Page 31 of Eleazar

Andrew’s stomach pitched. He placed a hand over his mouth, hoping not to vomit. After taking a few deep breaths, he went to the window and succeeded in opening it. Andrew would never again take fresh air for granted. Too bad he didn’t have time to stand there and enjoy the breeze.

He had to get Zach out of there.

When he returned to the bed, Zach still had his arm slung out. Andrew grabbed it then pulled his friend off the mattress. Thank god they were about the same size, because if Zach had been any bigger, Andrew doubted he could move the guy.

“What’re you doing?” Zach whimpered.

“Getting you out of here.” They’d made it to the window, but Zach was in no condition to climb out. “Please forgive me for this.”

Andrew shoved Zach out the window. His friend landed on the grass and cried out. Shit. The sound was loud enough that Chainsaw might have heard it. Andrew quickly climbed through, reached back inside and closed the drapes, and then closed the window.

“I need a little help,” Andrew said as he pulled Zach to his feet. “We have to get out of here, so I need you to try and focus.”

“Andrew?”

“Yeah, it’s me, buddy. Get your legs working.” He tossed Zach’s arm over his shoulders and headed down the driveway. Andrew had no clue where he was, even though he’d been in the front seat of the car when Chainsaw had driven them there.

Ridgeway was huge, and Andrew didn’t know the entire city. He looked toward Chainsaw’s car and then turned back. He didn’t know how to hotwire, and that might draw Chainsaw’s attention even if Andrew tried.

Instead, he helped Zach across the street, and they made their way into someone’s backyard. From there, Andrew and Zach emerged onto the next street. Andrew kept doing that, using backyards, when he could, to keep them moving. It was better than being out in the open.

When they stepped into another yard, a guy was outside, watching as his dog sniffed around, clearly having to potty at this godawful hour.

The man’s head snapped up, and the dog snarled when he spotted them.

“Easy, boy,” the guy said then turned to them. “Why are you in my backyard?”

Just then Andrew’s arms gave out, and Zach crumpled to the grass. Andrew had been using his muscles to keep his friend upright, and now they were worn out. Andrew was tired, hungry, and wanted this night over with already.

“What’s wrong with him?” The guy moved closer, and so did his pit bull. The dog was tan with a white patch on his muscular chest. Andrew kept one eye on him as he turned to the stranger.

“Do you have a phone on you?” Andrew looked around as if Chainsaw would jump out of the shadows at any second. By now he had to have realized that Andrew was gone and had taken Zach with him. There was no doubt in Andrew’s mind that the guy was looking for them right now.

“What in the hell is going on?” the man asked.

Andrew didn’t have time for this. “Fine, you want the truth? I just rescued my best friend from his kidnapper. The guy is looking for us, and I have to call reinforcements before he finds us.”

“Why not call the cops?” The man pulled out a cell phone from his pajama pants.

“Because the person I need to call is better than the cops.” Taking a chance that the dog wouldn’t attack, Andrew closed the distance and snatched the phone from the stranger’s hand. The dog whimpered but didn’t advance toward Andrew.

Now Andrew felt bad for scaring the dog, but that didn’t mean he was giving the phone back.

“He won’t attack unless I give the command,” the stranger said. “Give me a reason to keep him calm.”

Andrew doubted the dog would attack considering he’d moved behind the man’s legs. Was he going to take a chance on being right? Nope.

“I just gave you a reason.” Andrew dialed Eleazar’s cell phone.

“Where in the hell are you?” Eleazar snarled when he answered.

Andrew frowned. “How’d you know it was me?”

“Tell me where you are, little one. I can see you on the phone with me, but I don’t know your location.”

“You’re in my mind again?” Andrew wasn’t going to bitch about it since that was exactly what he’d wished back at Chainsaw’s house.

“Tell me where you are.”

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