! And you've said nothing until now?!"

The man sighed. "Look... I understand why you're so angry at me. But Austin, like I said before we had no choice... we had to protect both of yous and ourselves. But after what happened the other day me and Jaquelin decided that now was a good time to tell you both, so just... please forgive me for not telling you..."

Austin's heavy breathing slowed a bit. He stared up at his tutor, then looked at the ground. "I just... missed her, Alex. And I need to know she's okay..."

The boy sighed. "Just no more secrets, please, Sir?" He looked up.

Alex gave a sympathetic smile. He had been taken aback at the use of the title 'Sir', though. Austin only ever used it when he needed to be dead serious.

"I'll do my best. Some things I might not be able to tell you, but I'll try to tell you all the things I'm allowed to."

"Ok... thanks."

"Wait..." I looked up at Jaquelin. "Does that mean... If I ever needed you to, would you be able to pass a message on to Austin?"

"Yes, if the need did arise I could," she smiled, yet I felt like there was something she wasn't telling me, but not in a bad way. I ignored it though.

"Thank you."