by D. L. Wu
“Talk to me, Evan,” she said a tad anxiously as they finished their breakfast, noting the fact that he’d barely eaten a thing.
“What about?”
She shrugged. “Anything.”
“I'm sorry. I'm not very good company for you today, Jaim,” he apologized.
“You don't have to do it for me, my love.” A frisson of awareness coursed through her as she realized that it was her first time using a pet name for him.
Their eyes met as he heard her sweet words for him. She wasn’t sure as to how the endearment made him feel, but she didn't care. She watched as he sipped at his coffee, the air of melancholy surrounding him seeming greater than she'd ever seen before. She couldn't help feeling guilty about it. She had made him tell her the truth about his fugitive flight, something he hadn’t wanted to divulge in the first place.
She reached out and squeezed his hand. “We'll work this out,” she whispered. “Somehow, we'll make this all go away.”
“I don't see how, Sweetheart. But I don't want you worrying about it anymore. It's not your problem.”
She released a pent-up breath. “But it is my problem.”
“It's not, Jaime! Just get it out of your head right now!” Evan spat, his voice ringing loudly with irritation. “We have no future together. I'm going to prison and you're going home. That's it! End of story! There’s no happily ever after this time!”
She was stung by his hurtful words. She knew he was upset and unpredictably moody all the time, yet she knew that he was trying to do the right thing for her. Never-the-less, it hurt more than she’d ever thought it would. What he said next shoved the nail deeper into her coffin.
“Happy endings don't happen in real life, Jaime. That only happens in those fuckin' chick flicks. In real life, a bloke would never do the things they do in those films. We're not romantics at heart. We're not knights-in-shining armor either, so don't expect me to be one for you. Just forget about me once we've parted. Live your life! It will be better for you in the long run, trust me.”
She sat there, stunned by his outburst. So much so, that she couldn't find the right words to argue with him. She couldn't muster the tears that wanted to spill forth either because of the heartbreak she was feeling. Instead, she remained where she was, mute and completely numbed by his declaration. She felt nothing more than the sudden urge to jump up from the table and get as far away from him as possible.
Evan watched as she ran, sighing with regret. Round and round it goes, he thought with irritation. He had to convince her to forget about him somehow. To make her see that he wasn’t what she wanted. He took into the account the fact that she’d be hurt by what he needed to do. Yet in the long run, he knew it would be for the best.
***
Jaime ran out of the restaurant, clinging to a tree nearby as she sobbed. At the same time, she tried to hide her tears from the people passing by as they gave her queer looks. After awhile, she tried to ignore them as she gave rein to the pain she felt deep inside.
She could see right through him. She knew what he was attempting to do, although it was a rather lame attempt in order to discourage her. He wanted to avoid hurting her and she knew that, but knowing it made things hurt all the more.
Confusion reigned deep within her heart and mind, as did her indecision. Should she play along with this game and pretend that he’d succeeded in turning her away? Or should she show him that she wasn't so stupid after all?
Wiping the tears from her face, she took a deep breath to try and regain her composure. She forced herself to take control of the situation. To try and make sense of things when the moment came. Nodding to herself, she decided to wait until they were back on the road in order to truly know in which way to play the game.
***
“So we're in Texas now?” Jaime prodded, breaking the hour’s long silence that existed between them as she noticed the marker depicting the Texas border.
His lips thinned to a tight line as he refused to respond. He’d started chain-smoking heavily in the last few hours. Even now, he had a burning cigarette dangling between his lips as he drove. Every once in a while, he would tap the ashes out of his window.
It must be a crutch he uses to deal with his snowballing stress and worry, she thought.
“You know,” Jaime breathed, “I'm not really sure why we drove all this way. If the end result is the same once we get to California, why don't we just end it now? Why didn't we end it way back in Pennsylvania or Indiana or something?”
He testily rolled his eyes at her before returning his attention back toward the road. Not once, did he say a word.
“All the gas expense . . .” she continued as if trying to aggravate him. “All the motels and food . . . Not to mention the wear and tear on my car driving all this way . . . And if you want to get really specific, I lost my virginity! I’ll never get that back! Ever!”
“What are you trying to say here, Darlin'?” he snorted with annoyance.
“I should be in school. It's my senior year, after all. Don't you realize how important senior year is for your college career? What purpose was there for me to waste a week of my life? To waste my virginity?”
His knuckles whitened as his hands tightened around the steering wheel. “So, sue me.”
She smiled. “S’pose I really could, couldn't I?”
Evan growled with frustration, pitched his cigarette out the window, and immediately reached for another. Yet before he could grab the pack, she swept it into her waiting hands. His mouth hung open with surprise as he saw her open the window and nonchalantly toss the pack out.
“What the hell?”
“Don't smoke in here!” she stated firmly. “It’s choking me. You didn't even have the courtesy to think about me or ask me!?”
He irritably slammed his hand against the wheel. “Sorry, your worship.”
