MINE

Chapter 38

We continued to drive for another hour. The clock on the dash was broken, with my luck...of course it was. I am only guessing that it's been an hour. I wasn't sure of the exact time but the sun was still high in the sky. The snow let up a bit and just a hint of fog covered the air.

Cole has been pretty quiet.

I would look at him every so often and he would look back. We'd exchange looks of...something. I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Hope? Gratefulness? Longing?

I decided to look again, now.

Just as I predicted he turned his head to me as well.

"Almost." He spoke.

I could feel my eyes widen. Did he mean...almost to the exit?

I looked back to the road we were on. The trees were thicker, snow lighter since the branches caught most of the flakes on their way down. I was desperately looking for an opening. Anything to show the world beyond these woods.

"Emily." Cole whispered.

"Yes?" I snapped my head to him.

Please no bad news, I thought.

"Take this." He slide his phone over to me.

I shook my head no, but placed my hand on the phone anyway.

"What? Why?" I asked.

"We're going to walk from here." He started. "If we somehow split up, or I get left behind...I want you to be able to call for help." Cole looked down and brought the truck to a stop and shut it off. It was a lot quieter now.

Cole's POV

"Why would we split up? Why would you get left behind?" Emily's voice cracked.

I took a breath in knowing the hard news I was going to have to deliver to her.

I know my buddy Zac. He's not going to let us out of here without a fight. If I couldn't lead him away from her, he'd kill us both.

If Emily has any chance of getting out of here it's going to be without me. Plus who knows...maybe if I can lose Zac after he stops trying to kill me I might be able to catch up with her.

Emily's POV

"If Zac is there..I'm going to lead him away. I might be able to catch back up."

"I'll wait for you." I blurted out.

What the hell did I just say?!

"No." He simply said.

A click of the trucks lock played through my ears. Cole opened his door and hopped out.

I turned my body to my door and picked up his phone. I placed it in the pocked of my coat. It was heavy.

My door swung open and Cole stood on the ground in front of me. A hand extended to grab mine. I reached out and took it. I stepped out of the truck.

"You're shaking?" Cole breathed out.

"I'm fine." I lied. I quickly wiped away the tears that fell down my cheeks.

I was scared to say the least. I was not fine. Whatever, it's not the first lie I've told.

"Do you want this?" Cole walked in front of me to show a scarf he pulled from his pocket. It was red.

I shook my head no.

"Are you sure? It'll keep you warm while you wait for someone to show up." he reminded me I was to call the police when I made it out of here.

Something didn't sit right with me. As much as I wanted to get out of here...something felt wrong leaving without Cole. He's wanted to escape his whole life...why was I getting the privilege to something he's earned the right to?

I shook my head yes to confirm I'm fine without the scarf. He put it around himself.

"The password is 12-24 by the way." Cole started walking without me.

I caught up. "What does it mean?" I asked. I could have never guess those numbers. Was it a time? A date?

"That's the day my mother died." Cole said without skipping a beat.

"Oh."

"Why did she run?" I spoke without putting too much thought into it.

We've come too far for him to turn back now. Even with awkward questions being asked.

Hopefully.

"Every Christmas I got to leave. We'd drive to the nearest city and see the lights. She tried to tell me that night we were going early. Without my dad. She left without me." Cole told me the story. He was less afraid now of telling me things. I felt a slight sense of relief knowing he trusted me enough to spill his thoughts.

Part of me wondered if he was really going to let me go though - I know almost everything. Did he trust me to not spill the secrets to the police? Or maybe that's exactly what he wants.

He put his arm in front of my chest and put his finger to his mouth. He was telling me to be quiet.

I looked where his head turned.

Between the trees ahead of us a truck sat.

Zac's truck. It looked empty. It was off. Maybe he wasn't in there? Where could he be?

"Go around. I'll go the other way. If you run into him run to the truck. Scream. I'll come." He looked deep into my eyes making sure I understood him.

I nodded my head. I started to walk off. Cole grabbed my shoulder and turned me back around.

"If you make it out..there is a building down the road. It's tucked away behind a lake and some bushes. Go there. Hide. Call 911. If I make it out I'll come there."

My eyes blurred and fear traveled through my veins.

COLE'S POV

I was shaking. So was Emily. Her mood made me un easy. I needed her to be strong. This is the most I've ever seen her scared. What happened to her tough girl persona? She needed to find that again. She was so close. I was also so close.

Was I going to try my hardest to get out of here? Yes. Well, maybe. What if I could make a deal with Zac? A deal to let her go? A deal to relocate? A deal to start over somewhere new? Or maybe I kill him and move on myself? My head was full of possibilities.

I brought my hand to Emily's face and rubbed her tears off her face and brushed her hair behind her ears.

"Go." I whispered.

She turned around and made a run for it. I needed to do the same.

I watched as she ran far and looked back to see if I was gone too. I wasn't. She started walking back. I needed to get my head in the game. I shook my hands and head no. She stopped I nodded to her and ran away in my direction.

She was going to come back for me? Why?

A/N Hi! I know I've been away for a long time! Sadly real life stuff got in the way. But I'm back! (fingers crossed) I have good news, though. I'VE FINISHED THIS BOOK! "MINE" will end on Chapter 40. Then the sequel will begin! Chapter 39 comes on Wednesday and Chapter 40 on Friday. Book 2 will hopefully start The first Monday of 2020. (Jan. 6th.) Thank you as always for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and are excited for 39 & 40! <3