284
Matt
I crossed the street with the crowd, hoping that was the end of the chase, but I couldn't relax. Something in the air was still warning me. I could feel my mother's presence in a way I didn't ever remember feeling it before.
Quickly now. They're near.
I swallowed. The urge to run was strong, but I didn't run. I didn't know where to run. I could feel the cold sweat trickling down my back as I hurried down the street, my heart pounding in my chest like a drum. The pain in my chest was becoming unbearable, but I refused to let it slow me down. I had to get away. I felt that sense of danger pressing me forward.
All around me, I could hear and smell people, but none of it seemed familiar. Then, the resistance to running snapped.
"There he is!"
I took off. I could hear the heavy footsteps of my pursuers, their breaths ragged and furious. "Son of a—"
Someone screamed. "Out of my way, lady!"
I kept running, listening to people yell at them behind me. I ducked between two carts, narrowly avoiding a collision. I could feel the eyes of pedestrians on me, their faces a mix of fear and confusion. I heard them whispering, wondering if I had stolen something, wondering if I was some other kind of criminal.
Keep running, Matt. Don't slow down. Don't—
A knot pulled tight in my leg. I stumbled, staggered, and damn near fell. The agony struck through me like lightning.
No!
"Got you!" One of them caught up to me, grabbing my arm with a vice-like grip. I twisted viciously. For a few moments, I was someone else, something else. I slammed my palm into their chest hard and brought my knee up hard in a move that I couldn't even fathom having ever used before. The man keeled over, and I shoved him back onto the others before running again.
Almost there, darling. Keep going.
My vision was going blurry. I could barely breathe. How much longer? How much further? I couldn't keep running much longer. The pain was becoming too much to ignore. I needed an out. A car. A bus. A—
As I rounded the corner, I saw the subway sign across the street.
I had to get there.
Without a second thought, I dashed into the street, weaving between the cars as the light turned green. I could hear the screeching of brakes and the honking of horns, but I didn't stop.
"Are you fucking crazy?"
A car rushed past me, barely clipping me. I spun around in place and stumbled. The world went dark for a few seconds. I felt something push and pull me, and then I stumbled into the railing of the subway's staircase. Tires screeched across the street. I saw Cline's car pull around and up to the sidewalk. I heard footsteps coming closer and their raised voices. I was running out of time, but everything was aching.
Go! Go now. Hurry, or you won't make it! You're strong enough, darling. You're almost there.
My eyes burned. I shook my head. I blinked through the thick droplets of blood clouding my vision. I didn't have it in me. My stomach heaved. I was going to be sick, I knew it, but a force pushed me, swinging me around and forcing me toward the stairs. My legs barely held me up. I slipped, skidded, and floated down the stairs. The turnstile turned as I approached, letting me into the subway.
The world went dark and flickering, but my legs tripped and stumbled, lunging after the crowd that was boarding the train. My breath came in ragged gasps. I could hear the sound of footsteps echoing behind me, getting closer.
Hurry!
"Stop!" I heard from behind me. "Son of a—"
I threw myself forward. I heard someone cry out in pain. People screamed, and I swung into the entrance mere seconds before the doors closed. The window thudded. I jumped and turned back, staring into Cline's eyes. He bared his teeth at me and banged on the door. Then, the train began to move. I saw him turn back and run, but I felt relieved. My stomach lurched. I covered my mouth, swallowing as I belched, and the metallic taste of blood coated my tongue. I swallowed.
As the train pulled away, I leaned against the wall, trying to catch my breath around the agony. I fumbled for another vial and drank it, hoping that it would help. Some of the pain lessened, but not all of it. I looked around and was grateful that the only other person in the car was an old woman who sat just on the other side of the glass.
I coughed. My lungs were seizing. For now, I was safe. And that was all that mattered. Would Cline be waiting for me at the next stop? Would I have time to escape? Maybe jump on another train?
I stumbled, gripping the railing and trying to get to a seat. I could feel the cold sweat trickling down my back as I clung to the rail, leaning against the glass. Warmth trickled down from the corner of my mouth. My heart pounded in my chest like a drum. The pain in my chest was becoming unbearable, but I tried to stay conscious.
Warmth slipped down my cheeks. I wasn't sure if they were tears or blood. Maybe tears of blood.
Mom? I closed my eyes, sniffling. My eyes burned, and I felt the tears starting. Everything hurt so much. They were going to catch me. There was no way I could outrun them if they were on the next platform. There was no way I could avoid them.
The pain in my chest was starting to subside, but I could still feel the exhaustion creeping in. I closed my eyes, trying to block out the world around me. I couldn't sleep, though. The ride wasn't that long. I need a plan. I grunted, forcing my legs to be steady as I got myself into a seat and slumped against the cool railing. I was burning up. My mind was full of fog, but I had to focus.
As the train rumbled on, I tried to think of a plan. I needed to find a place to hide, a place where I could recover without being found. But where could I go? What about Tony? Would he be alright?
I shouldn't have taken public transit, but I couldn't trust myself to drive. It was the smart decision, given that I was bleeding and aching, but I had no way of knowing I would have had to run like that. I guess if I had, I would have led them right to the penthouse, right?
A wry chuckle escaped me. Cline had chased me. Was Eliza actually pregnant or not? If she was, how would Tony feel about having a younger half-brother? Would he want to save him? I sighed as the next stop was announced. I guessed I had maybe two minutes to get myself together and get prepared to run some more.
Another breath rattled out of me, and I wondered if I was going to pass out right here and now.
Then, I felt a warm hand on my face. Slowly, the warmth spread through me, and I heard my mother's voice.
It's alright now, she said. She sounded like she was going to cry, but she sounded so relieved. Did she know something I didn't?
Was I losing my mind?
"You've been through quite the ordeal, haven't you?"
I cracked my eyes open and looked up at the woman. It was the old woman from before, I was sure of it, but she didn't look that old this close. She could have been maybe in her late thirties, a few years older than me.
The train rocked along as the warmth continued to spread through me, easing some of the aches. Her eyes felt so familiar, filled with knowledge. She looked right into me and saw everything, I was sure. I felt the urge to turn away, but so much more of me wanted to cry in relief as if I had run all this way just to find her.
I blinked at her, understanding what she said, my eyes narrowing in confusion. "What do you mean?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
She smiled, a knowing look in her eyes. "You're running from something, aren't you?" she said, her voice filled with understanding. "But you can't run forever. Sooner or later, you'll have to face it."
I looked at her, my mind racing. Was she talking about the pack? About my condition? About something else entirely? I didn't know, but I knew one thing for sure - she was right. I couldn't keep running forever.
"Do you know me?"
"Yes," she said softly, her voice like a whisper in the wind. "And Matt… your time is running out."
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