See How She Runs (The Chronicles of Izzy #1)(51)

“I saw her camping by the river. That is all I could see. She has us blocked really well. Even Seers can’t get through her walls right now," the girl said helplessly.

I heard the slap of skin on skin and I wanted to run to the girl and defend her. She was younger than me. Yet, she lied to whoever this was so that I could escape. I looked down toward the bottom of the hill where they had stopped. She once more looked in my direction with a ferocity I have never known.

This girl held a strength I could only dream of. I hoped that someday I would be able to find her. I could not bear the thought of abandoning her after she had just saved my hide.

“Molly, I swear to the gods, if you are lying to me I will make you pay. Don’t think I won’t do it. I don’t care how talented you are," the man growled.

“I can only tell you what I have seen. I would not dare invent stories sir," she said with a hint of defiance in her voice.

So the man with her was with the Corporation. By the sounds of it, he was a Guardian as well. I watched them for a moment longer before the tiny blonde gave me a pointed look as if to say, “Run you moron!" I nodded in her direction, and tried to communicate with my eyes that I would not forget her.

I scrambled out of hiding after they were out of sight and ran for it. I did not know how long I would have before they headed back this way. I did not want Molly to be found out either. If they caught me they would know that she lied. I made a mental note to find her again and help her escape somehow.

I was winded by the time I reached the car. I checked the parking lot several times before getting in the car to make sure no one was watching me. I got in and hit the 101 in the hopes of finding Mike. I knew there was a restaurant he always talked about frequenting up near Bremerton. It was some little hole in the wall diner. That would be my first stop. I needed to gain sustenance for myself and to try and find him. Then we were going to high tail it to the Council and figure out what to do next.

I arrived at the diner almost four hours later. I had almost stopped in Port Angeles to grab some food, but thought better of it. The fewer stops, the better probably. I walked inside and found a booth, hoping against all hope that Mike would come in. The waitress came by to take my order and I asked if she had seen a man named Mike that day.

“Oh, honey, you just missed him by an hour. Is your name Izzy by any chance?" the lady asked.

“Yes, ma’am," I said skeptically.

“Well, Mike left something for you. Let me go grab it. He said you might show up here someday."

As the lady walked away, I wondered what Mike could have left me. I also wondered how long it would take to cook my burger. I was famished. She returned with my drink and an envelope and left me to my discoveries.

I opened the envelope, not sure what I might find. All that was inside was a key and a map of how to get from the diner to his house. Well, that was a relief. I was glad that it was not some cryptic message about the fate of the world or whatever. I was getting sick of surprises.

My burger came a few minutes later and I took the time to devour it and every single last French fry. Their greasy goodness sunk into my stomach, making me long for a nap. Well, I did have a map to a house. Perhaps Mike had a couch that I could become acquainted with quick like.

I left the diner and headed over to Mike’s place. I found it after passing the turn off three times. I parked along the street in front of the small, shingled house. The house itself looked like it had seen better days, but I supposed that it matched Mike’s personality in a strangely accurate way. I walked up to the door and knocked. I was so stunned by who opened the door, I did not know whether to scream or run, but neither choice was mine to make.





**********





TWENTY ONE





I was jerked into the house before I could cause a scene. I stood there, dumbfounded, unable to process what my eyes were seeing. There, in Mike’s living room, was Xavier. I looked around expecting to see Mike tied up. Instead, he was reclined in a chair, smoking a cigar. I looked around the rest of the room and saw three more men who were easily a foot taller than me. I looked back to Xavier who was smiling down at me maliciously.

“Told you I would find you. All of that running was for nothing after all," he said, sending chills down my spine.

“What is going on here, Mike?" I demanded. I wanted an explanation. I also wanted to shove Xavier’s nose into his brain pan, but I was not quite tall enough for that.

“Oh, honey, how did you not know? You really are just as dumb and trusting as that other lot. The Corporation has been paying me quite well to keep tabs on you and feed them inside information about what was happening within the Council. As soon as you started to show signs of being a seer I contacted Xavier and had him added to our delivery route. You didn’t go there just by chance Izzy," Mike said around his cigar.

“But what about your sons? What about all of those years I worked for you? Are you telling me you are okay with just handing me over to these guys? Do you even know what they will do to me?" I asked. I was afraid the tears would start sliding down my cheeks at any moment. I had to keep it together. I had to find a way out.

“Oh, my sons are alive and well, Babycakes. These big guys have kept my family’s pockets padded for quite a long time. And yes, I know exactly what they will do with you and quite frankly I just don’t care. You were a paycheck," Mike said, uninterested.