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I’m starting to think there is something missing here.
“Okay,” Fallon says, standing. “Come on, girls.”
I glance at Lake, who is busy talking to Dante about something, their faces close together and tight, as they discuss whatever it is that has them looking like that. Waylen and Aaron follow us all back to the cabins and, when we’re inside, they go to theirs.
I’m restless, pacing the room, not sure what to do with myself.
I don’t want to be stuck in this cabin.
I need to get out.
“Who is up for sneaking out?” I say to the two girls as they sit on the sofa, both of them off in their own little worlds.
They look up when I speak.
“Sneak out?” Ember asks. “To where?”
“Town. I know now how not to get caught and I need to get the hell out of this place. We’ll go for a few drinks and come back, nobody will ever know.”
“The sensors come on soon, we’ll never be able to get back in,” Ember says.
Fallon grins. “I have a way around that. We trigger the sensor, then we all stand with a cigarette. When they come rushing out, it’ll just look like we’re outside smoking. They’ll get pissy, but they’ll be none the wiser.”
Genius woman.
“If we go now, before the sensors turn on, we’ll be okay,” I say, glancing at my watch.
It’s six pm. Dinner is meant to be here by now and I’m certain it’ll arrive any moment. We can eat and get out of here by six thirty when the sensors turn on. We’ll turn the television on, lock the door, and they’ll think we’re watching movies. It’s a win-win situation.
“What if we get caught?” Ember says. “They could send us back to prison.”
“We won’t get caught,” I assure her, even though I’m not certain of that.
Right now, I don’t care.
“You can stay,” Fallon says, giving Ember a small smile. “We’d never pressure you.”
Ember looks between us, then shrugs. “Stuff it, I’m coming.”
I grin, clapping my hands together just as a knock at the door sounds.
“That’ll be dinner.”
I go over, opening it to find Lake with bags of food. He looks at the three of us, then hands me the bags. “You ladies good?”
I shrug, putting on my best sad expression. “Someone died today, we’re not great. We’re going to eat and watch a movie. What are tomorrow’s plans?”
“I don’t know yet, we’ll work it out in the morning. Just wanted to check you’re all okay.”
I nod. “We’re good. Thanks.”
I take the bag and lock eyes with Lake for a moment. Can he tell I’m lying? Can he tell I’m going to run? I don’t know, but I keep my expression the same, and my eyes don’t move from his until he finally drags his gaze away and nods slightly. “Night.”
When he’s gone, I close the door and we all eat our burgers and fries. Not too much though, because, alcohol. Then, we get changed and make ourselves look as good as we can before glancing at the time. Six twenty-four, we made it just in time but if we don’t get out now, the sensors will go on. We can get away with them going off once, but twice ...
“Ready?” I ask the girls.
They both nod.
“Out the back door.”
We go out the back door which backs onto the gorgeous paddocks full of cows behind us. There are a couple of outdoor fire places and some chairs and benches for us to use if we ever want to sit out here.
We’re lucky because we’re in the last cabin in the line, which means we can move straight toward the tree line without having to pass anyone else. We all quickly scurry toward the thick woods and then very carefully make our way toward the main house. After last time’s effort, I make the point of being very careful when we’re passing the house. We go around behind it, follow the tree line down the driveway, and when we’re out the front gate, I breathe a sigh of relief.
We made it.
“Now what?” Ember asks, glancing down the road.
“We walk until we find a ride,” I say, and begin the walk in the direction of town.
I remember it from the bus ride in.
“What if we get murdered?” she mutters, following me.
I laugh. “I think we’re going to be okay.”
“There are three of us, we’ll kick ass.” Fallon puts an arm around Ember’s shoulders, and the tiny woman looks terrified, but she smiles.
“I cannot wait to get a beer in my hands.” I exhale with a smile. “God, it has been so long.”
“I can’t even remember that last time I had a drink,” Fallon says.
“I haven’t really had much to drink in my life,” Ember admits.
“Well then,” I say, raising my hand as a car nears, “tonight is your lucky night.”
