Chapter 19
Only an hour until sunrise. Only an hour and I would be at the docks and on that first ferry across the harbor and to the mainland. Only an hour and my life would be on its way back to normalcy. I hoped.
I had no idea how I’d get home from the harbor, but I didn’t care. One step at a time. I had to keep my mind centered. Still, I was shaking as I made my way to my bedroom door. I didn’t dare take my suitcase, but had stuffed anything of importance into my backpack, leaving behind the rest.
I kept my mental wall up, not daring to let my thoughts seep from my mind and alert others to my presence. But concentrating was hard under the circumstances. Unwillingly my gaze went to Lewis’ bedroom door. The urge to try one more time to talk him into reason overwhelmed me. I forced my feet to keep walking, tore my gaze from that door and rushed, as quietly as possible, down the dark hall, following the path Olivia had taken the other night. I’d seen that exit near the children’s ward and hoped it was the best way out. If I’d gotten my directions right, it would lead to the back of the house and the beach. I’d follow the shore to town.
Heading down the first set of steps, I pressed my hands to the narrow walls to keep my balance in the darkness. Lewis had disappointed me in so many ways. I thought we understood each other. I thought we believed in the same things. We should have, after all we’d had similar childhoods, similar pasts.
In reality we were completely different people. But it didn’t matter. I still loved him and each step further away from Lewis, broke my heart a little more.
I turned left, walked ten feet down a dark tunnel only to realize I should have turned right. A cold sweat broke out between my shoulder blades. I didn’t have time for mistakes. One mistake could mean the difference between me leaving with my memory intact and me leaving with no recollection of what my life had been.
I had a plan; sneak into town right at the moment when the first boat was leaving. Jump on the ferry and be gone. I couldn’t think further than that, and I couldn’t think about the plan going wrong. Any mistakes would be my downfall. I turned right and made my way toward the door where the children lay sleeping.
The closer I got, the more my stomach churned, threatening to bring up the chicken and rice that had been brought to my room by a nameless servant. At the door, I froze. I could see them sleeping through the small window, those tiny bundles of power. How could I leave them here? But what could I do? It would be pretty hard to go incognito with twenty small children at my side. As much as it pained me to leave them behind, I knew, for my own sake, I had to.
Turning away from the children’s dorm, I focused on the door that would lead outside. Metal, bullet proof, impenetrable, no doubt. A bolt locked the door in place. To the normal person the door would seem secure, but I couldn’t help but wonder where the rest of it was. Shouldn’t there be an alarm? A camera? But the hall was surprisingly empty.
I slid back the deadbolt and stepped outside into the crisp morning air. Easy enough. Everything was going exactly as planned. And that worried me. It was all too simple. And then I saw the fence and realized life was one big joke. That tall fence continued from the front of the house and apparently wrapped around the back. A fence much too tall to climb.
A cold wind swept from the ocean, stinging my face. Across the harbor, lights from the mainland twinkled and glowed, calling me home. Already the seagulls could be heard, crying their good mornings. It was the right time to leave, but how could I when that huge iron fence rose up from the earth surrounding the yard? I hadn’t had much of a plan when I’d decided to leave. I was hoping God or Fate would smile down on me.
“Hello?” I whispered, looking toward the gray sky. “Could use some help about now.”
Shockingly, God didn’t respond.
“Fate it is.”
I moved along the fortress Aaron had built, my hands scratching against the rough brick. To think I’d believed this place a stunning, magical home when I’d first arrived. I knew better now. It was nothing more than an elegant prison. At the corner of the estate, where the bricks met in a sharp angle, I paused. Still too dark to see much of anything, but I could just make out that ocean shimmering under a crescent moon.
“Where are you going?”
The soft, sudden voice sent my heart leaping into my throat. I spun around. “Caroline?” She wore jeans and a sweatshirt, but no coat. I glanced sharply around, looking for someone who might claim her. There was no movement in the darkness beyond.
“Are you…did you come from the children’s dorm?”
She nodded, her bangs whispering across her eyes with the movement.
“You should go back. It’s cold. If they find you missing they’ll worry.” And come looking, which wouldn’t be good for me.
