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“Come here, baby,” I say, not even realizing the nickname I use for him. “I need you to hold on tight.”
I bend low and pick him up as best I can with one arm. He does as I asked and wraps his small arms around my neck.
Using my foot, I carefully move the trash can toward the fence and step on top of it, ensuring not to make a sound. Adrenaline courses through me, and I boost myself up, climbing over the fence with Shay holding me. The moment my bare feet connect with the ground, I take off into a mad sprint, not even sure where I’m running to.
I just need to get the fuck away from here.
My body is protesting I stop as I’m dehydrated, malnourished, and every muscle lacks strength. But I don’t. I continue running, holding Shay tightly.
I don’t have any shoes on, so when I step onto a broken bottle, I curse, hobbling to stop the broken glass from digging deeper into the sole of my foot. I know I can’t keep running, but I don’t know where to go. I don’t know who I can trust.
Without a cell or money, I am at the mercy of a Good Samaritan. But I’ve come to learn there aren’t too many of them around.
I see a park up ahead surrounded by some dense forestry. This will have to do until nightfall. Hobbling through the foliage, I walk and walk until my body threatens to collapse in fatigue.
“I think this is a good place for me to catch my breath,” I say to Shay calmly, not wanting to freak him out any more than I already have.
I gently lower him to the ground, and once he’s safe, I slump against the trunk of the tree, unable to stand any longer.
He peers down at me, nothing but worry reflected in his blue eyes.
“It’ll be okay,” I promise, gesturing with my hand that he’s to come sit with me.
He snuggles into my lap, hugging me tight, and this is where we remain as I slip into a comatose slumber.
My eyes pop open as I have no idea where I am.
The last thing I remember was escaping hell and making a run for my life. The pain in my wrist confirms this wasn’t a dream. We made it out alive.
Shifting into a sitting position, I strain my eyes to see in the darkness because night has fallen.
“Shay?” I call out, searching from left to right. Panic overcomes me because I can’t see him. “Shay!”
The rustling of leaves has me reaching into my sling for the knife I tucked away, but when Shay appears, I sigh in relief.
“I thought ye’d be hungry and thirsty,” he says, offering me a bottle of water and a picnic basket.
“Where’d you get that?”
He smiles. “I stole it, but they had two baskets. So we can share.”
I can’t help but smirk and think to myself that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. The more I look at Shay, the more evident it becomes that he is Punky’s son. His looks and mannerisms are the same, and I also feel an inexplicable connection to him.
Punky isn’t here to protect his son, but I will do so until I can return him home.
Shay drops to his knees, opening the basket. He searches through it, offering me a wrapped sandwich.
“You eat what you want. My stomach is a little unsettled.” That’s because I haven’t eaten in days. “But can I have some water?”
Shay nods and passes me the bottle. But when he notices me looking at the lid, he opens it for me.
“Thank you.” I can’t gulp down the water fast enough, but quickly stop as I don’t know how long we’ll be out here for.
I need a phone.
I can’t trust the police. There is only one person I do trust, and I’m certain he’s with Aoife, who is looking for her son.
“Shay, once you’re finished eating, we need to go look for help. Your mommy is going to be really worried.”
