Page 14 of Einar

Wecan’t have driven any further than an hour or so, but the landscape alters drastically in that short time.Goneare the tall, green trees and in their place is now a somewhat dry looking, hostile-ish environment.Thespace between homes is getting further and further apart.I’mgetting just a bit uneasy andIcan tellRubyis, too.

Janetmust have picked up on our nerves because she starts talking as the van begins to slow. “Girls,Iknow this is going to seem odd and it might make you a little uncomfortable, so perhapsIshould have mentioned it earlier.ButIneed you both to put these blindfolds on, not only for your own protection but also the other women who are seeking sanctuary here.Thisis just one of the many precautionsIuse to keep each one of you safe.Myfirst priority is to make sure no one knows where you are, because many have passed through my doors.Ifyou don’t know where you are, you can’t tell anyone.

Thehouse is about a mile up on an un-marked road.Weuse a different route each time we come in and out so that no one realizes anyone still lives out this way.Theplace is well disguised and very few know of its existence.Weeven have an underground garage on the other side.Whenwe were building it, we did our best to find ways to keep it hidden.

Manytimes, the cameras on the property have picked up people walking right over it while hiking, never knowing it was below them.”

Ican tellRubyis flabbergasted.

Totell the truth…so amI.Whaton earth is this woman talking about?

Rubydigests whatJanetjust told us for a second before asking,

“How?”

“You’llsee.”

Janet’smysterious words sound almost…ominous.

ChapterEleven

ROWAN

“It’ssafe to take the blindfolds off now, girls.”

Thesecond the word “safe” leavesJanet’smouth,Irip the blindfold off my face.Memoriesof the many timesIwore one in the past are far too close to the surface, andIdon’t have time to unpack all that trauma.NordoIwant to in front of a total stranger, even if she is helping me escape my sadistic husband.

Ruby’snext words are full of awe, pulling my attention back to our surroundings and providing a distraction from my torturous thoughts. “Wow,Janet, this is sweet.Howin the world did you find it?”

“Myhusband built it, actually.Daysafter it was done,Ilost him to a drunk driver.”

That’s…just awful.PoorJanet.Rubymust have had the same thoughts on her mind because she doesn’t stop there.

“I’mso sorry,Isimply assumed.”

Ruby’sstuttered apology seems like it’s almost forced out.Thereshe goes again, apologizing for being rude.Iwish that’s allIhad to apologize for…

“Noneed to apologize, child.You’reright to an extent because our daughter was killed by an abusive man.Wetried and tried to get her away from him, but like all the others, she was scared and felt like there was no escaping him.Afterwe lost her, this place became a labor of love for me and the hubby.Atthe time, we both felt like we’d failed her in so many ways.It’staken me years to come to grips with the fact that we didn’t.Sometimesthings happen that are completely out of our control, and it’s only natural to wonder if we could’ve done more.Ifanything, those horrible things had to occur in order for me to be able to help others in the same, if not worse situations than she’d been in.

I’dbe lying ifIsaid it was easy for me to move on.Losingboth of them made it hard to function, and it took me quite a while to accept, althoughI’vetruly never overcome it.Iwas wrapped up in my own hell for many years, my heart breaking every timeIopened my eyes in the morning.UntilIwalked into a supermarket one day and found a teenage girl hiding in the bathroom, bruised and scared as hell.Fromthat very moment on,Idecided to honor my loved ones the only wayIcould, by helping as many others as possible.

Comeon, we’re all tired and that’s enough about me for now.It’sgetting late and you girls have been through plenty these last few days.Thisplace is not on any map and no one besides me and one other woman even knows how to get here from the main road.You’reas safe as you can get, for a while anyway.OnceIget you girls settled inside,I’llhead back out and put the car in the garage.Wemake sure to never leave anything outside that can be seen by air, or a nosy hiker.”

Therest of her explanation fills me with relief.Surely,Robertcan’t find me here.Noone knows this place even exists.I’mnot sureIwill ever feel completely safe but not having to look over my shoulder, and be in a constant state of vigilance is nice.Whereverwe are, the sun is rapidly setting, and shadows are lengthening in the waning light.Thereis a soft, low glow emanating behind giant glass doors set into the front of what appears to be an underground house.

Arewe in a cave?

I’venever really thought about being underground andI’mnot sure if it bothers me or not.Afterall the shitI’vebeen through, surely this isn’t going to be what pushes my mind to the breaking point.Lookingaround,I’mtrying to decide ifI’mscared.Whothe hell has these kinds of thoughts?ThatI’mconsciously deciding if this bothers me or not tells me a lot about the state of my mental capacity.

BeforeIcan make a decision about it,Rubygrabs my hand and pulls me along behind her towardJanet.

Oh.

Thenice lady was holding the door open for us whileIstood there like an idiot.

Howembarrassing.

Duckingmy head a little,Itry to hide my embarrassment from my sister.Idon’t need her worrying about me over something as simple as making a fool of myself in front ofJanet.Afterentering the room,I’msurprised to see quite a few women loitering around what looks like a common room.Thereare some playing cards at a small table while others are playing a game of dice.

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