Page 32 of Redd

The girl strolled outside into the bright sun, slinging her backpack over her arm. Redd followed her out, closing the door behind him.

And just like that, I was alone. No locked door holding me in, no gun pointed in my face or fist in my gut to tame me.

I wanted to embrace the solitude of not having someone looming over me, waiting for me to screw something up just so they could inflict a punishment. . .

But that's not what I felt. I felt nervous and unsure, anxiously flicking my eyes in every direction.

Rubbing my knees, I looked around the room, listening to the quiet noises of the house. A rumble rattled the walls and I jumped, feverishly scanning every nook and dark corner. I kept waiting for someone to pop out of nowhere or come barreling through the front door in a rage.

I don't like this. I'm too vulnerable.

Standing quickly, I rushed into the kitchen and started looking for a weapon. Pulling open drawer after drawer, I finally found a small plastic jug filled with steak knives, hidden in the cupboard over the sink.

Prowling back into the living room, I held the knife out, ready to jam it into the jugular of an intruder. I was ready to fight, no one was going to take me back to that place, not one hand would touch me and drag me back to Diablo.

I would die before going back there.

A warm wave of heat spilled out from the vent beneath my feet, fluttering up my calves, and settling my nerves.

It's just the heater.

Dropping to my haunches, I brushed my fingers through the hot air. I wasn't sure what the hell I was going to do with myself. Every noise triggered a fear, every sudden sound made my heart freeze and my head hurt.

Diablo had screwed with my brain for so long, I didn't know if I'd ever be able to adjust to life outside the walls he held me in. I felt tainted, damaged, fractured so deep that healing could be impossible.

What will I do if I can never stop looking over my shoulder?

What if I never feel the same again? Did I lose who I was, despite my efforts to protect everything I had?

I need to talk to my dad.

I knew talking to him would give me answers, it would help me to understand the why. I craved the answers more than anything. My father was the key to learning the truth.

Shit! My father could be in danger now!

Storming to the window, I looked at the driveway. Redd's car was gone, and that sight sparked a different jitter inside me. Throwing the door open, I ran through the tall grass in the front yard, trying to figure out where the hell I was exactly.

I was hoping to see another house, a business, a fucking highway. Anything that could bring me one step closer to my father. Raking my fingers through my hair, I pulled it out of my eyes as a gust of wind tried to blow me off my feet.

Teetering on my heels, I dug my toes into the ground and felt the world spin around me. My chest began to ache and my stomach felt like someone had just roundhouse kicked me.

The road was desolate, not a neighbor or house in sight. There was nothing but trees and fields, spanning as far as I could see.

I was stuck and alone, just like I had been for all this time.

My eyes welled up with lost tears, tears I had held in, tears I had refused to cry. Wiping them away, I sucked in a cold breath and let it out slowly.

I couldn't let my emotions take charge, not yet, not now. Right then there was only one thing I needed to do, I needed to warn my father.

That would be the first place Diablo would go to look for me. If my father truly was the reason I was held captive, then it made perfect sense.

I need a phone, I have to warn him now!

Darting back inside, I tore apart the living room, searching for a line to the outside world. But everywhere I turned, I felt like all I hit was a roadblock.

There was nothing, only empty sockets where a phone should be. Stalking down the hall, I was determined to check every inch of the trailer.

For over two years my father hadn't heard my voice, he had no clue if I was alive or dead. And if I didn't call him now, I knew in my heart I might never have the chance again.

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