He snuggles into my lap, hugging me tight, and this is where we remain as I slip into a comatose slumber.
My eyes pop open as I have no idea where I am.
The last thing I remember was escaping hell and making a run for my life. The pain in my wrist confirms this wasn’t a dream. We made it out alive.
Shifting into a sitting position, I strain my eyes to see in the darkness because night has fallen.
“Shay?” I call out, searching from left to right. Panic overcomes me because I can’t see him. “Shay!”
The rustling of leaves has me reaching into my sling for the knife I tucked away, but when Shay appears, I sigh in relief.
“I thought ye’d be hungry and thirsty,” he says, offering me a bottle of water and a picnic basket.
“Where’d you get that?”
He smiles. “I stole it, but they had two baskets. So we can share.”
I can’t help but smirk and think to myself that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. The more I look at Shay, the more evident it becomes that he is Punky’s son. His looks and mannerisms are the same, and I also feel an inexplicable connection to him.
Punky isn’t here to protect his son, but I will do so until I can return him home.
Shay drops to his knees, opening the basket. He searches through it, offering me a wrapped sandwich.
“You eat what you want. My stomach is a little unsettled.” That’s because I haven’t eaten in days. “But can I have some water?”
Shay nods and passes me the bottle. But when he notices me looking at the lid, he opens it for me.
“Thank you.” I can’t gulp down the water fast enough, but quickly stop as I don’t know how long we’ll be out here for.
I need a phone.
I can’t trust the police. There is only one person I do trust, and I’m certain he’s with Aoife, who is looking for her son.
“Shay, once you’re finished eating, we need to go look for help. Your mommy is going to be really worried.”
He chews his sandwich happily. “Why did Mummy lock ya up?”
“I don’t know,” I reply honestly. “But I don’t think she had a choice.”
“Mummy’s friend can help us. He’ll have a phone we can use.”
“Who’s your mom’s friend?”
“His name is Sean,” he replies while I almost choke on the water I downed.
This can’t be a coincidence. Sean has to be Sean Kelly, which means Aoife was doing Sean’s bidding. I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt, but there is no way I will forgive and forget. Once I return Shay, I’m going to return the favor and see how she likes being a prisoner.
I suddenly worry for Punky. He surely doesn’t know Aoife is involved with Sean. If he did, I doubt he would be paying her a casual visit.
Once Shay has finished eating his sandwich, I come to a shaky stand because I hurt—all over. My feet still have broken glass imbedded into them, but I can’t stop. I need to get to Punky, and I need to do so now.
Each second Shay and I are out here is putting his safety at risk.
“I can carry ya,” he says, watching as I hobble a few steps.
“I have no doubt about that,” I reply with a smile. “But I’ll be okay.”
I offer him my hand, which he accepts.
With the picnic basket in hand, we commence a slow walk toward where I’m hoping will lead us to safety. I have no idea where I am, but Shay does. He patiently waits as I limp through the dense woods, using the moon as our beacon of light.
It takes about half an hour, but when we get to a clearing that leads to a road, a shaky exhale leaves me. He did it.
This little kid is remarkable.
I don’t recognize any landmarks or streets, but we continue walking, in hopes of finding something which will look familiar. A few cars pass us by, but no one stops, which is both a blessing and a curse. We need help, but I won’t risk it in case the Good Samaritan works for Liam or Sean.
We continue for what feels like hours, and just when I’m about to give up, I see it—a fountain which isn’t too far from Fiona’s home. We’re farther out than I thought, but now that I have some sense of direction, nothing can stop me.
We keep to the shadows, remaining undetected because there is no way I’m getting caught so close to freedom. A car sounds behind us, slowing down when its headlights shine our way.
“Shay, want to have a race?”
He peers up at me with a grin, clueless to why I’ve asked him to run.
“Ready, set, go!”
We break into a mad sprint, me holding his small hand and directing him to take a sharp right, which is an alleyway. No cars can fit down here. The moment our feet hit the uneven surface, I exhale in relief but don’t stop running.
Shay stumbles, and I pick him up, ignoring the pain radiating through my body. Nothing else matters but getting him to safety. My breathing is labored, and my heart threatens to burst from my chest, so when my frantic footsteps are the only ones I hear, I almost collapse into a heap.
Coming to a stop, I turn over my shoulder, holding Shay tightly as I check to see if we’re being followed.
We’re not.
A sob escapes me. My paranoia may seem far-fetched to some, but that’s how fucked up my life is. Every shadow is a potential monster lurking in the dark.
Once I catch my breath, I smile at Shay when he says, “You won.”
“We both did,” I correct, my heart melting when he kisses my cheek. “Let’s go. A friend lives close by. We can call your mommy when we get there.”
He nods, but doesn’t make any attempts at getting down, and that’s fine. I feel comforted with him in my arms.
I walk the two miles with him clinging to me, and when I see Fiona’s house in the distance, I assure myself it’s just a little farther because I know the moment I get there, everything I’ve been through and done will catch up with me, and it won’t be pretty.
The rusted gate whines when I push it open, and as I stagger the short distance to her front door, I can’t believe these final steps are the hardest ones I’ve ever taken. I bang my shoulder into the door—refusing to let Shay go—with the last ounce of energy I have left.
I have no idea of the time, but I assume everyone is tucked safely into their beds.
The world begins to sway; however, I refuse to surrender. “Hello!” I cry out, kicking the door with my bare foot.
My body is broken and bruised, and I barely feel the pain any more.
Just as I’m about to kick the door again, a light flickers on from inside, and I see movement through the lace curtain. When the door opens, and I see Ethan, gun in hand, I gently lower Shay onto his feet, not bothering to explain who he is.
Eva appears in the hallway behind Ethan, or I think she does because everything suddenly becomes murky. I welcome the darkness because I am so tired. Before succumbing to the silence, the last thought I have is, we did it.
I don’t know what comes next, however.
I hear whispers, but I’m not ready to face them.
Every part of me hurts, and I know when I wake, I’ll have to deal with that pain—both physically and emotionally. I don’t know what awaits me, but being a coward isn’t an option.