Chapter Nine

A/N: How did you guys like this chapter? It felt very fast paced while I was writing but I'm a little concerned about the quality. Let me know if you liked it or not :)

I watch the country-side as it zips past the window. Rolling hills that were once lush with grass, now blanketed by snow and ice. In the distance, a crowd of barren trees sway in the winter wind. The sky is black, no stars are visible through the thick storm clouds overhead. It feels foreboding. Like a horror movie.

I nearly jump when Ryan reaches over and touches my knee. Turning to face him, I find his expression is soft. Less nervous than before. He smiles, supportively. "We'll be fine." He whispers, so as not to wake Tabby, who's sleeping in the back seat.

I nod. "I know we will."

He takes his hand away. Pointing to the glove compartment, he says, "Find the map in there."

I obey, digging through various CDs and napkins. I find a folded up map of Virginia. "Where should we go?" I ask him, sullenly. "I'm sure they've already notified all train stations, airports, even gas stations in the area..."

"What's the closest way out of the city?" He asks.

Scanning the map, I tell him it's about ten miles to the south. "But we can't go there." I remind him. "It'll be swarming with feds."

He nods. "I know that." Ryan sighs and slows the car. He pulls us over into the shoulder and stops. "What we need is to go somewhere far away for a while. Lay low until they stop looking for us." He glances sideways at me. "Speaking of which, you were always good at evading the CIA...where did you go?"

I don't answer him right away. At the mention of my time on the run, my thoughts instantly go somewhere else. Somewhere warm and sunny, with lots of sand and friendly people who saved my life. The place where Jay and Corey are waiting for me. They said I was welcome back anytime...

"Jodie?" He asks, leaning closer. Ryan's brown eyes are curious as he studies my face. "What are you thinking about?"

I chuckle, half-heartedly. "I went to the desert." I tell him.

"The desert?"

I nod. "I stayed with a Navajo family for a while."

He hesitates. "Do you think they'd let us stay there for a while?"

"Yeah." But I lower my head, feeling my cheeks going warm. I can't help but remember what happened between Jay and me before I left. The way his lips felt on mine... I can't help but feel that, if I go back, it will give him the wrong idea. And I'm with Ryan now. I had my choice and I chose Ryan. It feels like cheating to be able to go back there now...

"Jodie?" He whispers, his brow creased. "Are you okay?"

"Y-yeah." I stammer. "I'm just...not sure if going there is a good idea."

"Why?" He asks.

Because I don't want to hurt Jay anymore than I already have. I don't want to lead him on. Or...maybe I'm afraid of how I'll feel if I see him again. I shake my head.

He sighs and leans back in his seat. "Well, right now Jodes...I think that may be our only option..." As if to emphasize his point, sirens begin to blare behind us. Red and blue lights flash against the dark pavement. Cops have found us again and by the sound of it, there are a lot of them...

Ryan slams down on the gasp pedal and we launch into eighty miles per hour. I twist around and shake Tabby awake. If something happens, I don't want her to be caught off guard.

She grumbles, tiredly as she sits up. "What is it?" She asks.

"Tell Bree to be ready. We're being followed."

Her eyes widen but she nods. "You hear that, Bree?" She says. "You need to help us if they start shooting or anything..."

"Aiden will help too." I tell her. "We're going to be fine."

"Jodie?!" Ryan cries out, sounding shocked.

"What is it?" I turn back toward the windshield and gasp. The street is blazing with light from a blockade in front of us. Tabby screams as the first bullet cracks the glass. "Get down!" I bark. "Aiden! We need a shield, now!" In a fraction of a second, the air warps around us and bullets begin bouncing off of the spectral shield. "Keep driving, Ryan! They won't be able to shoot us now!"

"Right!"

As we speed closer, I can see that the vehicles are not cop cars. They are black vans with tinted windows. Everyone who is shooting us is wearing a CIA bullet proof vest. Their guns are roaring. They fire non-stop until it becomes painfully obvious that we're not slowing down and their weapons aren't doing any good. For a moment, I fear that they're too proud-or too stupid-to move out of the way and we're going to end up running them over. Fortunately, at the last second they all dive out of our path.

We smash through the little barricade they set up. Planks and boards go flying into the air. For a split second, we're off the ground! Everyone grunts when the car lands again, jolting us in our seats. The vehicle spins, losing traction, but then I feel Aiden grab ahold of it and straighten us out again.

Good job, Aiden! I project, loudly.

We barrel up a hill and Ryan swings around a corner, hoping to lose anyone who might be pursuing us still. I take a breath, trying to slow the rapid thrum of my heart. "We made it..." I gasp.

"Yeah." Ryan glances over at me. "Now let's get the heck out of here before they catch up."


The sun is already rising by the time we find a place far enough away to spend the night. The clock on the dashboard reads 6:03 a.m. so it's more like we'll be spending the day here. Though I'm pretty sure none of us care. We're all exhausted. Plus, moving around at night will be safer since darkness will hide us when we're on the street.

The hotel we stop at is a small one. A two story building smothered in chipped, white paint and boarded-up windows. There's a flickering neon sign out front that says, Howard's Place. I smile at the name, it's so simple. Sounds like something out of the fifties.

Ryan slowly turns into the parking lot and turns the car off. I tell Aiden to go in first and make sure it's safe.


"Aiden, check it out." Jodie says to me.

Obediently, I glide out of the car and through the front wall of Howard's Place. The front lobby is messy and I imagine it wouldn't smell very good. There's a small trash can in the corner that's been knocked over, spilling crumbled candy wrappers and wads of gum onto the shaggy, brown carpet. A receptionist desk is placed near the front of the lobby. There's an old computer and stacks of paper work piled high on its sticky, goo-covered surface.

A man in his late forties or early fifties is napping on a stool behind the desk. His feet are propped up and his is dangling backwards. Loud, snorting sounds come from deep within his throat.

I grimace as I hover above him. His computer screen is lit up with the local news, where a young anchorwoman is broadcasting an Amber Alert. They show a picture of Tabby, looking small and innocent. Anyone in their right minds will be keeping a sharp eye out for such a helpless looking girl. Of course, the news mentions nothing about Tabby being the CIA's captive...

I reach out and grab the computer. Pushing energy into it, the screen begins to go static-y. Smoke hisses out from the back of the machine and soon, the picture goes entirely dead.

Coast is clear.


As soon as I feel Aiden return to me, I nudge Ryan and tell him it's safe to go in. He nods and opens his car door, sliding out. I follow suit, ushering Tabby out as well.

"Are you sure it's safe...?" She wonders, quietly.

"Aiden checked it out for us. It'll be fine." I assure her.

She nods and I hear her whisper something to herself. It sounds like, 'stay close to me' but I doubt she's talking to me. The three of us trudge into the hotel, swaying tiredly. I just hope we can get a few hours of sleep before we have to get moving again. I'd like to have a clear mind when I reunite with Jay...