“Are you leaving?” she asked, her lower lip quivering. My heart clenched at the thought of lying to her. I had no choice! I couldn’t take her with me.
“No, of course not,” I said, stumbling over the words. “Now go back to bed, okay?” I shooed her with my hands, but she just stood there, staring at me like a dog after a treat. “Listen kid, you have to go, please.”
“You look like my sister.”
I hadn’t realized she had a sister, but that was good. It meant she had someone here with her. “Yeah?” Damn, if my voice didn’t catch. “Well, she probably misses you, so go back to your room so you can see her, okay?”
“She’s not there.”
Crap. This just kept getting better and better. “Did they take you from your family, Caroline? Did they make you leave your sister?”
She nodded, her large eyes shimmering now. She was going to cry and then I’d cry and we’d be caught.
“I miss her, but I can’t talk about her because they won’t let me.”
The anger I felt toward Aaron rushed through my body in a heated wave. For one insane moment I wanted to tear through the door and demand they return the children. Instead, I knelt before Caroline, my knees hitting the hard dirt with a thud that jarred my body. “Did your parents know? Did they understand that you were being taken away? Or did…Aaron do something to make them forget?”
She shrugged, looking confused. “I don’t know.”
“It’s okay.” I grasped her narrow shoulders. “Do you know when they took you? A year ago? Two? ”
Her brows drew together, her lips puckering. “It was winter and cold. I didn’t get to open my Christmas presents.”
No Christmas presents? Now that was just plain wrong. “Do you remember where you lived Caroline? What town?”
She frowned. “Ohio, I think.”
Ohio? Ohio might as well have been another country at the moment. I hadn’t realized these abductions took place across states. I stood. I knew what I had to do and even as I thought the words, Caroline said, “Take me home?”
How could I refuse? What was one kid anyway? Surely we could sneak onto the boat together. They’d think we were siblings. In fact, it might work better this way. And if her parents didn’t remember her, Grandma would let her live with us.
“Okay, come on.” I took her hand, her tiny fingers chilled. We needed to make it to town fast; she wouldn’t last long in this cold weather. It was a ridiculous plan. I knew that, but I had no choice.
“Where will we go?”
Already with the questions? It wouldn’t take long before she’d realize I hadn’t a clue what I was doing. “I’m not sure.” I slipped one of the straps of my backpack from my shoulder, intent on finding a sweater that would fit Caroline. She needed something to block the wind.
She latched onto my sleeve and tugged. “This way.”
I didn’t miss the fact that she was pulling me back toward the house and the way we’d just come.
“No,” I said. “We need to leave now.” What had the kid forgotten? A stuffed bear or some other ridiculous object that didn’t matter at the moment? Didn’t she understand how important it was that we escaped ASAP?
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“Caroline, we can’t go back.”
“Please,” she whispered. “I know where we can get out.”
My knees almost buckled in relief. “Are you sure?”
She nodded. What choice did I have? Follow a kid or stumble around the yard on my own until I was caught? We followed the outside wall of the southern end of the house, heading toward the back. The entire way, that damn fence followed, mocking us. The sky was turning to gray, dawn breaking. My anxiety flared.
“Caroline, are you sure—”
“There.” She pointed to a dark impression in the earth that ran underneath the fence. “A secret tunnel.”
I darted the small distance and hunched down. It was a drainage pipe that led underneath to the shore. Definitely small enough for Caroline to fit through, maybe small enough for me. When I lowered myself to my belly, I could see the gray light at the end of the dark tunnel, beckoning freedom. There was also a thin layer of water along the bottom of the metal pipe. I didn’t have time to think about what could be living and growing in that water.
My top priority was the diameter of that tunnel. If I got stuck, or if there were rats or spiders…no, it didn’t matter. I had to try. Stepping back a few feet, I slipped my backpack from my shoulders and tossed it over the fence. Fortunately it sailed over the top and landed with a thud in the sand on the other side.
“I’ll go first,” I muttered.
Caroline nodded her agreement, her little round face full of trust. For a moment panic took hold. My God, this little kid trusted me to get her out of here. I should have forced her to return but it was too late now. My conscience wouldn’t let me leave her behind.
