AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I know it’s not his fault, but there is no more logical thought inside of me. I’ve given into the monster in my desperation to reunite with my missing woman. It’s that same creature fueling my search, refusing to stop for longer than a couple hours at a time.
I’m going to find her. There’s no other option.
Jesse’s face fills the screen. I answer, starting my car again and driving toward another offshoot from the main road.
“Hey man, any luck?”
My teeth grind as I exhale through my nose. “No.” I bite out.
“Fuck.” I can hear voices in the background as Jesse sighs. “I’ll head back up after this meeting and help look. Send me the spots you checked already, I’ll let you know where I’ll search once I get there.”
I grunt in response and end the call.
Returning my attention to the hunt, I stare down at the small dot.
I’m coming, little bird. I’ll find you.
Her screams echo down the hall, the closed door doing nothing to stifle the sound. I cover my ears with my hands, tucked away inside the small cabinet nestled along the hallway wall. The cabinet doors are cracked just enough for me to peer out without compromising my position. She screams again and I force my body to stay put.
She told you to hide.I remind myself.
We could tell it was going to be another bad night when Louie showed up. Dad was always angrier after using Louie’s supply. Mom had ushered me away from the two men and sternly instructed me to hide and not come out, no matter what I heard. I blinked back tears, trying to stay tough for her. Mom had wrapped me up in a tight hug, squeezing me like a lifeline and placing a kiss on my head.
“I love you Mick.” She whispered in my ear. “Now promise me,” She pulled back and held my gaze. “You won’t come out, no matter what.”
I sniffled and squared my shoulders. “I promise.”
Mom smiled, her eyes cast in sadness. “That’s my good boy. I love you so much.”
“I love you too.” I whispered before tucking into the spot.
The screams continue throughout the night. I succumb to sleep with the track of my mother’s misery at the hand of my father, feeling pieces of me shattering as I am yet again unable to do anything to stop him. To save her.
A persistent dinging noise rouses me from my sleep. I glance at the dash, noting I’ve only been asleep for about an hour. Groaning, I scrub my face with my hands and fight the exhaustion threatening to overtake me. The continuous lack of sleep and stress is beginning to take a real toll on my body.
Another ding sounds and I reach blindly toward the noise. My hand grips the phone and I shake off the last tendrils of sleep clinging to me. Expecting to find another useless message from Jesse reminding me of my continued failure, I resist the urge to just shut the damn thing off. Bringing the screen into view, I stare at the notification.
The words jumble as I try to understand their meaning.
Is this really?
Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. When I open them again, I carefully read the alert, willing it to be true and not a mirage of my sleep-deprived brain.
New location alert:
Little Bird is active, click this message to view the new location
A hysterical laugh builds as I lean heavily against the steering wheel. Paige’s phone is on again and now I know where she is. My laughter dies out as the knowledge hits me.
I know where she is.
Sitting upright, I click on the message.
The app pulls up and a new dot blinks several miles away. I quickly inspect the map, gaining my bearings and plotting the best route. Once I have a plan, I climb out of the car and round to the trunk. Pulling out anything I might need, I move the tools to the passenger seat before climbing back behind the wheel.
The tires squeal as I accelerate down the road, thoughts focused solely on the woman waiting for me.
Chapter 35
