Chapter 19

-Narrators POV-

After brutalizing themselves to rid themselves of their scent, Jarrod and Braxton were back on the road. Braxton kept his head out the window for as long as he could till he was sure the car was aired out.

Once they saw the old cracked sign, Jarrod slowed down. He drove past then made a quick u-turn then parked the car behind the trees.

"Okay, now you need to stay in the car, I'll be right back." Jarrod started to get out of the car.

"What? No, I-I came to help. I can't just sit in the car?" Braxtons own excitement made Jarrod sit back in the car and slightly close his door.

"Okay no, listen to me. I'm not asking anymore. You need to have more respect for your elders. I'm not just leaving you in the car, I need you to stay outside just in case you see Renae before I do, she said she'd leave but I know how stubborn she can be or if they wouldn't let her leave." He opened the door then leaned over in front of Braxton to say one last thing "if you do spot her before I do, honk the horn three times and I'll be out as fast as I can. If more then ten minutes pass then just leave with Renae. If you see someone other then me or Rae coming towards the car, honk twice and get out of here. Please, do as I ask." He closed the door and began running around the trees to the restaurant.

Braxton listened and locked the doors and looked around the trees trying to spot anything that was out of the ordinary. Just as he kept looking behind the car, he jumped to his phones sudden buzzing. Seeing an unknown number calling, he hesitantly answered it still looking around.

"H-Hello?" Braxton asked, his fear in his throat.

"Braxton?" Renaes voice on the other end rang with joy.

"Renae? Are you okay? Where are you?" Braxton asked as fast as he could.

"Oh, some people stopped on the side of the road and offered me a ride. I told them I couldn't so they offered me a phone to call someone. People out here are really nice-"

Braxtons impatience interrupted her "don't start. Where are you? We've been so worried. You can't trust anyone out here." Braxton shook off his nerves as he leaned over and honked the horn three times.

"Well, we're in front of a sign that says fifty miles to the school of Romystins. It's about five miles away from the restaurant."

"Thank the goddess you're close. Can you stay on the phone? I just have to wait for your dad to get back in the car." Renae sighed over his question.

"I can't keep these people waiting. It's not my phone. I'll stay on for a few more minutes but no more. I don't want to keep them, the woman is pregnant and I don't want to make her uncomfortable." Renaes kindness was evident.

"I see your dad now, he's running to the car." Jarrod was sprinting back to the car.

"Rae?" He looked inside the car hopeful, not seeing her he looked to Braxton on the phone "I didn't even get inside yet." He huffed.

"She's about five miles north in front of the school. Some people stopped and let her use their phone, she doesn't want to keep them but she's on the other line now-"

Jarrod snatched the phone from Braxton as he got in and buckled himself up. "Rae? We're on our way. Five miles north?" He started the car and roared the engine and make a quick u-turn. Just as they began to drive, people flooded out of the restaurant and started chasing the car.

"Yes dad, five miles north. I have to let you go. They're getting a call so I have to give it back. I'll see you soon, I love you." Renae hung up before Jarrod had a chance to protest. He sped up the road as fast as the car would let him.

-

"You could've talked to them a bit longer. We don't mind." The pregnant lady grabbed the phone with a soft smile.

"No, you were getting a call and I don't want to keep you. Were you two hungry? The restaurant down the street gave me some food if you'd like some, the lady was really sweet but I don't need all this food." As Renae offered the food, her eyes widened with excitement.

"I'm sorry, obviously with her being seven months along, anything with the word food gets her so dang excited. It's like she's a dog ready for a walk." The husband responded with a southern accent.

"It's alright. I always find myself excited over cookie dough so I kind of understand." Renae handed the bag of food through the window "Think of it as my payment for letting me use your phone."

"You didn't need to do that but we appreciate it. Well, she does." He laughed "We better get going before it gets too dark what with the sun setting. We still have to find a hotel."

"Oh that's fine. Thank you." Renae smiled then looked at her belly "sorry, I know this sounds weird, but could I have your number? I'd love to send you a present when the baby arrives. I have a niece that I helped take care of a little and I just love babies."

"Oh that sounds perfect, I'd love to have more girl friends!" The woman jumped with excitement handing Renae the phone "just send a text to yourself and when you get home, save the number. I'll send you the proper spelling of our names too."

"Don't worry about sending any presents. We don't need anything. I'll just be happy that she's happy." The husband smiled as he watched Renae hand the phone back.

"Well, I'll let you guys go so you can find a hotel. I'd point one out but I'm just as lost, I wish you guys the best of luck!" Renae waved as they said their final goodbyes and drove off.

She sat down in the tall grass and waited, watching for her dads car to come speeding up. She looked up to watch the sun set on the horizon and felt guilt take over for worrying her father as much as she had. She realized how it had been one thing after another since she moved in with him, she thought to herself that she had to stop worrying him and herself. She was shook from her thoughts hearing a car engine roaring. That familiar black car and Jarrods head poking out the window.

