Page 105 of Diluted Truths

The sun was low in the sky, my lungs burned from the exertion, but I didn't stop. I pushed. I ran. I listened to Nate and I didn’t stop. I could feel tears rolling down my cheeks. I was so scared. What was happening?

I wanted to stop but I couldn’t, I kept going.

After what felt like an eternity, I stumbled through a bush before landing hard on my knees. I was trembling. I couldn’t remember how I had gotten here.

I looked up to see houses near me. I was in the middle of the street. I stood trying to orient myself. I was in Eugene. I knew where I was. I racked my brain trying to remember what had happened but my last memory was Griffin drugging me.

Wait?

Was it?

“Ma'am, are you okay?” I turned towards the voice. There was an older man, maybe sixty, standing on the sidewalk. I started to answer, but couldn’t stop myself from breaking down.

I dropped back to my knees and just sobbed. I heard someone say to call 911. I heard the sirens, and I felt the hands of the officers try to pick me up. “It’s okay, Ophelia. You’re home now. You’re safe.”

Was I?

Will

Scarlett came running into the office with her partner hot on her heels. “I got a call from some of our officers.” She paused for a moment, looking at all of us at the conference table. “They found her, she’s alive.”

And for the first time in five days, I could breathe.

Chapter 29War Paint by. Chasing Jonah

Will

Ipaced the waiting room of the hospital. I couldn’t sit still knowing Jackie was here. She was here and they wouldn’t let me go back to see her.

Theo and Kai stood side by side watching me pace. They were feeling just as anxious as I was to see their sister.

Scarlett had let us know that she was found and being taken here. They had to run some tests and do a physical before they let us back to see her. That was nearly three hours ago.

I approached the receptionist's desk, again.

“Do you have any updates?” I asked.

“Dr. Bly, once again, I will let you know the second you can go back,” she responded. I hung my head in defeat.

I turned and sat next to Fai in one of the chairs. We had come to a sort of understanding the last few days while searching for Jackie.

“She’s alive, Will. That’s all that matters,” he said in comfort.

“I know…” I hesitated for a moment. “But will she be okay? She was gone for five days.”

He pondered my words for a moment before answering. “I need her to be.”

“It’s not your fault.”

He shrugged. “I know. But I shouldn’t have been so heartless towards her. I shouldn’t have fired her… it was cowardly of me.”

“You were mad. She did lie to you. It’s okay to be upset about that.”

“It’s not just that,” he began as he looked at me with worry in his eyes. “She has a weird habit of seeing all of my secrets and…”

“What?” I urged him. “What’s going on?”

He slumped forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I relapsed. I started drinking again.”