I lowered myself into that small gully, then lay flat on the cold ground, frost biting into my sensitive palms. The dirt was hard as I inched my way into the metal tunnel. Small rocks bit through my jeans and jacket, scraping my legs and stomach.
I reached the tunnel, didn’t pause, but flattened myself to the ground. The thin layer of ice that had formed over the water cracked. Bitterly cold, it soaked my clothing, chilling my flesh. I bit my lower lip, dug my elbows into the ground and surged forward on my forearms into the pipe. I just fit, my shoulders scraping against the metal sides. This was my only chance. Caroline was counting on me. I couldn’t let Aaron erase my memory.
The moment my torso was inside that tunnel, a tinkling of panic threatened to overwhelm me. What if my hips got stuck? I ignored the shouts of warning coursing through my mind. I told myself the tunnel would remain the same size all the way through, that if I fit now, I’d fit ten feet in; I wouldn’t get stuck halfway and drown when the tide came.
Thankfully, it was too cold and damp for spiders and rats. One small blessing. My harsh breath echoed against my metal coffin. No rats, no spiders, but the ground could collapse, my panicked brain taunted. I could get stuck.
I shook my head, clearing my thoughts. No, I was almost there. If I could straighten my arms, untuck them from my body, I’d be able to touch the cold air ahead.
“Almost there, Caroline,” I said, forcing my voice to sound jovial. I pushed my elbows under my body and inched forward, slower than a snail. The ridges along the pipe hurt, digging into my muscles. “Almost…”
“Cameron!” Caroline screamed.
A firm grip grasped each of my ankles. I froze. Suddenly, I was jerked backwards. My elbows hit each ridge of the metal pipe, thump, thump, thump.
“No!” I screamed, digging my fingers into the ridges and trying to cling as if my life depended on it. My nails bent painfully upward and with a yelp, I let go. “Caroline!” I called out, as if the child could help.
My shoulders scraped against the sides of the pipe and suddenly I was pulled outside, the cold, clean air swooshing into my lungs.
A tall man loomed above me, an ugly scowl on his round face. One of the guards. I wasted no time and lifted my hips, shoving my feet into his gut. He grunted, stumbling back. I flipped over and scrambled to my feet. Without looking back I surged forward, into the gray dawn.
I could hear someone running after me, the thump of footsteps, heavy breathing. I didn’t dare look back. It didn’t matter how fast I ran, I had nowhere to go. I sensed him right before a body tackled me to the ground. With a cry, I stumbled forward. My knees hit the dirt. I twisted as I fell to my back. Lewis fell on top of me, his hard body pinning me to the frosted grass.
“Lewis,” I whispered his name, but he heard all the same. I felt betrayed, hurt in a way I couldn’t stand. That same body that had offered me comfort before, was now a foreign object keeping me imprisoned in this hell.
“Lewis,” my voice caught, my fingers curling into his sweatshirt. His face was hard, but his eyes…dare I believe that his eyes were softening as he stared down at me? “Don’t do this. Please let me—”
“You don’t understand,” he whispered, confusing me.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Cameron?” Aaron suddenly appeared behind Lewis. Aaron never lost his cool, but now, as he stared daggers down at me, I was seeing the man for who he truly was, and he was irate. “Not only are you endangering your life, but the life of a child.”
Lewis stood. I jumped to my feet, stumbling back. Four guards stood behind Aaron, waiting to do his bidding. Deborah, the gorgeous Indian woman, held Caroline’s hand, doing nothing to calm the little girl who was crying. No hugs, no whispered words to tell her everything was going to be alright. Caroline was terrified and cold and that really pissed me off. It was one thing to scare me, but a little girl?
“We have alarms on the doors for protection,” Aaron said. He wore dress pants and a button up shirt, as if he’d been awake for some time. Like a father, dressed for work. “Did you really think you could just leave without someone knowing?”
I had hoped, but decided to keep that to myself. I crossed my arms over my chest, attempting to keep my body from trembling. It was no use. Between the wet clothes, cold air and the fear working its way through my gut, I was an anxious mess.
“I’m leaving,” I snapped, daring them to disagree.
Aaron frowned. “There is a front door you could use, you know.”
Was he being sarcastic? “You’d let me leave?”
“Of course I would. I’m not a prison keeper.” He started to turn.
