Page 11 of After Our Kiss

He looked at the same spot. “I can't predict Dad, but Lonnie is straight forward.” Conway made a fist, and then let it fall loose at his hip. “He won't leave you alone, not after seeing me protect you.”

“I don't understand... why does he care if you stood up for me?”

“That's just how he is. He's always been jealous of me, and if he thinks he can use you to fuck with me—if he hurt you, or worse, I'd never forgive myself.”

My urge to know more about this family's toxic dynamic was overwhelmed by the temptation of finally escaping. Gripping the edge of the bed, I almost fell off as I strained in his direction. “How do we do this?”

Conway tested the door; it was locked, his brother must have done that as he exited. “Dad isn't home. He left to go into town, get supplies. Lonnie will be busy tending to his wound. It has to be now.”

He pulled out a key and unclicked the double bolt. Facile trusted him with akey?How much had that fucker involved his kids in his evil games?

I nearly sprinted past him when he cracked the door. Conway peered out at the things I couldn't see... things I hadneverseen after months in this one room.

His spine curved like a feral cat's. Reading his body language, my breath bunched in my chest. Then he glanced over his shoulder, and I was sure his fear was centered here—at me. “Georgia, listen. I need you to understand this. I'll keep you safe as I can, but I can't promise trying to free you won't make this worse. If we get caught—”

“Shh.” I grabbed his wrists. His dark eyes kept shying away, so I went a step further and cupped his jaw; it was solid rock. “I believe in you, Conway. But on the off chance this goes badly, you need to know it's not your fault. You didn't bring me here. You didn't kidnap me. Anything you do to help isn't clearing your sins, because you didn't have any to start with.”

He frowned so hard I thought he'd shed tears. In a burst of speed, he yanked me out the door. We were in a dark hallway. Then a sudden, steep staircase appeared. It went up and up and up until my tired legs burned. Had I been in a basement?

Gray walls became beige; I glimpsed a second hallway with a long, yellow rug that was worn down so much that the fibers were thin as cellophane. On one wall, just before a dark wooden staircase that went up to another floor, I noticed a large portrait. Facile's face—even in 2D—stopped me in my tracks.

He pulled me onward, but I looked back. In the same photo was a young boy who had Conway's soulful eyes—they were downcast, his smile shy. Next to him was an older woman with reddish, curly hair. Her smile was just like his... like she knew a secret not meant for this world.

Conway's mother,I realized with shock. In her lap was Lonnie, because who else could that lanky kid be? I didn't care about him. I was interested in the other child—a young girl.

His sister.

Lonnie had said I looked like her. I could see the resemblance in her rounded nose and crinkled, happy eyes. We even had the same hair color.

Then we were outside, and I didn't care about anything but the fresh air. I almost collapsed on the front porch. Conway held me up, scanning the sunny horizon for anything that would stop us.

Swaying in place, I breathed in huge gulps of sweet air. It was delicious. Had air always tasted this good, had I just never noticed?

All around us was an open field. Sparse brush littered the west; a dirt road stretched in the opposite direction. I had no idea where I was. “Am I still in Virginia?” I whispered, wishing I'd asked for more information sooner.

“You have to run,” he said, ignoring my question. Pointing off towards the trees, Conway ripped me painfully down the splintering steps. “Just go that way. The nearest town will take you three hours, but you'll get there... you'll make it. Run anddon't look back. ”

He released me. The air was electric around us—my freedom so close, but running meant leaving behind the boy I'd grown close to. “Conway. Come with me.”

His expression was contorted with regrets. They aged him, and I had a glimpse into the future—at the young man Conway would become. “What you said earlier, about me not having any sins? I wish it was true.”

“It is.” On tiptoe I kissed him; something sweet, something desperate. Beneath hooded eyelashes I smiled up at him. “Only good guys get kisses like that.”

He inhaled sharply, as if I'd caused him pain. When he looked me up and down, I imagined he was imprinting my existence into his mind. Like this was the last time he'd ever see me.

If his plan worked, it would be.

“Go,” he demanded.

I ran for the tree line. I kept on until I was one big, aching muscle. My lungs thrummed, my throat ravaged, my heart threatening to take its last pump of life. For hours I pushed my weak body. But this pain was nothing—I wasfree.

And I didn't look back.

Just like he'd told me.

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