All That She Can See(79)

‘We have to leave. Now,’ Chase said.

‘Are they here?’

‘The van’s outside but I can’t see anyone out there.’

‘Oh, God.’ Cherry sank onto the bed and put her head in her hands, the red strings swinging back and forth. Chase opened Cherry’s wardrobe, found her case and started to throw anything he could find into it. Cherry watched him as he frantically tried to close the zip when it was full but it whined at his efforts.

‘Chase, is this what it’s going to be like?’ she whispered. ‘Running all the time?’

‘I don’t know, Cherry. We’ll talk about it later.’

‘We can’t keep running,’ she said.

‘We have to! Right now, that’s our only choice.’ He hit the top of the suitcase.

‘I’m not sure what’s going on here,’ Margie said, ‘but it really can’t be so bad that you have to leave.’

‘No, you don’t understand – if we stay, we could be killed,’ Chase said.

‘Killed?!’ Margie gasped.

‘What was that place, Cherry?’ Sally sat next to Cherry and put her arms around her. ‘Tell me what’s going on.’

Cherry hesitated. She’d kept her secrets for so long, she didn’t know where to begin. ‘Chase and I aren’t like most people. We see the world differently. And that was a place that… tries to put a stop to that.’ Cherry chose her words carefully.

‘We know you and Chase aren’t like the rest of us. You never have been.’ Sally shot a sideways glance at Chase. ‘If running away right now means not getting hurt then you need to run but Cherry’s right, Chase. You can’t run for ever.’

‘I know we can’t. We’ll figure it out, but right now…’ Chase pulled the case off the bed and wheeled it to the door.

Margie took Cherry by the hands and helped her to stand. ‘This is all a little over my head, love, but you need to be safe. Whatever it is that’s making you think you’re not safe, then get away from it until you are safe.’ Margie pulled Cherry in tight to her chest and hugged her hard. Cherry sank into the hug, grateful for the unbidden kindness.

‘How do we get out of here without being seen?’ Chase asked.

‘Is there a back door?’ Bruce suggested.

‘There is, but it leads out into an alley that loops back around to the front of the shops. We’ll be seen no matter what,’ Cherry explained.

‘Take my car. It’s parked outside.’ Sally pulled her keys out of her pocket and pressed them into Chase’s hand. ‘You can thank me later.’ She winked and Chase kissed the top of her head.

‘Listen, Sally, I’m so sorry. About my mum and my aunt. And for me. Had I known, I would have stepped in and —’

‘We can’t help who we’re related to and I don’t hold their wrongdoings against you. It wasn’t your fault. Now GO! This isn’t goodbye, so stop trying to make me emotional. We’ll see you again.’

‘Don’t be a stranger, you hear?’ Bruce said, reaching up to squeeze Cherry’s hand. He looked taken aback, unsure of what was happening, but he knew his friends were leaving and that made him sad.

‘We’re so grateful you moved here,’ Margie said, taking Bruce’s other hand. ‘You changed my life.’

Cherry looked between Margie and Bruce and saw the mutual affection there and she smiled. ‘Take care of each other,’ she whispered, a lump forming in her throat.

‘Cherry,’ Chase called.

‘I know. Come on.’

They walked downstairs as though they were part of a funeral procession. Margie and Bruce led the way, Chase took Cherry’s case as she gingerly walked behind him and Sally took up the solemn rear.

‘Are we going to have to make a run for it?’ Cherry ducked halfway down the flight of stairs and peered round the corner. All she could see was the blue van parked outside. No sign of blue suits, white coats or Feelers in yellow.

‘I think so,’ Chase said. ‘Best to be as quick as possible.’

‘I say go now rather than wait for something to happen,’ said Bruce, rolling up his sleeves. Chase went to open the door.

‘Wait!’ Cherry ran to him and held the bell still. ‘Okay, now.’

Chase opened the door and they ran to Sally’s old car. Chase slung the case in the back seat and ran to the driver’s side while Cherry hopped in the passenger side. Chase put the key in the ignition and started the car.

Then the bell above the door rang out as Sally slammed the door closed and shouted ‘CHERRY!’ and Cherry looked up and saw them. Blocking the end of the road was a human wall of blue suits and two more vans.

‘Shit,’ Chase said.

Cherry reached for Chase’s hand but he shifted the gear stick into first and took off the hand brake.

‘Chase! You can’t run them over!’ She yelled as the car started moving.

‘Why not?’

‘Chase!’

BANG!

At first Cherry thought they were shooting at them but when she looked up, the blue suits were unarmed and starting to back away. The bang had come from above them and when she looked up, two large footprints were imprinted on the roof.