She had eaten ravenously, everything that was offered. When she had spoken, it was disjointed and often incomprehensible. She had disconcerted Ray deeply; more than he had been before as a young boy, used to the complete composure of adults. But the facade of well being had been shattered now.
"Do you want this?" Kristie asked, holding up a teddy bear.
"No, I haven't played with that in years. But where're we going?"
Kristie turned back from her packing frenzy and looked at Ray. He looked so small to her, and the thought of him out in the world made her want to cry.
She got down on one knee and pulled Ray into her arms. "Ray, my baby. The thing is - I don't think I'm going anywhere. Now, you're getting to be a big boy, so I think I can be honest with you. There are some people coming for me, but I can't go with you. If I do, they'll follow, and find us both. And I can't stand the thought of those ladies finding you. So you're going to leave here, and find your Nan. She can take you someplace safe. And maybe someday, I'll come after you, and we'll be together again."
She tried to stand, but found Ray's arm wrapped around her neck. Kristie reached for his hands and gently pulled them apart. She stood, "It'll be good in the end. It always is." Kristie tried to believe this, but couldn't.
The boy looked up at her, and with an intelligence she had never glimpsed in him, he asked "You think? Always?"
Kristie found she didn't have an answer, and she swallowed, struggling for a reply. But she stopped when she heard the car in the driveway.
"No," she yelled, tears welling up in her eyes. "It's too soon!" Ray stood still, watching her. She grabbed him and the bag and ran up the hallway, to the bedroom.
The bedroom was small; Kristie had opted to give Ray the larger bedroom - she had always told him that growing boys needed their space. She looked around for a few seconds, and finally saw the best hiding place.
She pushed Ray into the wardrobe, and put the bag in his hands before closing the door. The last thing she saw was his tear streaked face. She put her face to the wardrobe door, and the cool of the door calmed her. "just stay quiet, alright?" She heard no response.
Kristie could hear two woman talking at the other end of the hallway, presumably in the kitchen. "Stay here," she heard a woman say, and a mumbled reply followed. Kristie recognised the first voice as Emma's, and shuddered. But she had expected no less. After all, who could do what she had and escape without consequence? She knew what had to happen.
The high heeled shoes made a noise that echoed up the hallway as they came down upon the wooden floor. Every clonk of the shoe made her heart beat a little faster. The noise stopped occasionally, and in her mind Kristie could see Emma peering into every room, looking for her. Maybe even looking for Ray, she thought, but banished it before it cold take seed.
Emma finally came into her sight, and Kristie sighed in relief. In her hear, she had been building Emma as a god, but now that she was in view the tension had dissipated. The woman was still intimidating, but she was only human.
Emma turned and saw Kristie, then smiled. "So this is where you've been hiding." The two woman faced each other on opposite ends of the room; Kristie in front of the wardrobe, and Emma blocking the doorway. They both knew that Kristie would not escape with her life.
There might be a fair few grammar mistakes in here - I just typed it up really quickly. So I'll leave you guys to see what you think.
