Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56078 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 280(@200wpm)___ 224(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56078 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 280(@200wpm)___ 224(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
“How do you know there’s no phone? How do you know? We need to go see for ourselves.”
I reach for his hand to try to soothe his wild mind. “I know, Christopher. There’s no phone, he locks everything, and he’s thought of every possibility. Trust me. I know.”
I hate that I’m stealing his hope. I can’t stand that I’m the reason his face is falling from excited to despair.
I so desperately want to be the good wife.
I want to please. I want to please more than anything.
“We can look if you want.”
Although I already know it will be useless, he needs to see for himself. He needs to walk down the path of hopelessness on his own. I can only hold his hand and be by his side as he does so… as a dutiful wife.
19
Christopher
I refuse to give up hope. Day after day and I refuse. The snow is thick, the air heavy with evil, and all I can do is sit and wait. There will be a time. There will be an opening of opportunity, and I will take it.
I have to hand it to Richard.
The man is smart.
There is no phone, no way to reach the outside world. Ember is right about that.
I have no idea where he hides his keys to the truck even though I look around the kitchen every time we are there to prepare meals. I know I will have one shot, and I don’t want to be reckless or foolish when I make the move. I have to be patient. The time will come. I know it will.
“We should start prep for supper soon. I want to make a special recipe of mine for you,” Ember says as we sit near the wood stove.
I give her a smile because I know how hard she tries to keep me happy. I wish she could meet the real me. I wish she could see the man I truly am when I’m not shackled and captured against my will. I think she’d like me better. I think she’d feel more loved because I would have more to offer. I would have a soul that wasn’t shattered into a million pieces. I am barely hanging on in here. I feel as if the monster of this place is eating me alive, and though I try hard not to take it out on Ember, I know I do. I see the pain in her eyes when I snap. I see her desperate need to fill my days with the rainbows and flowers she imagines, but I just can’t. I know she wants me to be the Prince Charming she had always fantasized. I know I should be better.
I just can’t.
Not while being here.
Not here in Hallelujah Junction. But if we ever leave… if we ever leave, I’ll be a better man.
Movement outside the window catches my eye. I’d seen deer, rabbit and squirrels before, but something in my gut tells me this time is different. This time I need to pay attention.
“Come to the window,” I say, not wanting to just drag Ember with me to get a better look.
We make our way to the window, and my heart stops.
Two people snowshoeing in the town below.
“They aren’t supposed to be here,” Ember whispers. I hear the fear in her voice, but I can’t help but feel a sense of excitement that nearly paralyzes me.
My instinct is to bang on the window and start screaming, but I also don’t know where Richard is. I don’t want to reveal our guests by making a commotion.
“We need to go outside,” I say, spinning around and nearly causing Ember to fall because she’s not ready.
She reaches for my hand. “Christopher, we can’t.”
I glare at her so she knows I mean business. I don’t want to be mean to her, but I will if I have to. “This is our chance. I’m not going to stand here and miss it.”
“If Papa Rich sees us leave the schoolhouse, he may lock us in the cellar and never allow us to come back here again. We’ll lose his trust.” She looks around the small structure that had become our home with tears in her eyes. “We were just getting comfortable.”
“Now, Ember. Now.” No patience or understanding is left in my body. “Now.”
I take a step forward with my chained leg, and if I have to drag her along, I will.
She walks beside me, but I can sense her internal struggle.
“Pine Cone. Where’s my cat? I can’t leave her.”
“We’ll come back for her. I promise,” I say, not wanting to waste time hunting down her cat.
“Please don’t make me do this,” she begs softly. “He’ll find us. He will.”
“We just need to get to them before he does.”
“He knows they’re here. I’m telling you, Christopher, he knows.” There’s urgency in her voice, but I don’t care. This is our shot. It could be our only one.