~ Chapter Four ~
On the Run
Later that night I awoke in panic from a nightmare. As I tried to remember the dream, it became more distant than before so I gave up. Downstairs, I once again heard voices, this time though I was determined to join them.
Crawling out if bed, I was wide awake even though it was two in the morning. As I moved down the hallway my foot nudged a body, suppressing a scream I looked down to see Derrick rolled up into a little ball, sleeping.
I let out a sigh of relief, and continued my journey downstairs. Standing at the corner I overheard the conversation.
“We need to leave, for the safety of Alyss, they have already found us once,” said Aralee.
“She has bodyguards, and I would extend this offer to you, but you refuse to take it. Alyss is perfectly fine,” replied Alessandro
“Tell me Alessandro, where were they this afternoon when she needed them?”
He mumbled something under his breath that I couldn’t hear, but apparently my mother could.
She raised her voice, “I know she is immortal, but Alyss can still pain can’t she? There are worse things than dying.”
“You’re right, I’m sorry. I will take her with me when we set off in the morning. Alyss will have time to say her goodbyes and we’ll go.”
Deciding to reveal myself, I stepped around the corner. It took them several seconds to notice that I was there.
They looked down and shuffled their feet, knowing that they had been caught, again.
“Alyss, you need to pack your bags, you’re leaving with your father in the morning.” Aralee said with remorse, “I don’t want you to leave, but it’s for your own safety.”
“I’ll…I’ll go pack my bags then,” I replied not believing that I was about to leave Aralee and my lifelong home.
“Take only what you need,” added Alessandro, “You need to be able to carry it.”
Turning, I ran up the stairs as if to outrun my troubles. Derrick looked up startled as I ran down the hall and into my room. Grabbing my bags, I threw anything that I needed in it. I was done packing in a matter of minutes.
I came to a decision, I was neither going to stay here with my mother, or go with my father.
