I looked over to see a hooded figure with a wooden stick in hand, about five-feet long. The figure ran over and picked up Caro’s gun and pointed it at her.
“It’s time for you to leave,” came a male voice from underneath the hood.
With fear and gratitude in her eyes, she stumbled to her feet. She glanced over at me quickly, “I’m sorry, Danielle,” then she took off in a sprint down the alleyway.
I fell back onto the pavement as blood came gushing out of my abdomen. It was painful to put pressure on it, but I tried. There was just so much blood, I could barely locate where it was coming from.
The figure knelt down next to me and removed his hood.
“Caleb?” I asked, bewildered.
“I thought I told you to take the night off,” he said, not looking at me, but attempting to put pressure on the wound, “This is not good.”
“I’m going to die,” I said.
“You’re not going to die,” he said with hesitation. He condensed his stick and placed it in a bag, then reached down and picked me up, “Come on. I need to get you help.”
“Don’t take me to the hospital to die,” I said, as I began to lose consciousness, “I hate hospitals.”
Chapter Nine
Not Alone
When I awoke, I found myself in a small room. It was simple, a plain twin-size bed in the corner where I slept, a dresser, and a window, that was all. I was covered by a blue comforter. I lifted it slowly to check out the damage. I was wearing different clothes than I had worn the night before, a black t-shirt that appeared a size too big and gray sweatpants. I pulled up my shirt to survey the wound. There was nothing there, to my relief. Everything as it had been before, not even a scar. I sighed in relief. I was grateful to be alive- and thanks to Caleb, of all people.
I got up from the bed and walked toward the window. I could hear voices in the distance, down hallways, and outside. I opened the blinds to the window and noticed I was on the second floor of a house. As I gazed out the window, I saw two people, a girl and Caleb, working in a garden, pulling food. The sun was not very high in the sky; I guessed it to be around nine or ten in the morning. I looked around to see if any of my belongings were in the room but there was nothing. No clothes, no weapons, no phone. The idea of Caro’s betrayal came rushing into my mind. I closed the blinds and turned to exit the room and leave.
“You’re up early.”
I glanced up to see Law standing in my doorway.
“Where’s my stuff?” I replied.
“We were unable to salvage your clothing and your phone and weapon have both been disposed of.”
“You destroyed my phone?” I asked, baffled.
“Yes.”
“Why the hell would you do that?”
“Franklin is tracking you on that phone and has clearly turned on you. If you kept it, it would be a homing beacon for him to find you. Is that what you want?”
“Oh no,” I said, understanding his rationale, “Thanks.”
“I’m here to help,” he said.
“I find it hard to believe what you say.”
“Well, perhaps you will find it easier for me to show you.”
“I would not mind that. However, I really have to be going.”
“Where do you have to be?”
“I want to go home. You know, to my house. Get my stuff together. Track down Caro and fucking kill that bitch, then I’m going to take the damn vacation I wanted.”
“Danielle, you cannot go home.”
“Why not? You going to try to keep me here?”
“Why must everything that comes out of your mouth sound so defensive? I am trying to help you.”
“You’re my enemy. I don’t trust you.”
“I’m your enemy? Ha ha,” Law responded with a laugh, “Why am I your enemy?”
“Because you’re Franklin’s enemy. I’m not even supposed to be talking to you.”
“You don’t get it, Danielle. Franklin turned on you. He called the cops on you. He set you up. He ordered Caro to take you out after you delivered the drive and if, for some reason, you survived, he intended for you to rot in prison for carrying out his orders.”
“Well, probably because he thought I was working with you!” I exclaimed, “Probably because you had Caleb following me around everywhere. He probably thought I was some kind of nark.”
“Listen to me,” Law said, crossing his arms and standing up straight, “You can’t try to blame me or anyone else for what you got yourself into. You want to leave? Be my guest,” Law said, motioning for the exit, “I am telling you I am willing to offer you refuge. You can have a place to stay, food, and whatever basic needs a person has, but you play by my rules. Rule number one, you are not going to disrespect me in my house. You are not going to disrespect anyone else.”
I was intimidated by Law’s frustration with me. It wasn’t like mouthing off to my dad or anyone else. I learned right then Law was the type of person that when they talked, you just kept your mouth shut and listened.
“Now, I’m going downstairs. We’re making breakfast. You’re welcome to join us and you’re welcome to leave. It’s your choice. However, I’d prefer if you stayed and at least stuck around for a bit to see what we have going on here.”
I hesitated with my words, “I’ll be down in a minute.”
“Okay,” Law said with a nod and exited the room.
After twenty or so minutes of sitting in contemplation, I made my way down the stairs. I heard a clamor
