Chapter 60 - Emantors

Evan had separated from my father and I after we closed down the store. I was nervous to spend time alone with my dad, for a moment I didn't know how to talk to him. But it did not take a while because on our stroll down the street of outdoor markets in search of dinner, the puzzle came together on its own. We shared memories, he caught me up on all that I had missed and I tried to do the same. My father swung a plastic bag that carried meat and vegetables, the only thing that he said was missing was fresh bread.

"You should really let me hold that bag, it looks heavy," I insisted again.

"Nonsense, I may be a lot older but I'm still stronger than you."

I blinked away a tear of joy. Still, I could not believe that I was strolling down the markets of Akbur Hills with my father.
I did not dare think of the impending doom that was upon us all.
We stopped at a tiny shack where a woman handed the last couple of customers fresh baked loaves of bread. There were two teenagers by her side. Maria wiped the sweat off her face and our eyes suddenly met.

"What are you doing here?" she snapped.

I hadn't realized that my father would be bringing me here.
"Damon found out. About our plan."

"You mean your plan. That you made me go along with, you made me trust you."
Her kids looked at her with worry.

"Close the shop, I'll be back."

She grabbed a loaf of bread and handed it to my father once she was in front," you shouldn't have brought her Mason."

"It's about time you made two made up," my father mumbled while placing the bread inside of the bag.

"I don't want to see her. She ruined us-"

"No, they did," he pointed at the wolf stationed nearby," don't let them turn us against each other. It's what they want."

Maria scoffed and faced me.

"I'm sorry," I began," I couldn't do it."

" how did he find out?"

"I don't know. I thought that maybe you told him-"

"How could you? Of course I didn't!"

"I don't know. Maybe the cameras somehow or maybe someone else told."

"Tessa wouldn't. And no one else knew except your stupid friend, Tiffany."

"You're right, maybe it was her."

"It had to be her."

We stayed quiet for a moment. Her harsh eyes did not leave mine," so what now? Did he say when he will do it?"


"No, he didn't."

Maria wiped her hands on her dirty apron," it's getting late, go eat your dinner. We'll talk later."

My father cooked up the fanciest dinner he's ever made in Akbur Hills according to him. It took me a while to discover that it must have cost him a week's salary. I looked down at the plate of steak smothered in gravy and vegetables.
"Dad, you really didn't have to do this."

"I haven't seen you in over ten years, you thought I was gonna cheap out?"

"How much did this cost, dad?"

"Oh hush," he took his seat in front of me on the old creaky table," you can have my bed, I'll sleep on the couch, it's more comfortable anyway."
The bed and the couch were in the same room. Dads apartment was smaller than the bathroom at Damon's house.

"No, I'm not taking the bed. I'll sleep on the couch-"

"Eat your food, it's getting cold," he interrupted and stuffed a forkful of potatoes into his mouth," delicious isn't it?"

"It's amazing, thank you dad."

He did not go to sleep until he tucked me into the bed. He kissed my forehead and I felt my chest jump. All the time in the world wouldn't be enough to make up for the ten years I could have had with him.
Sleep was miles away. I tossed and turned, even as my dad lightly snored, I could not stop thinking. Both Evan and Maria hated me, they would never trust me again to come up with a plan and I don't blame them. Evan was right in saying that it would be impossible to capture one of the wolf men outside. There was only one other solution which was to run away.
We could somehow sneak out in the middle of the night but how would we make it past the barbed wires and who knows what was out there beyond the thick brick walls.
Perhaps it was worth it to take our chances, to pack up whatever supplies and food we could gather and travel until we found somewhere we could call home. We could do it right after Damon gasses Akbur Hills and perhaps they would never come looking for us because they would presume us dead.

I wondered what Damon was doing right now. I hated to admit that I missed him. There was a dark dread in my heart at the memory of him or the thought of never seeing him again. It became almost immediately overwhelming. I felt a combination of rage and something else I could not quite put my finger on. Perhaps it was lust, or the intense frustration of missing someone that you know you shouldn't and know you will not meet again. Or maybe it was all of the above. Or maybe it was just love.
How could you have done it? How could you have fallen in love with him?
When did you fall in love with him?

I had no more time to ponder because a blood curdling scream struck through the silence of the night. I quickly got up alongside my father.

"What was that?" he burst, eyes open and awake.

"I have no idea," we both made our way to the windows to take a look.

I could see a red light flashing on a machine that hung at the top of a pillar near the fences. On the ground was a collapsed woman, others rushed to her side to help.

"What's going on?" my father continued and I suddenly realized what was happening. We were all out of time.

The smoke from the machine began to spread even quicker. Slowly, the others that rushed to aid the women began to choke and eventually collapse.

"Emantors," I whispered.