AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Dahlia
We spent the drive to the ferry in silence, mostly because the driver could overhear anything we said but also because both of us were shaken by what had happened. Drake and I had truly believed we’d slid into the shadows, and we were hunting Sam while hiding from the authorities. Neither of us had believed there was any way he could have hunted us down. Hell, we were having a hard enough time searching for him through the various internet sources and tools Drake had. The fact that he’d not only found us here but had been bold enough to invade our personal space was scary. The fact that he was so confident that he didn’t even bother trying to kill us the night before was somehow more terrifying.
If it had been me? I’d have burst in, using surprise and shock to kill Sam where he slept. The restraint he’d shown gave me chills. It meant he wasn’t the slightest bit scared he’d lose us again. It was like being a rat trapped in a cage, and a ravenous cat was staring down at us, simply waiting for his hunger to become too much.
Every few minutes, I turned, craning my neck, checking behind us. I had no clue how to tell if a car was tailing us. Each time I looked, a different car or moped was behind us, and that gave me a little comfort. At least Sam wasn’t glaring at me through a windshield. I’d have probably pissed myself if I’d had to see that.
“You like Corfu?” the driver asked, his voice heavily accented. “You American?”
“Canadian,” Drake said quickly, maintaining our cover. “It’s very nice.”
The driver smiled and nodded his head while pointing to the left, toward the sea. “She is a beauty. Very nice. Is anything at home like this?”
“Hudson Bay is, well, not quite as warm and pleasant,” Drake said.
“Hudson Bay?” he said awkwardly. “I do not know this.” He glanced back at us for a second, obviously confused.
“Don’t worry about it,” I said. “It’s very lovely here.”
That was the truth too. As I told Drake, I hated the idea of leaving. That beach house had truly been the most amazing place I’d ever lived. In my wildest dreams as a child and young adult, I’d never imagined even walking through a place like that, much less living there for weeks. For a short time, I’d allowed myself to believe that life could be more than terror. More than running and hiding, worrying about what was going to happen next. Sam had annihilated that, and when I finally had him in my grasp, he’d beg me to die. I wouldn’t stop until he screamed for me to stop, and then I’d do more.
Again, a fleeting and intrusive idea formed. Should I leave Drake? Hide by myself? Maybe I’d be safer alone. Sam had to hate Drake more than me. I had money. Between my bag and my pockets there was nearly twenty thousand dollars on me. Much more than I’d ever had in my life. I could vanish. Hide away somewhere. Get another job as a waitress or something. London? Paris? Moscow? I could do it.
Glancing across the seat at Drake, that thought melted away, as it always did. I couldn’t leave him. Never. He’d been the one person who’d ever shown me what I could be. I could look past the danger and lies and see that he’d freed me. Plus, I wasn’t entirely sure I could go back to normal life. The surge of delirious excitement that came from punishment was like a drug. One that I had no idea how to replicate, and without Drake, I’d be floundering in a life that gave me none of that. Now, I craved the sticky feel of drying blood on my hands, the piercing shriek of agony as skin was flayed off, and the way the light faded from the eyes as life leaked out of them. Imagining it was getting me turned on. Even now, running for our lives, it seemed I was insatiable.
The driver was quiet the rest of the drive and even offered to carry our bags to the ferry for us.
“We’re good,” Drake said, clutching his backpack close and giving the driver a suspicious look.
Any ill will the man may have had vanished when Drake handed him a one-hundred Euro note. The man’s eyes bulged in surprise and delight.
“Thank you, Canada,” he said with a belly laugh and got back in his car.
Drake, ignoring the man, swept his gaze across the dock, scanning for danger—or perhaps a familiar face. I did the same, but found nothing. It was still early in the morning, and few people were out and about yet.
“Do you think he followed us?” The thought had been bouncing through my mind since the moment we left the house.
“I don’t think so. If he did, he’s done a good job of staying hidden. Come on.”
Drake took my hand and led me toward the boat. The ship was much bigger than I’d anticipated. When he’d said “ferry,” I’d anticipated a small dumpy tugboat style ship. This was more like a miniature cruise ship. The bottom was an enclosed parking area for cars, while the upper two levels appeared to be for passengers.
“Hello. Angliká?” Drake asked at the ticket booth.
The woman behind the glass nodded. “English? Yes, sir. How may I help you?”
Drake gave her his ticket number from the purchase he’d made on the way. After a few taps of keys on her computer, she nodded.
“Yes, Mr. Smith. We have you and your wife booked in a single cabin. Do you have any luggage you need stowed?”
“Just carryons,” Drake said. “No need.”
“And is there a vehicle we will be parking for you?”
“No. Thank you.”
A few moments later, a porter led us onto the ship. Drake led me to one of the upper decks, and I had a hard time not gaping at the ship. It actually was a small cruise ship. The decor was a bit outdated, but otherwise it was exactly what I’d expect. There was even a pool and hot tub.
Our first stop was in our cabin. Not what I’d have called luxurious. One double bed sat against the wall with what looked like cheap sheets and a bedspread. A small desk sat beneath the porthole and had one chair. The attached bathroom was nothing but a toilet, a tiny stall shower and the smallest sink I’d ever seen in my life. Drake checked and double checked the lock on the door.
