AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Kurtis smiles as he takes in my flustered state and barely clothed body. At least I have the barrier of my discarded clothing to cover most of my body as I casually walk the last ten feet to my room.
“Dinner will be ready in half an hour,” Evan says as I slam my door closed.
I am frigging done.
Deciding I’m going to stop the torment, I begin the exhausting process of completely shuttering all my outgoing energy. The technique usually blocks most other psychics, but it drains me. I’m not as good at defensive abilities as I should be because I usually take the simple route and avoid others who have a genuine gift, but I can’t just avoid these people, so I need to concentrate long enough to block them out now, at least for the next several minutes.
Shoving my things back into my luggage, I center myself again before I open my door. I don’t see anyone.
I pick up my rolling suitcase, since I can’t have the wheel noise give me away.
Using my lightest steps, I fly down the stairs and carefully open and close the front door. I just have to clear the insanely long driveway, and then I’ll be gone.
I know why people vanish without a trace, and I have to do that now. I will have to secure another set of fake IDs and head to the other end of the country, possibly the world, where no one from my past can find me. I must also learn to ward myself against a goddess’s eye. I’m still unsure if I can stay hidden from Karma, but maybe since I’m leaving before signing the contract, she will let me meet whatever fate awaits me. I’ll take my chances. I’ve survived this long alone, and I can do it again.
Besides, verbal contracts mean nothing. She can’t hold me to an agreement I gave under duress.
I only have the massive metal gate to get past now. I push on the wrought iron, but it doesn’t budge.
I stare at the gate keypad, shaking my head and trying to remember what numbers Evan punched in earlier: 6-9-6-9?
The gate clicks and swings open.
Pervs.
I grab my bags and run. The highway and town are only a mile or two away. I open my phone app and request a driver. I’ll get them to drop me at the bus stop, and I’ll take the first bus out of town.
I’m breathing heavily from my frantic gait, and fear washes over me. This is a risky move, but I have to get out of there. I don’t want to be a karma agent. It feels like a sad and lonely life. I will never truly fit in with those guys, constantly being harassed and pranked. Sure, I have emotional and energetic walls around me when I’m in public, but I’m usually able to let it down when I’m alone. Here, though, I canneverrest and relax, since I will never be alone again.
7
THE ESCAPE
Ireach the main road and glance behind me.
Have the guys sensed my absence yet? Will they be unaware until one of them checks on me?
The winter sun set a while ago, and the darkness allows me to skulk in the shadows. It seems a fitting representation for the way the rest of my life will go.
I expect this freedom I’m chasing will probably be a short stint. Karma or Death will find me and make me pay for declining the role of being a punching bag and deliverer of karmic justice.
I don’t care. I’d rather live on my own terms for however long or short that might be.
I finally put my rolling luggage down, as I’m no longer worried that the sound will alert one of the karma agents.
My driver is almost here—five minutes tops. I slow my pace and catch my breath. I wonder if any of them will come after me, but I suppose it isn’t their job to herd me back if I escape. My fate is my own now.
A chilling idea comes over me. What if they were told to kill me if I escape? That would account for their tension when I asked about not signing the contract.Would they kill me?I try to imagine it. Sure, anyone is capable of killing in the heat of the moment, but cold-blooded murder? Could Dante do that? Who am I kidding? His flirtation with me is a fabrication, and they are Karma’s loyal soldiers. I’m just some jerk they have to train—an irritating obligation.
I speed up and keep to the shadows of the roadside trees. I duck into the brushes as a car drives by, but it isn’t Kurtis or my hired car. I relax and continue on my way. The car turns off into another driveway—probably a neighbor returning home, and I doubt the driver caught sight of me anyway.
Checking my phone, I see it has been twenty minutes since I was told dinner would be done in thirty. That means I might have ten minutes before my escape is discovered.
As I approach the neighbor’s driveway, I hear a branch crack under a footstep. I turn to see if it’s just some spooked wildlife or the neighbor checking their mail, but I don’t see a thing. However, I do feel eyes on me.
I hurry along, speed walking now.
There is a crash through shrubbery, and then a blunt object hits my head. Stars swim in my vision, and I stumble.
