11 Chapter 11

"Sir?" Cal mindlinks out, knowing he is still listening. "I'm here. I'm outside the residence now in the forest. I can't get too close, her parents will feel my presence. Don't let her escape or leave. If she does, follow her and don't let her know you're doing so. Keep her safe." Cal answers "I understand."

Cal watches as Rose runs inside, slamming the door, tears pouring down her face as she runs upstairs to her room. He gets up to follow her.

He arrives outside her door and knocks gently. She calls out "Leave me alone I've had enough talking!!" Cal says "Rose it's me, let me in. What's going on? Are you crying?"

He can hear her sniffling on the other side but her footsteps come closer and she unlocks the door and turns around before he can see her face. She's gathering her bags together, and looks like she's gonna run.

"...Rose?" She turns around and looks at him with a puffy red face, "I have to go Cal. I'm sorry to leave like this, you can obviously go too, I'm sure it would be weird to stay with my parents without me." She grins weakly and takes a big sigh, not looking at him, "I can't explain to you what my parents just told me, because I can't understand it myself. But I have to go. I have to run and get as far away from here as I can." She grabs a tissue and blows her nose, "I'm leaving now." Cal looks thoughtful and says "I won't ask you to explain it to me, but if you're running, I'm coming too." Her face shows bewilderment as she looks at him and opens and closes her mouth, he knows what she's trying to say, "Rose I'm coming. You're obviously terrified and heartbroken, you have no business being alone right now." She just stares at him and asks, "What about your promotion? Don't you have to go?" Cal replies, "Not for a while, and don't worry about that. I'll push it off. I'm good enough, they'll wait for me." He finishes with a wink. "I'm going to grab my bags, I haven't unpacked yet either. Meet at my car in 10?" Wordlessly she just nodded her head and reached out and squeezed his hand with a small smile.

...

Once they have finished throwing their bags in the trunk, Rose's parents come outside, her mom has tears falling down her face silently while her dad stands still as stone with a frown set in his face and his hands shoved in his pockets.

"Rose honey, please stay. We can protect you here. We can't protect you if we don't know where you are." Her mom hiccups through her tears.

"You can't protect me. You sold me off to someone and he's gonna come collect. I can't stay here and wait for it. I love you guys but I can't stand to look at you, I have to go. I will contact you when I have calmed down."

Cal looks down silently listening to their conversation. He looks back up and accidentally catches her fathers eye. With a silent nod Cal communicates to her father that he will watch over Rose and keep her safe. His face shows gratefulness, but he also shows fear for his daughter.