Chapter 111: Chapter-111. (You Will Know Soon).
I looked at Sophie. "This isn’t the truth, Sophie, but I will fix it. I have to," I said, feeling my voice stronger than I felt.
She squeezed my hand in return. I nodded at her, trying to give her a small smile, but I could not.
I swallowed hard, trying to steady myself. Step by step, I told myself. One thing at a time. First, survive. Then fight.
I straightened up, holding the phone like it was my weapon. The fight had begun.
***
Hours later, we were no longer in that apartment, between those four walls.
The world outside was slowly lighting up with the first rays of dawn, but the shadows of the past still clung to me.
Emma sat on my lap, playing with her bunny tightly. Her tiny hands gripped the soft toy as if it could protect her from everything she did not understand.
I stroked her hair casually, while my eyes locked on the road. My heart kept whispering quiet reassurances, even though I was not sure what the next step would be.
We were back in Sophie and Edward’s minivan.
The leather seats were cold under me, and the hum of the engine vibrated through the car. Edward drove with tense hands on the wheel, his knuckles white, but he kept his facial expression calm.
His quiet presence was a sharp contrast to the nervous energy in the back, where Emma and I were. Sophie’s situation was not entirely but somewhat similar to ours.
While the road twisted through thick trees and rolling hills, it was dark and silent as if someone was waiting for us.
My mind steered back to our last conversation, when Sophie had suggested that we go to the police.
Her eyes and voice contained determination, wanting me to hope, but I knew better. Too good for my own good.
I shook my head as I explained to her that Morris’s reach was way beyond the local police. Their connection reached up to the high ranks, which we could not even imagine.
She had only nodded, hiding her worry behind the understanding. We did not know that someone was hearing all of our conversation.
That’s when Edward had entered the room with Emma in his arms, holding her in his arms. His expressions were serious as he stared at both of us. Then he dropped the bomb, "I might know someone..."
He took a pause as if he was measuring himself whether to tell us about it or not, but after a few moments passed, he completed, "Someone who can help."
Sophie and I had exchanged a look, confused. I wanted to ask.
Who?
What?
And more specifically, how?
Instead, Sophie questioned him, but Edward did not answer. He just smiled faintly and left before he whispered out, "You will know soon".
And now, we were driving into uncertainty, following only his talk.
I watched the trees blur past the window. Each turn of the road felt like it was taking us further from safety, further from everything I knew.
Sophie kept glancing at Edward, frowning with worry. "Edward, where are we going?" she asked, her voice tight.
Edward did not answer directly. Instead, he leaned slightly forward, glancing back at Emma. "Emma, tell me," he said softly, "which is your favorite color, blue or yellow?"
Emma’s face lit up. "Blue!" she shouted, clutching her bunny tighter.
Sophie turned sharply to him, about to scold him for avoiding the question, but no words came out. I could see her frustration, but Edward stayed calm, almost amused.
"And your favorite animal?" he asked next. "A lion or a rabbit?"
"Rabbit!" Emma giggled, her fear forgotten for a moment.
Sophie huffed, leaning back, arms crossed. "Edward," she muttered under her breath, "answer me, please."
Edward only smiled faintly, looking forward as if she had not spoken anything. I leaned closer to Emma, holding her and trying to soak in her small, fearless innocence before the outside world could take it away.
The road twisted on, and then we saw it.
A massive black gate, cutting through the forest like a wall. Behind it, a tall figure emerged. A man, huge, holding a gun that caught the weak sunlight.
The van slowed, as my stomach dropped. I tightened my hold on Emma, whose small body trembled against mine.
Sophie’s breath caught, her hands tightening on Edward’s arm as she shrieked out his name. Edward, on the other hand, calm as always, did not even blink at the walking danger towards us.
The moment he reached us, without any hesitation, he lifted up the gun, pointing it straight at us. More specifically, at Edward.
"Ahhh!" Emma screamed, burying her face in my chest. I screamed too, my heart hammering, voice cracking with terror.
The minivan’s engine hummed, but we were frozen. The man, the gun, the gate, it all happened in a few moments as my mind was not able to take it in completely.
My mind raced as several situations and questions started to cloud my senses.
Should we scream? Or stay quiet?
My gaze fell on Edward’s calm and composed stature, making me think.
Was Edward’s calm a trap, or did he really have the intention to help us?
Sophie kept glancing at him, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly, her jaw tight with worry.
"Edward, where in the freaking are we?" she asked, her voice sharp. "Who is this man?"
Edward didn’t answer directly.
"Edward," Sophie said again, her voice low and sharp, "if this is some kind of sick joke, I swear to God, I..."
"Shh," Edward cut her off gently, raising a finger to his lips. "Don’t speak. Just watch."
Sophie’s mouth snapped shut, though I could see her anger boiling.
Edward leaned forward, calm as ever, but this time, he did not ask Emma any playful questions. He lowered his voice and spoke firmly, clearly, "White Raven, Delta Four."
The guard didn’t move at first. His gun stayed pointed in our direction, his expression cold and unreadable. Then, after a long pause, he touched his earpiece.
I couldn’t hear the words, only a faint crackle as he spoke in a deep voice. He repeated Edward’s code slowly, as if making sure he got it right.
A few seconds later, another voice crackled through, too muffled for me to make out.
The guard’s stance shifted. His eyes flicked toward Edward, studying him carefully, before he gave a short nod.
Wait, are we actually safe?