Page 99 of Mayhem

“Unless you can get me out of here, there is nothing.”

“Well, there is one thing.” She bites her lip.

“What? What is it?”

“While you were huffing and puffing your way up here, I was actually listening to what they were saying. The doors are on a security system, but it isn’t as extreme as you would think. I mean, look at the house we are in. It’s a normal house. I saw pictures of the guy downstairs with a girl on the wall. I think this is their home.”

“I don’t see how this is helping. I wouldn’t even make it out the door before they would be on me. You heard him.”

“Patience. Jeez, Willow. Like I was saying. He gets alerted to his phone. So what if we got his phone?”

“They would see me coming a mile away.”

“Have a little more faith in me. I was saying I would do it.”

“Really? You would do that for me?”

She sighs. “I don’t like the idea of you going out there alone, but it’s your mom. Whether you have a good relationship with her, she’s still your mom. If I could trade places with my mom, I would in a heartbeat. I can’t fault you for wanting to do the same thing.”

“I didn’t say that,” I instantly deny.

“Then why are you hell-bent on going to her? To spite Chase? If that’s the case, then no, I won’t help you.”

I think of my mother. She hasn’t always been a great mother, but she is my mother. I let my mind wander back to the past. Past all the mistakes and cruelty. Back to a time when she acted like my mom.

“As much as I would love to disobey Chase, that’s not why I have to go. I need to go because even with all the shitty things my mother has done, at one point she was my mom. I can still remember when she used to give me hugs and kisses. When she would sit on the floor and play with my toys with me. She wasn’t always the way she is now. I don’t really know what changed, but all of a sudden one day she went from being my mom who was trying her best to being who she is now. Everyone makes mistakes. She’s just trying to survive. I can’t condemn her to death for doing the same thing I do every single day.”

“That’s what I thought. So I’ll go downstairs and distract them. I’ll figure out a way to grab the phone and signal you. When you hear that signal, you take off.”

“What’s the signal going to be?”

“I’m not sure yet. Something obvious just to you. It has to be something that won’t make them suspicious. You need them to not notice you’re gone for a while to give you time to get away. How are you going to get back from wherever we are?”

“Well, if they have my mother, then they have her because of me. I’m sure someone will let me borrow their phone long enough to make a call. Or maybe I can find a payphone. I’ll call her and pray they pick up. If that doesn’t work, I’ll hitchhike back. I’ll figure it out.”

“Be safe out there.”

I chuckle. “You be safe here. They won’t be happy when they realize you duped them.”

She shrugs. “I’ll feign innocence. ‘What? Willow’s gone? She was sleeping when I came downstairs. That sneaky bitch.’”

“I love it. Keep the dramatic tone and all. They won’t be suspicious at all,” I say sarcastically, making her laugh.

“I wish you didn’t have to go alone. Promise me you’ll be as safe as you can. No unnecessary risks.”

“I’ll do what I can,” I promise.

“Good. Now let’s search this room and see if we can find you something to defend yourself with.”

“Look who is a little badass now. Let’s do it.”

After searching for ten minutes, we come up empty.

“This must be a guest room. You stay here. I’m going to sneak down the hall and check one of the other rooms. I need to find you a knife or something.”

“I’ll be fine without one.”

“Non-negotiable.” She shakes her head. “I want you to have something. Who knows what you’ll run into out there.”

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