Page 69 of On The Run

But I couldn’t. I dragged myself, trying to move and inch, but no progress was made. I needed to get to that voice! It called again but it was farther away. He was leaving.

“No! Please! I’m coming.”

“Tokki!”

“Please, please, I need help. I can’t move!”

“Aiden!”

“Please. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

“Aiden!

“Tokki, wake up! Wake up, love!”

My eyes flew open. I tried to sit up but something was holding me in place. I was strapped down again. Did he find me? No. How was that possible? I started to flail, desperate to get out of the bonds that were holding me down. I escaped! How did I end up back here?

“Aiden! Aiden, I need you to calm down, please. You’re safe. Please. We need help over here!”

Someone was gripping my shoulders—the person talking. I tried to thrash away, but he was so much stronger than I was. “Shh,tokki, it’s me Max. You’re ok. You’re safe. I promise you you’re safe.”

The words started to penetrate through the fog of panic that had overcome me. That voice . . . that name. “Max?”

Just then, the world started to get clearer, and I was staring into the face of the most beautiful man I’d ever seen. He looked rough. His eyes were bloodshot like he was crying, and his under eyes were bruised, like he hadn’t slept in days. While he always had facial hair, it was overgrown. But under all that exhaustion and worry, there was genuine relief when I said his name. His smile was everything.

“Max,” I said again. I wasn’t sure if I could say anything else.

“Yes, love. It’s me. I’m here.”

“Where am I?”

“A hospital in Wyoming.”

Wyoming? That was where he brought us? Fuck, Pops! “Pops!”

I started to sit up again, to go look for him, but Max gently pushed me down. A nurse came bursting into the room at the same time, but Max held his hand up, like he was asking her to wait a minute.

“Manny is safe. He’s been transported to a hospital in Denver. He’s doing ok. Once you’re stable, you’ll go there too. But he knows you’re here and is ready to speak to you once you’re up to it.”

Hearing that seemed to be the trigger my body needed to relax. I sank back into the bed, suddenly too tired to fight anymore. I had so many questions, but my mouth felt like cotton, and they wouldn’t come out.

“When?” was all I managed. I didn’t even know what I was asking, but the nurse answered anyway.

“Later, honey. All you need to worry about is resting. I’m gonna give you the good stuff to help you sleep.”

“No . . . dark . . .,” I managed to get out as heaviness overtook me.

I knew Max was confused, I was too, but all he did was squeeze my hand. “No darkness,tokki. Never again. I promise.”

“I love . . .” I didn’t know if I got to finish the sentence because I was no longer able to fight sleep.

The next time I woke up, my eyes didn’t feel as heavy. The room was clear and I remembered where I was and what happened right away. I remembered everything.

Breathing was hard. I clutched at my throat, desperate for air.

“Hey, hey, easy, man. Take nice deep breaths.”

Deep breaths? I couldn’t fucking breathe! “Can’t.”

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