Jaime slipped him a middle finger. To her surprise, he shot his in her direction, a slight smirk tilting the corner of his lips.
CHAPTER 32
Most of their drive was spent in a detached and silent manner once again. It was beginning to feel like a roller coaster ride to Jaime. Some days were up and some were down. This was a really low down day for them.
They ended up staying in a small town just south east of Albuquerque, New Mexico as the sun sank low and painted the sky a lovely orange color. Because it was a small town, it felt safe for them, at first. Unfortunately, the fact that it was a small town also gave the population living there a lot of time on their hands, thus making it not so safe for them at all.
A single motel occupied a space within the entire town. That fact alone made Evan slightly nervous, so he took it upon himself to secure them a room. Unlike the other places they’d stayed, where the rooms were all accessible from the outside, this one had to be accessed through a large main lobby.
Despite his feeling of discomfort, Evan took the room. He’d been driving for eight hours that day, nearly a record for him, and he felt quite exhausted. They quickly carried their meager belongings to their room, hoping to not attract too much attention to themselves as they walked across the lobby. Several people were milling about working while others wandered to and fro.
Walking into their new quarters, Jaime took note of the fact that it looked a little shabby. There was only one bed and she wondered if Evan would have anything to say about it. She watched as he set down their belongings upon an oversized chair near the bed.
“Maybe you should stay here,” he suggested. “I'll bring us some food back.” It was the first civil thing he’d said to her the entire day.
“Why?” she asked with confusion. “Why is this place in particular making you so nervous?”
He shrugged. “I don't know. I'm getting a bad vibe from it, is all. Can't quite put my finger on it.”
“I noticed a little sundries shop downstairs, though.” She pouted. “There's a few things I could really use.”
He frowned. “Just make a list. I
'll get them for you.”
“It's fine. I'm sure you're worrying for nothing. You're just worrying about everything now, remember?” she pointed out.
“Do you have to purposefully go against my wishes?” he snapped.
“I'm not doing it to get on your nerves. Honest! I just need a few things.”
“Alright!” he said with exasperation. “Just go ahead!”
“It's a small town, Evan. What's gonna happen?”
“I guess we'll find out, won't we?”
He shoved her unceremoniously into the hallway, his lips pressed tightly together. Jaime worried her lower lip between her teeth as they walked toward the shop in question. She hated making him angry, but she really did need to pick up a few essentials.
“Whilst you're in there, I'll go ask where the closest eating place is,” Evan whispered into her ear, grasping her upper arm more tightly than she appreciated because of his petulance.
She looked down her nose at him. He pushed her aside as he let her go. It was enough for her to take it as an act of aggression against her. She trembled with both hurt and anger as she strode into the small motel shop. Picking up a tube of toothpaste and a bottle of shampoo, she noticed that the young woman behind the register was staring at her intently.
“Do I know you?” the woman, obviously in her twenties, inquired.
Jaime shook her head. “Um . . . no, I don't believe so.”
“You look really familiar to me.”
“I don't live here, so I don't see how . . .”
“Wait a minute!” the woman said with sudden realization. Jaime's heart leapt into her throat. “I saw you on the news last night. It was an Amber Alert. You’re a missing teenager! They said you were kidnapped and to call the police if anyone saw you. Do you need help?”
“No!” Jaime gasped, horrified as she realized that Evan's fears had promptly materialized. “I think you're mistaken!”
“Well, I'm calling the police anyway. I think there might be a reward for information, too!”
She quickly picked up the phone and dialed 911. Jaime hurried out of the store in a panic. She frantically looked for Evan and soon saw him standing nearby, rushing in his direction. He knew, then and there, that something was very wrong.
“What is it? What's wrong?” he asked, grabbing her upper arm again.
“Oh my God, Evan! You were right! I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!” she cried, trembling from head to toe.
“Tell me!”
“Someone recognized me from an Amber Alert. She called the police!”
“Jesus!” He rubbed a hand across his face while sliding the other through his hair. “Okay, okay. Let's not panic,” he breathed. “We'll quickly get your stuff and we'll go.”
“I don't think we have time for that, Evan!” she squealed softly, tugging upon his arm. “Please! We have to go now!”
“But your backpack, Luv . . .” he said. “All your special things are in there. The things your father gave you!”
“It’s okay,” she sobbed, the sound tugging upon Evan’s heartstrings. “I don't need them anymore. We have to get away! I don't want them to take you now!”
A bevy of police sirens filled the air outside the motel. Their distress was mirrored in each other’s eyes as they stared at one another. Evan's heart leapt with both fear and intense pity for her.
“Jaime, Sweetheart,” he whispered. “Maybe it was time . . .”
“NO! It's not time! Please, Evan! Let’s go!”
He looked about frantically in search of a means for their escape. At the end of an empty hall opposite of where the lobby was, he saw a door that appeared to lead toward the back of the motel. It was, he assumed, a service entrance. Without any further hesitation, he pulled her to him. He ran down the hall and out the back door with Jaime in tow.
