"Get out of the vehicle," the voice boomed.
"I am on a tight timeline. I have committed no crime, and I respectfully ask to be allowed to continue on my journey."
"Respectfully declined. Get out of the vehicle."
"I can't do that." Bolton stepped on the gas.
I flew across the back, smacking my head as he cruised forward.
The sound of sirens in pursuit made my head injury seem like nothing.
"I'm going to slow down as close to the train station as I can get. While they're busy with me, you need to run." Bolton kept his eyes focused on the road. "Do you know how to tuck and roll?"
"I can't just leave you." I felt a surge of guilt. He'd helped me so much already.
"I'll be fine. You need to get Bailey and Quinn."
He was right. This was no time for sentimentality.
He slowed down the car. "Get ready."
"Get out of the vehicle!" A voice boomed.
"Run," Bolton whispered. "Go now."
I didn't wait. I pushed open the door and rolled out onto the street below.
I stumbled to my feet as he continued driving forward slowly.
I heard the sound of gun fire and ran, trying to block out the shouting coming from behind me.
I refused to think about Bolton. He might have made it. They might not have killed him. I fed myself the lies as I ran without any idea of where I was going. He'd said a train station was nearby, but I couldn't find that now. It was far too risky.
Instead I kept running. I reached the woods and kept running. I didn't stop until all the noise from the road disappeared. Then, and only then, did I stop to find a place to hide. I climbed into the branches of a tree and hoped for the best. I also mourned the loss of the one ally I had. I may not have seen the bullet pierce his skin, but I knew how likely it was. He'd sacrificed himself to give me the chance to save Quinn and Bailey. I wouldn't waste my chance.
Five
I spent the rest of the night in the woods. I waited while dogs ran through the woods, presumably to find me. I waited while trying to ignore the sound of boots crunching on the leaves below me as men searched the forest. They knew I was there. Whether they'd seen me run, or the Reine had filled them in on my disappearance, they knew I was out there. Thankfully they didn't know my name. I wasn't forced to listen to my name being screamed through the darkness. Instead it was girl and blondie, or Goldilocks, a reference to a story I vaguely remembered my mother telling us as a child.
I waited until the sun was up to leave the woods, going with the opposite logic Bolton and I had used. I hoped it would be easier to blend in when more people were out and about.
I found the train station easily enough. The problem was figuring out how to buy tickets when I had no money. Sneaking onto the train was risky, but I had no other options.
I adjusted the hat on my head and tightened my borrowed coat around me. The station was busy, which was both good and bad. The crowd made it easier to disappear, but it also meant greater potential of getting caught. I avoided eye contact whenever possible. I allowed myself to get pushed along with the crowd onto a train. Evidently you didn't need a ticket to board, but I knew they'd check for one later.
The few seats on the train were taken, which was fine by me. I felt far more vulnerable sitting down than I did standing.
I positioned myself as close to the door as possible in case I had to make a run for it.
I kept my eyes down, but even then I couldn't help but notice a man looking at me. He raised his cap ever so slightly and seemed to be trying to meet my eye. I turned away from him. I didn't need to attract any attention. I needed to reach the city and disappear into a crowd. It would be my best chance.
The same man inched closer to me. I saw his boots moving closer to my own. I tried to quiet the shivers running through my body. I had to stay calm, or I would give myself away.
"Tickets!" A booming voice called. This was it. We'd just left the first station so I knew I wasn't going to get off the train anytime soon. I need to come up with another way out.
"Two tickets please." A male voice said from right beside me.
I kept looking down hoping I'd get lucky and the conductor wouldn't notice me.
A hand clamped down on my shoulder and squeezed. "I'll hold onto your ticket for you, son."
Son? I was too afraid to look up to see who had made the statement, but I had a nervous feeling it belonged to the same man who had watched me earlier. That set of boots was now right next to mine.