"Hey!" Renae popped out of the grass and waved her arms "Stop! I'm right here!" She ran out of the grass onto the road.

Jarrod slammed on the breaks and threw it in park before he ran out of the car and grabbed his daughter "Don't you dare scare me like that ever again!" He screamed in her ear as he hugged her. She struggled not to drop her cup of water. As he let go and looked at her, she winced, squeezing her eyes shut waiting to be smacked for disappearing.

"What's the matter?" Jarrod asked. Renae opened her eyes seeing he was on his knees staring at her as if he were the one in the wrong.

"I-I uh..." She was confused seeing the worry on his face. She began to cry as she felt her heart ache "You're not going to hit me?" Her voice shook.

"Baby girl, no. I'd never do that. Why do you think I'd ever hit you?" He brushed her hair out of her face.

"B-because she always did whenever I did something like this, I just thought-"

He cut her off before she could finish "I'm not your mother. I will never do anything that woman has done to you and I need you to know that's the gods given truth. I need you to trust me like I trust you." He fought his own tears watching hers roll down her face.

Just as Renaes heart ached, her mind jumped to why she was wondering in the first place "Trust you? Where's Kelly dad? You didn't want to tell me where she was, why?" She started to yell "I need the truth if you expect me to trust you!" Jarrod looked around worried. He remembered the area they were in with the volume of her voice.

"Renae!" Renae looked up to see Braxton standing in front of the car smiling at her. Renae pushed past Jarrod and hugged Braxton.

"AAGH!" He screamed in her ears. She looked to see she had accidentally poured some of her water on him. She looked at him confused as to why he was screaming. Jarrod was quick to grab the cup and sniff the contents.

"Braxton, what's wrong?" Renae asked as he dropped to the ground and started rolling trying to get it off of him.

Jarrod poured a little into his hands and Renae was shocked to see his hand was bubbling. He dropped the water and blood on the ground and threw the cup into the grass. Then picked up Braxton off the ground, Braxtons screams were growing louder with each movement.

"We need to hurry out of here before anyone can get to us." Renae rushed behind him as he placed Braxton in the back seat. She climbed in and rested his head on her lap as Jarrod jumped in the drivers seat and slammed on the gas pedal. Just as Renae got used to the speed, she tried to adjust Braxton to get him more comfortable as he continued to scream in pain.

"You need to take his clothes off!" Jarrods voice roared over the screams.

"What?" Renae started blushing.

"Just his coat and shirt. They're soaked in the mineral water that's burning him and still burning him so long as he keeps those clothes on!" Jarrod looked in the mirror to see a few cars speeding behind them.

Renae fought the urge to look behind them and started tending to Braxton. She got him sitting up enough she was able to pull his jacket off and pull his shirt over his head exposing his burned upper body. Seeing them, Renae realized the harm she had inflicted. He laid back down with Relief as Renae dropped his coat and shirt on the floor of the car. He turned towards her and opened his eyes. Seeing the tear roll down her cheek, he wiped it away.

"You're going to be a handful aren't you?" He smiled. She grabbed his hand as he cupped her face and held it close. Renae began to blush as she placed his hand down on his stomach. She looked at her own arm seeing all the scars from her previous life, her stomach flipped.

"You know, if you wanted to see me shirtless, all you had to do was ask." He smirked.

She let out a small gasp being ripped from her thoughts. She shook her head fighting more tears "I'm sorry, I was staring at my arm..." She looked out the window.

"Why?" He asked looking down seeing the same scars she was just staring at. He had noticed a few scars on her before but now he had a chance at actually looking at them. He grabbed her hand and pulled up the sleeve of her jacket. She didn't fight as she kept her eyes out the window, he traced his fingers over her scars.

"How'd you get these? I've seen them but I've never noticed them." He sat up, still holding her hand.

"I'm so sorry..." She looked down at her lap.

"I can lay back down if you want me to." He grinned, Renae however couldn't move her gaze. "Hey, I was just kidding. What are you sorry about? These scars? You don't need to be sor-"

"No..." She cut him off "I hurt you." She motioned to his clothes on the floor.

"I'm not mad, it was an accident. A painful accident but an accident nonetheless. Tell me what happened and I'll forgive you." He smiled cupping her face again, forcing her to look at him.

"I'll tell you... but not right now.. knowing what I know of these scars, you may change your mind on how you feel about me." She looked at Braxton then up in the rearview mirror seeing Jarrods eyes "Dad, when we get home, I'm going to tell you all of my stories, about how I got these scars and you're going to tell me everything, the truth this time. I'm willing to tell you everything so I hope you have enough respect for me to do the same." She looked to see Jarrod nodding his head fighting his own tears.