THE RUNAWAY

Harold had no answers for Kali, nothing that could ease her mind. After a long silence, he gestured toward the back of the gas station where his house was. He told her she could stay in the small room there for the night and try again tomorrow.

Kali followed him through a narrow path behind the garage. The room was simple—just a bed with a patchwork quilt, a worn dresser, and a small window that faced the road. Harold left her there with a faint smile and a quiet promise to help her.

As the sun was dipping low, Kali sat on the edge of the bed, her thoughts swirling. The call had left her raw. What had happened to her parents? Were they coming for? She imagined countless scenarios, none of them offering comfort.

Unable to sleep, she moved to the window and leaned against the cool glass, her eyes scanning the quiet road. The gas station's sign flickered faintly, casting a soft glow on the darkened surroundings. She stayed there for what felt like hours, watching the empty stretch of highway.

Then, a sudden flash of headlights broke the stillness. A car pulled into the station lot, its tires crunching on the gravel. Kali tensed as she squinted to make out the emblem painted on the side: "Ohio Highway Patrol."

She sank lower against the window, as two uniformed officers stepped out of the car, their silhouettes sharp against the station's dim light. They exchanged a few words before heading toward the gas station entrance.

Kali's mind raced. Had someone called them? Harold? She moved carefully outside and crept inside the garage. Pressing herself against the workbench, she listened to the voices coming from the shop.

"…short dark hair, thin, maybe ten or eleven?" one of the officers said, sending chills down Kali's spine. 

There was a pause, and then Harold's voice followed, "Yeah…. she's out back."

Kali couldn't believe it. Without hesitation, she slipped out of the side door and headed for the treeline beyond. From her hiding spot, she watched as Harold led the officers into the small house he'd offered her protection. But she didn't wait to hear what they might say next. 

The woods grew darker the farther she went, the canopy of trees blocking out the moonlight. Stopping briefly to look back, she saw the faint glow of torchlights bordering the woods and realized they could follow her tracks in the snow.

Closing her eyes, she focused on reaching out with her mind to create an illusion. A vision of herself, leading the officers in the opposite direction, to throw them off her trail.

But before she could form the image, a sharp pain shot through her head. She gasped, clutching her temples. But the lights in the distance were still coming toward her. Desperation overtook her, and she turned to run again. 

The darkness was suffocating, her vision barely guiding her through the labyrinth of trees. Unable to see her next step, her foot caught on a root and she stumbled, tumbling down a steep slope and landing hard at the bottom. 

The impact left her breathless and for a moment, she lay still, listening to her hammering heart. The officer's lights were nowhere in sight, and the forest around her was quiet.

Kali forced herself to her feet, her legs shaking beneath her. She couldn't stop now, not when she was so close to being caught. She picked a direction and started walking, her pace slower this time as exhaustion began to weigh her down.

But the woods seemed endless, each tree and shadow blending into the next. She had no idea where she was anymore, and with every step, she felt more lost.

Her mind turned, trying to understand how she had got here. Was it possible someone was listening to the call? A sickening dread coiled in her stomach at the idea. Brenner knew where she was and he would never stop looking.

Every snap of a twig, every rustle of leaves made her flinch, her paranoia mounting with each sound. And then, from behind her, came a sharp crack that broke the silence. She stood still and slowly turned around, even though every part of her told her to run. 

For a moment she thought she saw some kind of shadow amongst the trees. But before she could make sense of it, a light flared in the darkness behind her. 

This time she ran, her legs aching as she pushed herself harder. Branches clawed at her arms and face, and there seemed to be no end in sight, until suddenly the trees parted, and she burst into a snow covered field. 

The sight of the vast, moonlit expanse filled her with a fleeting sense of relief. Daring to glance back, the woods behind her were silent, and the light had vanished. 

She breathed a sigh, and was ready to dismiss that it was all in her head, but as she turned back toward the field, she saw standing before her illuminated within the fog, a dark figure.

Kali squinted, trying to make sense of what she was seeing. The figure was... her. The reflection stared back at her, unmoving. Her expression was unreadable, neither cruel nor kind, just… detached.

"You can't control it," the illusion said, quiet but firm as it took a step towards her. "It will kill you."

The words struck her, sending a sudden shock through her skull. It was like the electric shocks she used to receive from the orderlies at the lab—but this time, it wouldn't stop. 

It was unbearable. Kali clutched her head, screaming as the searing agony overwhelmed her. She felt the familiar sensation of blood trickling from her nose, and to her horror from her ears as well as it trailed down her neck.

"No!" she cried, her voice breaking as the pain crescendoed and her screams turned into frightened sobs. 

She collapsed into the snow, her trembling hands reaching out for dear life. Through her blurred vision, she thought she saw a light appear far out in the fog, wavering like a star on the horizon.

 She blinked, trying to focus on the light, but the pain was too much. The world turned upside down as she rolled onto her back, the distant light fading into the dark.

