I didn’t know which was worse, the searing ache I felt in the pit of my soul for the loss of my dear friend or the blazing hatred I had for the Majestic 12. How could they have killed such a wonderful and innocent person just for the sake of capturing me?
Keanu had to force me to get dressed and walk to the car the next morning. After I fainted, he told me I’d slept for over six hours, which is good that I got some rest, but I started to cry inconsolably immediately after I woke up.
My imagination was concocting all these terrible scenarios in my mind. Visions of Amy’s blood smattered against every wall of my dorm haunted me every time I closed my eyes. A young and beautiful girl’s life had been extinguished, all because of me.
The Majestic 12 wanted to make a point—and they made it. They wanted to show me their power and to what lengths they’d go to get what they wanted and what they wanted was me, and worse, my baby.
Panic seized me as I thought of what they might do my other loved ones. Would they systematically destroy the lives of every single person that I’d ever cared for? And what about Keanu’s sister? Was she already dead?
“Stop the car!” I yelled, holding my hand over my mouth. Keanu jumped, startled at my sudden outburst, and then quickly steered the car to the side of the road.
Vomit forced its way up my esophagus and passed my lips. Spewing bile between my fingers, I managed to get the window open so I didn’t get it all over the inside of the car. I flung the door open once the car had stopped, sprang from the car like a jackrabbit and managed to stagger a few feet before my stomach lurched again. Gagging and dry heaving, I fell to my hands and knees, tiny bits of gravel stabbed and embedded themselves into the palms of my hands.
Beads of sweat formed on my forehead and tears poured down my cheeks.
“Oh Amy! I’m so sorry!” I whimpered, my arms buckling beneath me. Curling into a ball on the side of the highway, I wailed with despair. So immersed in my sorrow, I barely noticed when Keanu walked over, picked me up and carried me back to the car.
I considered telling him just to leave me by the side of the road. I didn’t know if I cared anymore. I should just let the Majestic 12 have me; maybe then no one else would get hurt. If they had me, maybe they’d forget all about Keanu.
No. They were out for blood now. Keanu was up to his neck in this now too. Both our lives were over.
“Are you alright?” With both hands, he softly pushed the hair out of my face and tucked it behind my ears. His brown eyes searched my face with concern.
“No.” My voice was thick as I shook my head weakly. Tears ran down my face and he tried to wipe them away as fast as they were coming.
“I know. I know.” Pulling me to his chest, I snuggled in and let him comfort me. Though nothing could extinguish the grief, his arms around me made me feel safe—for the moment.
“Shhh!’ Keanu hissed raising his finger to his lips. I hadn’t realized I was making noise but he must have been referring to the sound of gravel crunching beneath my feet. I moved over onto a small patch of grass in order to smother any sounds. Crouched behind him, wide-eyed and terrified, I watched as he maneuvered his large body through a small opening in the chain-link fence. Keeping his body low, he ran towards a red minivan parked at the end of a long row of new vehicles.
I had no idea what time it was, but it was very dark.
My back and legs aches from sitting in the car for so long, we had to be getting close to Arizona. We’d been driving for days.
Worried we’d be recognized again, Keanu thought this was a good time to switch vehicles.
His plan seemed simple enough, just scary as hell!
Abandoning the black sedan near an old junkyard, we walked a couple miles to a car dealership we’d noticed as we drove into town. Keanu said we were going to break into one of the vehicles, hide there until morning and wait until the dealership was buzzing with customers. Once it was busy enough, he’d hotwire the vehicle and we’d drive off unnoticed. He claimed that he’d learned that while working with the Majestic 12. It was called hiding in plain sight.
Regardless of how confident he was with his plans, my nerves were shot. Shivering from both the night air and the fear of being caught, I awaited the signal to follow him.
Squinting into the darkness, I panicked when I couldn’t see him anymore. How the hell was he going to signal me if I couldn’t see him?! I didn’t have night vision! I wasn’t a friggin’ cat!
Just then, from out of the darkness, I heard a quick little whistle. That was him, it had to be.
On hands and knees, I crawled through the small opening in the fence. Sharp wires nipped at my clothing, scratching my skin.
“Shit!” I cursed then immediately silenced myself.
Standing and wiping the dirt off myself, I peered across the dark parking lot. Scanning for any movement or sign of Keanu, I hunched over and meandered through the scores of vehicles.
In the distance, I could hear the whizzing of traffic on a nearby road and a lone dog barking a couple of blocks away, other than that; it was silent…and unnerving.
Beneath me, the sound of my shoes scuffed against the pavement. My ears remained focused and pert like a feral cat anticipating a predator. I stopped moving for a moment to assess my location. Realizing that I was nearing the end of the row of minivans, I expected to see or hear Keanu soon.
Looking around, my eyes wide, I wanted to see or hear him in advance. I was worried I’d scream if he startled me.
“Psst. Over here.” Instead, relief swept over me as I heard him call to me from a couple vans over. Moving toward the sound of his voice, I saw him crouched behind the second to last van in the row.
“Whew! I was getting worried!” I whispered as he took my hand and led me to the other side of the van.
I watched as he pulled a pocketknife out of his jacket, flipped it open and shoved it between the frame of the van and the sliding passenger door. He applied a little pressure and I heard an audible click. I was shocked how easily it popped open. Sliding the door open, he offered me his hand and helped me inside. Following behind me, he closed the door.
“There, that was easy huh?” He grinned as we settled ourselves into the backseat.
Rolling my eyes at him, I then surveyed my new surroundings. The interior of the van was a nice, light blue, complete with fabric seats and that new car smell. Breathing in the new van scent, I noticed that it had a DVD player.
“Cool.” I’d never owned a new car before, so for just a moment, I pretended like we were a couple shopping for our first new vehicle together…rather than the reality, which was stealing it.
After stifling a yawn, Keanu offered to lay the back seats down and turn it into a bed. Giving me his jacket to use as a pillow, I lay down and stuffed it under my head.
Lying down beside me, his head propped up by his hand and elbow; he smiled at me…and my swollen stomach.
“What do you think it is? A girl or a boy?” His eyes were bright as he looked at me excitedly.
Clearing my throat, I answered quietly. “A girl.”
“Really? Do you just have that feeling?”
I couldn’t look him in eye. The guilt ate at me. “Yes.”
His face looked so peaceful, so…happy. How could I tell him?
“Cassia?”
Taking a deep breath, I turned onto my side and readied myself to tell him the disgusting truth—that this beautiful creature inside me might not be his, that she very well might be the product of a vicious and brutal attack courtesy of Agent Meyers.
“Keanu, I…” The words got stuck in my throat as I tried to speak, but before I could continue his hand was sliding under my hair and onto the nape of my neck. Shivers of pleasure slid down my body as he pulled my face gently toward his and kissed my lips.
