Chapter 8

A gust of wind flew by causing me to shiver once again from the cold. Without wasting another second, I pulled the passenger door open and got in the front seat. Closing the door once I was settled, I sighed at the warmth the jeep offered.

Twisting my body slightly to my left, I reached out to grab my bag from the back seat. Rummaging through the stuffs in it, I prayed to God that my father at least packed one of my sweaters in it. Feeling through the clothes, I felt my fingers touch something warm and cotton-like. I pulled it and smiled as I saw one of my black sweaters. This should work for the time being. It would keep me warm enough throughout the way back home. I zipped up the bag and kept it back on the back seat. Immediately, I wore the sweater and swooned at the comfort it had to offer and leaned my back against the seat.

I glanced around and couldn’t help but conclude that at night, the hospital grounds looked kind of creepy. Other than the other police officers guarding the entrance and with a few nurses and people walking to and fro the emergency exit, there weren’t many people at the entrance of the building. It almost looked deserted at night unlike the busty atmosphere during the day earlier.

The driver door opened and Jason got in with his jacket now in his hands. When he glanced at me, his eyes trailed over the sweater that I was currently wearing.

“It’s kind of hot in here.” He said then nodded awkwardly and threw his jacket in the back seat but his body betrayed him as he shivered due to the cold piercing the air through the opened window.

I frowned at him but he avoided my gaze, put the keys in the ignition and turned it sideways, turning the jeep on.

It came on with a roar along with a vibration before going back to a smooth sound, almost as if it wasn’t turn on but when I felt the car move, I was amazed. It felt like those electric cars kids would usually play with at home; it made no sound at all, like it wasn’t even moving.

I haven’t been in many cars before but this one was amazing. It did not make a lot of sounds. Either the jeep was brand new or Jason was a really good driver but it was a smooth ride like an aeroplane. I couldn’t help but feel like I was flying while looking out at the passers-by walking their dogs and the few remaining people probably doing last minute grocery shopping before going home or simply working night-shifts. Jason asked me for directions once we reached my neighbourhood and I directed him to my house.

The ride came to a stop in front of my house and I couldn’t help the sadness enveloping my heart as I realized that I will soon be leaving this place which was filled up with memories of my childhood and of my mother but it also reminded me of all those tormenting nightmares I’ve had due to my father. This place had its fair share of happiness as well as its fair share of either physical or emotional excruciating suffering. As much as I would like to stay here, I had to get away from my cruel father and now that I’m about to leave this place forever, I wanted to be free and start anew in a new town.

After a moment of simply sitting still in the passenger seat, I mustered whatever courage I had left and forced myself out of the jeep despite the physical pain erupting on my wrists and stomach.

“Will you be okay going alone? Or do you want me to come with you?” I looked back over my right shoulder when I heard Jason.

“I’ll be f-fine.” I tried to sound calm and unafraid but my voice betrayed me.

“I’ll come with you.” Jason decided and got out of the jeep too.

He locked it and made his way around the front of the jeep while wearing his leather jacket. He stood beside me and re-adjusted his collar before shrugging.

“Let’s go.” He finally said before glancing at me with the left side of his lips turned up into a smirk which soon morphed into a warm smile.

I couldn’t smile back. I was too nervous and with all the types of thoughts and emotions going berserk in my mind and heart, I couldn’t really think straight at this point.

I couldn’t help but think about how I finally got the courage and told a police officer everything about what’s been happening in my life. I was dumbfounded that I succeeded in doing that but the consequences of taking that action will definitely come to bite me back in the ass. That is the reason why getting away was one of the best decisions that I could have ever taken besides revealing all the wrongdoings of my father to a policeman. It is just that everything is happening so quickly and unexpectedly that I haven’t gotten enough time to re-think about my decisions and about certain stuffs.

“What’s wrong?” Jason asked.

He must have noticed my troubled face, I thought as I saw him inspecting my face before frowning.

“Am I doing the right thing?” I questioned him.

I had no one and I did not know who to trust at this point but I knew that I could trust Jason. It’s not because he is a police officer but because I felt like I could trust him and my intuition never went wrong in judging someone.

“Lea, believe me. You are doing the right thing. You need to get away and since you don’t have any relatives who would take you in, you will have to trust me. It’s the police force’s job to protect you and the head of our department decided that it would be wise to get you out of this town as soon as possible because your life is in danger, Lea. Your own father might be a threat to your safety. You are not of legal age yet to go on your own and since your father is your legal guardian, he might come back to claim you. I will get you the restriction letter against him but that would take at least a week before it is legally approved. I can’t just assume that you will be safe in this one week by yourself. You never know when your father might return.” Jason explained but the tone of his voice was soft and warm like he was explaining a five year old.