Page 25 of Redd

How do you even find the right words of gratitude and appreciation for something like that?

I couldn't, they simply didn't exist.

This man had risked his life for me, he had taken a chance that most would only ever do if it was for someone they loved to death.

But hehaddone that, he risked himself for me.

Braiding my fingers together, I picked at the skin of my cuticles. It was a nervous habit that started years ago, long before all this shit happened.

It was probably the only thing I recognized from the past version of myself. The naive girl was gone, a brutally depleted woman left in her wake.

Staring out the window, I watched the trees blow in the wind and the stars twinkle in the sky. I tried to find the four points that created the Big Dipper, but I couldn't quite see them from where I was seated.

The moon was full and bright as it shone down on the treetops, sprinkling them in silver dust. Under its rays, the fallen dust glinted like windblown powder as it generously coated the pine needles.

It was beautiful.

Say thank you at least, you owe him that much.

Turning my head, I licked my lips and exhaled the words. “Thank you.”

Flicking his eyes in my direction, he stayed quiet, staring down on me with a million questions in his gaze. Rocking his jaw, he gave me a small nod and let his eyes drift back to the road.

That was it, a nod. He didn't ask me who I was or how I ended up in that closet. He didn't curse me out for slowing us down in the hallway when my legs crumpled in tainted memories.

He nodded.

I sat confused, wondering if that acknowledgment was a good or bad thing. With Diablo, a nod was always followed by a command. We didn't have casual conversation or bicker back and forth until we both came to an agreement.

Conditioned, that was the word to describe me. I was conditioned to Diablo, to his motions, his words, his demands. I was a product of repetition and callous need.

Now I had to learn the mannerisms of another. This man could mean absolutely nothing with his nod. Or it could mean something devious, something painful.

Twisting back to the window beside me, I laid my head against the glass, allowing my eyes to settle on everything and nothing at all. I didn't want to think anymore, I just wanted to live in this victory.

What he did after my thank you didn't matter, he had already done more than I could ever wish for.

I was free.

I felt like I was floating, riding the wings of some magical beast that swooped down and scooped me up just in the nick of time.

My shoulder shook and I opened my eyes. I sat in a daze for a second, confusion clouding my brain. My surroundings took me by surprise, and I instinctively jerked my shoulder away, trying to scramble back, only to hit the seat.

I opened my eyes expecting to see Diablo, anticipating his evil black stare and sadistic smile.

But I was met by the face of the stranger, his gaze warm but hard, delicate but fierce. “Come on,” he said, opening his door and stepping outside.

His voice skipped across my brain, crawling into my chest and setting my heart ablaze. A fire began to burn, his voice the spark that ignited it. I could feel myself falling, tumbling over his two simple words.

What the hell is going on with me?

I couldn't place these feelings, the warmth and tingles took me by surprise. Sitting in the car, I tried to focus my eyes. Everything was fuzzy and blurry, I couldn't see where we were or anything around me.

I must have fallen asleep while we were driving and didn't even realize it. I had no clue how long we had driven for or where we were.

Every inch of my body was tired, so I sat still for a minute, trying to catch my bearings.I'm not in that house, this man got me out. I'm free, I'm safe—

A heavy knock forced my attention to the window beside me. Turning in my seat, the man was waving his hand for me to come out.

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