He looked around as he tried to regain his bearings as to where he’d left the car earlier. The sun had already set and it was almost pitch black behind the motel. They were aware of the whirling, piercing sounds of police sirens, several of which sounded so close to where they were now standing.
They made their way toward the front of the motel. Evan noted three police cruisers parked at the curb, their revolving blue lights cutting a swath of luminosity across the dark sky. He studied the parking lot for a moment as they stood pressed against the side of the building. He finally remembered where he’d parked the Acura and took note of the fact that it wasn't that far away. Yet it would still require running across the front parking lot.
The three cruisers appeared to be abandoned. All the activity was taking place inside of the motel. Unwilling to waste the opportunity, they dashed toward their car. He opened the door by remote to give them quicker access to it. The engine roared to life as Evan flicked the key into place. He peeled the car out of the parking lot, nicking the bumper of a parked car in the process. Jaime trembled and cried with fright as the car raced down the street. Evan ran a couple stop signs along the way.
“I'm so sorry!” she lamented. “I should have listened to you!”
“Shut up!” he hissed, clutching the steering wheel tightly as he drove.
The road soon became deserted. They’d gotten away, but they were far from being in the clear. Without any street lamps to light the way, it became a tad dangerous for him to effectively manipulate the terrain because of the uncertain curves and clusters of tall trees lining the road.
***
An uneasy sense of doom invaded every inch of Jaime’s body. Between the road conditions, the darkness, and Evan's current reckless state of mind, she felt as if the end was near. Her weeping stopped, save for an occasional stifled whimper.
She tried to imagine what was going on inside of his head, but soon found it hard to. She knew he felt confusion and intense fear, yet the brunt of his emotions were hidden from her view. So much so, that she was afraid to offer him a bit of comfort. She needed to let things play themselves out, she knew. To let him calm down if he was able to, if they were to survive their deadly flight in one piece. Yet that was easier said than done.
She could feel the Acura as it was pushed to its limit. The smell of burning rubber wafted inside every time he rounded a curve, the centripetal force pressing upon the sides of the car and the skids wearing at the tire treads.
Perhaps this was the way their adventure would be brought to a close, she imagined wildly. It wouldn’t end with Evan being taken away to prison in a police car. Instead, their bodies would be dumped into the back of an ambulance and carted off to the morgue. She could only hope that it would be quick and painless and kept her eyes closed as she waited for it to end.
Yet, soon, she felt the car begin to slow. The ground underneath was no longer that of a smooth, paved highway, but rather a bumpy dirt road. Her eyes opened to find that there was nothing out there except for the headlights illuminating black trees and a scary, deserted emptiness.
The car finally came to a stop within this desolate place. He killed the engine and she watched as he slumped forward against the steering wheel with exhaustion and despair, his head resting against the backs of his hands. She had no words of comfort for him simply because she wasn't exactly sure he would be receptive to them in his current state. She stared at him instead, still trembling and still fighting the frightened tears.
“You should have let them take me,” he said ever so softly. “You should have let it finish.”
“Let what finish?” she prodded, her voice soft and tender.
He turned to face her, his expression unreadable. “Us,” he answered succinctly before his voice broke. “We're finished, Jaime. Our adventure is finished. You're just trying to prolong it for no apparent reason.”
“You didn't have to listen to me back there,” she offered. “You could've surrendered to them. Why did you listen to me anyway?”
He remained unmoving, regarding her through veiled eyes. “Because . . .” he breathed, deep in thought. “There's something I want to do before I let
you go.”
His answer was cryptic. Surreal, even. It left her feeling confused and bewildered. She wanted to press him for more information, but refrained from doing so. He seemed dazed and out of reach.
Instead, she reached out to push his hair out of his face and tenderly replied, “Sleep, Love. Until it's light outside.”
CHAPTER 33
“She was spotted again, positively this time,” Marshall told George over the phone early the next morning. “In a hotel outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico.”
“Did they rescue her?” George cried out as Mary approached him with a hopeful look upon her face.
“No. She got away again, but . . .”
“She got away!?” he screamed into the phone, unintentionally interrupting the agent. “What do you mean, she got away?”
“Mr. Johnson,” Marshall breathed, “to be honest with you, I don't think Jaime wants to be found.”
George took offense at his insinuation. “Are you serious?”
“Every indication leads me to believe she wants to stay with this man. I can give you the details when I come by your house later on today, but I truly believe that she's acquired feelings for her kidnapper.”
“Don't be ridiculous! She's damn scared of this man. You're just making excuses for your blatant incompetence. Your men can't even catch up to this fugitive. Don't blame Jaime for that!”
Marshall ignored George’s rants as he understood that he was quite livid about the situation at hand. “We've found a backpack belonging to her with some clothing and several other personal items. We ran some DNA tests on the clothing and they did match the same DNA that was found in the blood samples we secured from the suspect's abandoned car. We are certain they are one and the same man now.”
“So what you're saying is that you found his DNA on her clothing?” George asked.