***

For a brief moment, Kali drifted back into consciousness. The world was a void of bitter cold and darkness. Wind howled faintly around her, numbing her body as she lay motionless. The throbbing current of pain in her head still pulsed, sharp and unrelenting, each beat like the echo of a distant storm.

Then she heard it—the crunch of snow underfoot. Her body was too weak to react as it grew closer. It was joined by a low murmured voice, like it was speaking underwater.

Suddenly, she felt herself being lifted. The sensation was distant and dreamlike. She struggled to open her eyes, her vision blurred into streaks of shadow against the faint silver glow of the night.

The effort was too much, and she slipped back into unconsciousness, sinking into the void once more.Time passed in fragments, moments that felt stretched and scattered, until she was pulled back by warmth. Soothing after the endless cold. 

A soft, flickering light glowed against her closed eyelids, and the sharp pain in her head, while still present, had dulled. Her eyes fluttered open, squinting against the golden light. 

A fire crackled softly nearby, its warmth radiating outward and wrapping around her. She blinked, trying to focus as the details of her surroundings came into view. 

She was lying on a small foldout bed, bundled tightly in blankets. The room was large but cozy, with thick timber walls that muffled the hum of wind outside.

The fireplace was built from rough-hewn stone, its mantle adorned with small wooden carvings of animals: a bear standing on its hind legs, an eagle with outstretched wings, a galloping horse. Rugs with intricate patterns of diamonds, stars, steps, and zigzags hung on the walls, their colors muted in the firelight.

In the corner of the room sat a small television atop a wooden drawer, its screen dark, and in its glassy reflection an open doorway. Kali turned around to the doorway and its dark hallway beyond, as she strained to listen for any noises.

A sudden pop from the fireplace made her jump, but she couldn't hear anything else from the hallway. She shifted slightly, testing her strength. Her body protested, but she managed to sit up halfway, slightly dizzy from the effort. 

She braced herself against the bed and swung her legs over the side. Before she could steady herself, her knees buckled, and she fell to the floor with a loud thud. 

The sound echoed through the quiet room and moments later, hurried footsteps approached from the hallway. 

Appearing in the doorway was a middle-aged woman with dark hair and light brown skin. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight of Kali on the floor. She reached out to help.

Kali scrambled back, her hands pressed against the floor for support. The woman froze, her hands retreating immediately. She raised her palms in a placating gesture. 

"Okay. " she said softly, her tone careful. 

Before Kali could react, another figure appeared behind the woman. An older woman, in her fifties or sixties, stepped into view. Her deep-set eyes regarded Kali with calm curiosity.

The younger woman glanced back at her, concerned. "You shouldn't be out of bed, no'yëh," she said gently.

The older woman didn't move, her gaze still fixed on Kali.

"Let's get you back upstairs." the younger woman urged, stepping closer.

After a long pause, the older woman relented, letting herself be ushered away. Her sharp gaze lingered on Kali until the dark hallway swallowed her completely.

The room fell quiet again, save for the occasional crackle of the fire. Kali let out a shaky breath, her muscles still tense. She turned her head slowly and spotted her coat crumpled on an armchair, along with her boots just below it. 

She crawled over to them, wincing with each movement, and reached for her coat, just as the younger woman returned.

"I'm Dakota," she said after a moment. Her voice was calm, though there was an edge of uncertainty. "You don't have to worry. It's just me and my mother."

Kali remained quiet, clutching her coat tightly. She didn't move, didn't speak, still unsure if she could trust her. Dakota stepped a little closer and asked. "Where are you from? There isn't anything for miles around here."

Kali just stared at her silently, her jaw tight. If Dakota was trying to reassure her she was safe, it wasn't working.

Dakota tilted her head, her concern growing. "Is there someone I can call? Maybe let them know you're okay?"

Kali shook her head quickly. Calling her parents' number again would only bring the police and she wasn't up to running. But she also wasn't sure that she could stay here either. 

Dakota's expression softened as she picked up on Kali's unease. "I can tell you want to get out of here." she said gently, "But it's freezing outside, and the snow's only getting worse."

Kali loosened her grip on the coat, and turned away before Dakota could see her tears. 

Dakota crossed her arms, her tone calm but firm. "If you wait until morning, I can drive you into town. You can go wherever you need to go, and I won't ask any questions."

The offer hung in the air like a fragile promise. Kali didn't respond, her gaze dropping to the fire as the warmth radiated through her. The quiet crackle filled the room again, broken only by the faint howl of wind outside.

Dakota didn't press her. "Think about it. For now, just get some rest." With that, Dakota turned and disappeared back down the hallway, leaving Kali alone once more.

Kali sat still, her mind racing. Part of her screamed to run, but her body ached, and the fire's warmth lulled her back into stillness. Maybe just until morning, she told herself. 

Just long enough to gather her strength. 

The fire crackled softly as she leaned back against the pillows, her eyes drifting to the open doorway where shadows stretched into the dark hall beyond and soon she was asleep.