Air out through my mouth.
Ethan takes my hands, pulls me in, and kisses me. Soft lips, just enough pressure. It makes me feel warm. And safe.
I’m not sure how much time passes, but my body eventually stops shaking. My breathing returns to normal, and I don’t have that clammy, about-to-throw-up feeling.
I hold on to the mental image a little longer, pulling every piece of strength I can from it. We’re still on that blanket, sitting cross-legged, facing each other. My hands in his. Our faces close.
We are strong together. We are smart together. Ethan will protect me and I will protect him. We will both protect Teeny.
Opening my eyes, Thomas is in front of me, watching. Staring. The one thing I know about him is he always has a plan. Agent Parker died because she wasn’t useful any more. Right now he needs us alive. And as long as he needs us, we’re not in immediate danger.
But now he is. And not just from the unknown assassin out to get us all. If hurting Thomas saves us, I will not hesitate a second.
Rules for disappearing
by Witness Protection prisoner #18A7R04M:
Always stay one step ahead….
New rule by Anna Boyd:
Sometimes it’s all you can do to stop yourself from falling behind.
rest of the ride is excruciating. Ethan’s hands and feet are bound together in one clump, or as they would say on the farm: hog-tied. He struggles for a while but I have to turn away, it’s too hard to watch.
Not long after we’re back on the road, Teeny wakes up and crawls to me. Thomas only tied one of my hands to the wall of the van, so luckily I can curl the other one around her when she gets to me.
She burrows in close and asks in a surprisingly clear voice, “Is Thomas going to kill us?”
I tell her no.
I’m not sure she believes me.
I’m so relieved she never knew Agent Parker was here or what happened to her in the woods. I promised never to lie to another member of my family again, but now is not the time to tell Teeny just how much danger we’re in.
Teeny and I lay together inside the van for a long time. She doesn’t ask anything, not how we got here or where we’re going. Doesn’t ask for Dad. Or Mom. Doesn’t cry. Nothing. Her level of calm is scary. And wrong.
Just as dawn breaks through the front van windows, Thomas pulls inside some structure—whether a garage or warehouse, I don’t know. It’s pitch-black and strangely quiet.
As soon as the van stops, both men jump from the vehicle and are gone.
There is no sound except the occasional ping from the cooling engine.
“Are y’all okay?” Ethan asks.
“I guess. Are you okay?”
Ethan grunts and struggles to free himself again.
“Do you know where we are?” Teeny asks.
“No,” I whisper.
Ethan struggles to raise his head off the van floor. “Look, I’m not sure what’s about to happen but we have to be smart about this. Anna, try to get him talking. He wants to lure in the Mateo guy—we need to find out how he plans on doing that. Information is vital—the more of it we have, the better chance we have to figure a way out of this. And look for a weapon. But don’t use it unless it becomes absolutely necessary. There may be a time where we need to be able to protect ourselves. Do not blindly do what he asks. Make him explain why he wants you to do it. Hound the shit out of him. And Teeny, stay strong. You’re a brave girl and I know we will get through this.”
“You’re talking like you won’t be with us!” I say, panicked.
“I don’t know what he’s going to do, but I won’t be surprised if he separates us. It will be the best way to keep us all in line.”
Teeny buries her head in my chest and lets out a muffled cry.
I look over her head to Ethan and mouth the words I love you . He sends a tiny smile back my way and says, “Me, too. More than you know.”
Ethan finally goes limp. Teeny is quiet. We’re all waiting for what’s next.
Shocked is the only thought that comes to mind when light finally
Ethan takes my hands, pulls me in, and kisses me. Soft lips, just enough pressure. It makes me feel warm. And safe.
I’m not sure how much time passes, but my body eventually stops shaking. My breathing returns to normal, and I don’t have that clammy, about-to-throw-up feeling.
I hold on to the mental image a little longer, pulling every piece of strength I can from it. We’re still on that blanket, sitting cross-legged, facing each other. My hands in his. Our faces close.
We are strong together. We are smart together. Ethan will protect me and I will protect him. We will both protect Teeny.
Opening my eyes, Thomas is in front of me, watching. Staring. The one thing I know about him is he always has a plan. Agent Parker died because she wasn’t useful any more. Right now he needs us alive. And as long as he needs us, we’re not in immediate danger.
But now he is. And not just from the unknown assassin out to get us all. If hurting Thomas saves us, I will not hesitate a second.
Rules for disappearing
by Witness Protection prisoner #18A7R04M:
Always stay one step ahead….
New rule by Anna Boyd:
Sometimes it’s all you can do to stop yourself from falling behind.
rest of the ride is excruciating. Ethan’s hands and feet are bound together in one clump, or as they would say on the farm: hog-tied. He struggles for a while but I have to turn away, it’s too hard to watch.
Not long after we’re back on the road, Teeny wakes up and crawls to me. Thomas only tied one of my hands to the wall of the van, so luckily I can curl the other one around her when she gets to me.
She burrows in close and asks in a surprisingly clear voice, “Is Thomas going to kill us?”
I tell her no.
I’m not sure she believes me.
I’m so relieved she never knew Agent Parker was here or what happened to her in the woods. I promised never to lie to another member of my family again, but now is not the time to tell Teeny just how much danger we’re in.
Teeny and I lay together inside the van for a long time. She doesn’t ask anything, not how we got here or where we’re going. Doesn’t ask for Dad. Or Mom. Doesn’t cry. Nothing. Her level of calm is scary. And wrong.
Just as dawn breaks through the front van windows, Thomas pulls inside some structure—whether a garage or warehouse, I don’t know. It’s pitch-black and strangely quiet.
As soon as the van stops, both men jump from the vehicle and are gone.
There is no sound except the occasional ping from the cooling engine.
“Are y’all okay?” Ethan asks.
“I guess. Are you okay?”
Ethan grunts and struggles to free himself again.
“Do you know where we are?” Teeny asks.
“No,” I whisper.
Ethan struggles to raise his head off the van floor. “Look, I’m not sure what’s about to happen but we have to be smart about this. Anna, try to get him talking. He wants to lure in the Mateo guy—we need to find out how he plans on doing that. Information is vital—the more of it we have, the better chance we have to figure a way out of this. And look for a weapon. But don’t use it unless it becomes absolutely necessary. There may be a time where we need to be able to protect ourselves. Do not blindly do what he asks. Make him explain why he wants you to do it. Hound the shit out of him. And Teeny, stay strong. You’re a brave girl and I know we will get through this.”
“You’re talking like you won’t be with us!” I say, panicked.
“I don’t know what he’s going to do, but I won’t be surprised if he separates us. It will be the best way to keep us all in line.”
Teeny buries her head in my chest and lets out a muffled cry.
I look over her head to Ethan and mouth the words I love you . He sends a tiny smile back my way and says, “Me, too. More than you know.”
Ethan finally goes limp. Teeny is quiet. We’re all waiting for what’s next.
Shocked is the only thought that comes to mind when light finally
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