Chapter 2 : Deal

"Is that how you greet the person who saved your life?" he growled.

"S-saved my life?! I don't even remember what happened!" she yelled in frustration.

"I found you by the roadside in a pool of your own blood...It was obviously a hit and run," he said

Cloe felt devastated.

"How could things go so wrong?? I just wanted to escape and that almost got me killed..." she said quietly, sighing in exasperation as she buried her face in her hands.

"Escape what?"

Cloe tensed. There was no way she was going to tell this stranger anything.

"Nothing," she said keeping her face lowered.

"Are you running away or something?" he hit the nail right on the head.

"No."

He took out his phone, scrolling for a bit then he turned the phone screen in her direction.

There was a picture of her displayed on the screen. It was a missing person flyer.

Cloe froze in horror.

"How long have I been here?" she asked trying not to let how panic show.

"Four days."

"Your lying!" she yelled losing it.

"Then why haven't they reported that I'm here?"

"Because I paid them to not do that," he said unfazed by her yelling.

Cloe was confused. "Why would you do that?" she asked.

"Because it's obvious that you are running away...And I wanted to know why," he replied.

Cloe stared at him.

"You have to be joking," she said tossing her hands up, well one of them, the right hand was in a cast.

"I can't say why," she said.

"Oh so are running away"

Cloe gave herself a mental slap for letting that slip.

"I won't go back...You can't make me...I won't." she said closing her eyes.

"Fine."

"You know I could just tell him. My dad would definitely go to prison..." Cloe thought.

But she couldn't bring herself to do it.

"Tch...have it your way," he said aloofly checking his wristwatch.

Then he turned and walked toward the door.

"W-wait, where are you going?"

"I'm going to report that I found you," he said turning back to face her.

"Please don't do that..." she begged

He raised his eyebrows.

She sighed.

"I had to get away...He was going to sell me." Cloe said sitting up.

"Who?"

"My f-father" she whispered her voice cracking.

"Now why would he do that?" he asked the disbelief evident in his voice.

"Because he's a horrible person... plus you don't get to judge me because you are the only shady person in this room." she snapped at him.

His arrogance was irritating her.

"Is that so?" he asked slightly amused.

"Be nice...He has all the power in the room right now" Cloe reminded herself.

"I'm not stupid... You are hiding your true intentions," she said.

He chuckled.

"What do you want from me?" she asked.

The room was quiet.

"Let's make a deal," he said in a cool tone.

"I'm listening," she said.

"Come with me, and I won't turn you in."

She stared at him.

"That's the deal?" she asked in a flat tone.

"Yes."

"That's not how a deal works," she said staring knives in his direction.

"What do you mean?" he asked

"How am I benefiting from such a deal?"

"Well, we can start off with the explicit facts... You are on the run, you've got nowhere to go so you are in dire need of a place to stay," he stated

"True..." Cloe couldn't disagree.

"Plus toss in the added benefit of food and possibly clothing..." he said eyeing her hospital gown.

"And if anything that arm is going to slow you down." he motioned toward her casted arm.

"That's all true... but how are you going to benefit from it." she probed.

He chuckled, once again checking his wristwatch.

"I'm keeping that to myself," he said smirking.

Cloe felt trapped.

"So what's it going to be ?" he asked moving to sit in the chair by the bed.

"I can not go back to my dad... I have no choice."

There was a long pause.

"This is insane...I don't even know you..." she said.

He leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees.

"Well, it's not like you have a choice. It's either that or get turned in. Pick one" he said.

Her fate was clear.

She sighed

"Fine... Deal" she said extending her good arm to shake on it.

"I mean what's worse than going somewhere with a total stranger. You could even turn out to be a serial killer luring his next victim" she said.

He shook her hand.

"Who said anything about next victim? What if you're my first?"

Cloe's eyes widened.

"I'm joking," he said chuckling.

"Let's get out of here," he said picking up her backpack that was on the floor next to her bed.

"We're just gonna leave?" Cloe asked still hesitant and weighing the decision she made.

"Yes...that is unless you want to terminate our agreement."

"Nope."

"Good.. now follow me," he said gesturing for her to follow him.

"This has got to be the craziest thing I've ever done...Besides running away." Cloe thought as she followed him through the door.