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Chapter One
Idris
Five Months Later...
Aknock sounds on the door of the cosy cottage I call home these days, pulling me from my task of ripping out the cabinets in the kitchen. Frowning, I grab my shirt and wipe my face, ducking under the low beams as I open the front door.
“Oh,” comes a feminine gasp. I look up with a frown, spotting Bessie there, her face coloured red as her eyes catch on my huge chest and the many, many scars there before she looks away shyly. I sigh and slip my shirt on, not wanting to embarrass her.
“Sorry,” I grumble as she holds a plate to her chest, still not looking at me. “I’m dressed now,” I tell her, and she peeks at me like she doesn’t believe me, but when she sees my chest is covered, she swallows and licks her lips.
“I didn’t mean to… erm, interrupt you,” she blurts, her voice high-pitched. “I… uh… brought you some cookies.” She thrusts the plate at me, and I take it, arching my eyebrow as I lift the tinfoil to see chocolate chip cookies underneath.
Is this what normal people do?
“Thanks,” I grumble, and then we just stare at each other. Do people invite each other in at this point? I’m not sure. I’m not good at this civilian life. I scrub the back of my head as she nods and starts to back away.
“You’re welcome. Will we see you at the town meeting tonight?” she inquires.
“Maybe,” I mutter.
She smiles shyly and glances away before looking back at me. “I hope I do.” She scurries to her car and rushes down my long, private driveway that has nothing but forest surrounding it. The driveway isn’t even marked.
I wanted to disappear, and I did.
It took me a while to find a town I deemed suitable. It had to have enough exits and places to disappear, as well as a lack of technology, like cameras, and a big enough population so although they know I’m here, I won’t stand out too much. It worked, and I found a place on the edge of the forest. The locals are wary and tend to avoid me, but that’s fine, because I avoid them too. Bessie is the only one who comes out here. I found her when she hurt her foot hiking in the woods after she bought the property a couple of miles up the road. I helped her to my truck before taking her to her house, and now she insists on trying to drag me into the idyllic village life of this little town I call home.
Shutting the door, I stare down at the cookies, unsure what to do with them. Was this just a nice gesture or a way of her trying to get to know me? She has been trying for a while, but such a sweet, shy little thing shouldn’t look at me like that. I’ll bring her nothing but heartache and pain.
She would not survive me.
I grab two and jam them into my mouth—not bad—before stripping my shirt off and getting back to removing these godawful yellow cabinets in the old-style kitchen. I knew this place was a fixer-upper when I bought it cash in hand. It’s a good thing I got one that needs work, my little projects are all that keep me sane.
I had no idea how boring normal life would be.
Civilian life isn’t made for men like us…
Donald’s words echo in my head. Is he right?
But I can’t go back now, not again, the cost is too high.
I paid the ultimate price for my freedom, for this life. I will never go back.
For anyone.