“Could have fooled me,” I grumbled under my breath.
Aaron jerked his head toward me. I resisted the urge to step back, realizing I might have gone too far. For one long moment he just stood there glaring at me. Not one person said a word, everyone stood still…as if waiting to see what would happen next.
Finally, he looked at Deborah. “Take Caroline back to the dorm.”
“Come along,” Deborah snapped like a general giving orders.
Caroline looked at me, her eyes pleading, as if she expected I could do something to save her. She didn’t realize I was as trapped as she was. I didn’t believe for a moment that Aaron was going to let me leave. Just like that, Caroline was gone, forced back into her prison and I realized I’d failed her and that hurt more than anything else.
“Lewis, escort Ms. Winters to her room.” Aaron started toward the house, having no further use for me.
“You said I could leave,” I reminded Lewis and the guards.
Lewis stepped forward. I stepped back.
“And you will,” he said. “But you’re soaking wet. I won’t let you leave like this. Although you seem to think I am, I’m not a monster. You’ll take the ferry home.”
I brushed past Lewis and raced after Aaron. “And what about Caroline?”
Aaron didn’t bother to glance back. “Caroline is a child and I am her guardian. I have the papers. You have no say in how I raise her.”
“She wants to go home! She misses her family. It’s not right, stealing kids from their parents!”
He paused near the back door, his gaze cold. “Caroline’s parents were going to put her in a mental institutio
n.”
I stiffened. It wasn’t true. He was lying, I was sure of it. Yet, what if he wasn’t…“I don’t believe you.”
“You are an immature child who knows nothing about what is truly out there. I’ve done all I can to protect you, yet you still resist. You will not endanger the others here. Tomorrow you will leave and you will be forced to live with the repercussions.”
He pulled open the very door where I’d made my escape only moments before, and disappeared inside. I couldn’t seem to move, even though the cold air was freezing my wet clothes and my body was trembling, I couldn’t move.
Doubt crept through me. Why was it that every time I talked to Aaron, I was left feeling unsure? I knew I was right, but I couldn’t help but question my own sanity when he seemed so rational. Was it true? Had he done these children a favor by taking them in? Lewis paused next to me.
“So, you weren’t going to say goodbye?” His voice was hard, angry.
“I didn’t think I had a choice,” I whispered, unable to meet his gaze.
He didn’t respond but pulled open the door and moved inside. I dared to glance back at the small army of guards who were behind me. Yeah, I was outnumbered and out muscled, to say the least.
I stepped into Aaron’s home and hurried after Lewis. “Lewis, I—”
He paused at the bottom of the steps, his back to me. His shoulders were tense, his entire body trembling. “I can’t stop you, can I?” He looked back at me, his gaze piercing. “I’ve tried to protect you, but you just don’t get it.” He turned and started up the steps once more, as if done with me altogether.
“No, you don’t get it.” I rushed up the stairs, knowing this could be my last chance to make him understand. “These children deserve to be with their parents.” We paused on the main floor. “You should know that better than anyone.”
He latched onto my arm, his grip painful. “No matter how we explain the facts, you twist them and turn them. I have nothing more to say to you, Cameron. Go to your room.” He pulled me up the steps to the second floor, going so fast, I tripped beside him. At my bedroom door, I jerked away from his hold. It was over. Anything we had, any emotions we’d shared, they were over.
“Don’t try to escape again,” he said. “You can wait until tomorrow to leave. And you sure as hell better not try to take any of the kids with you. You’ll only endanger them as well.”
Somehow the tables had been turned. I felt horrible, as if I was the one making mistakes, as if I was the one in the wrong. Maybe I was. “And just like that, huh?” I whispered. “I can leave tomorrow?”
He took a step back, his gaze pinned to me. “Tomorrow, you can leave,” Lewis said, his voice hard. His gaze no longer held any emotion. “You’ll go home.”
I lifted my chin defiantly, not willing to let him see how his indifference hurt. “I don’t buy it.”
He took another step back. “You’re right. Nothing comes without consequence. We must protect the good of the Mind Readers. In the evening, Aaron will come for you. Your memory of this place, of me…all of it…will be gone. You’ll finally get what you want.”