Page 26 of Run with Me

“You’ll never get out alive in the front seat. Come. I have a vacant spot in theback.”

I followed him to the side of the truck. John stood behind me, holding me by myarms.

“Are you sure about this, Anna?”

“Yes. I’m sure. I’ll manage, and one day… I’ll figure out a way to get in touch with you. I promise.”

“Jump in there and don’t say a word until I get you out.” Mr. Garcia hurried mein.

I thought he was kidding when he opened the metal hatch where I thought his tank was located. It was a secret compartment, and I crawled in feet first, without looking back. I held Mr. Monkey tight in my grip, securing him against my chest. The space was filthy and smelled of iron. The taste of copper began collecting in my mouth. I waved toward John one last time before the door closed. There was a small hole in the rusted metal, large enough to peek through. When I saw John fall to his knees as we took off, my heart broke again.

I wondered how many times in a day a human could go through pain before they gave up. I lowered my hand to my stomach and lay back. It didn’t take long to realize that if I survived this trip, I would be bruised all over. The constant dips and grooves in the road threw me back and forth, and I prayed that I wouldn’t have motion sickness. When Mr. Garcia stopped by the Bistro, I held my breath.

“Load it in the front,” Mr. Garcia called out. “The back isfull.”

“Not today,” Pablo said with anger. “Go! We have bigger things to worry about!” I saw him wave Mr. Garcia forward. Behind Pablo, Ben was pacing across the Bistro’s porch, back and forth.

“Find her. Find her and bring her to me.” He crushed something in his fist, and red juice dripped between his fingers.

Afraid he’d sense where I was, I shut my eyes, and Mr. Garcia passed the Bistro. I smoothed my hand over my stomach and tried to pretend that I could feel warmth blossoming underneath my skin. I imagined all the love I would give our child and all the risks I would take for this innocent life, until the day Idied.

After today, anything was possible.

After today, we’d have a new chance.

After today, I could proudly say that Ben wasn’t the only one who knew what to do with skeletons.

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