Free (Un)wise by Melissa Haag Page A

my mother asked noticing for the first time that the lady’s feet didn’t quite touch the ground.
    “I am a friend.  Save your child and return.”
    “If I return, he will kill me.”
    The Taupe Lady’s eyes filled with sadness.  “Yes, he will,” she agreed.
    “Then, I cannot.”  My mother ran with me.
    *    *    *    *
    I woke lying limply against Luke’s back as he braked hard and turned into the parking lot of a small motel.
    Instantly alert, I lifted my head. “What are you doing?”
    “You keep twitching.  You can’t ride sleeping.  It’s not safe,” he said over his shoulder as he parked in front of the office.
    Not safe?  My whole life was not safe.  Riding anywhere with one of them was probably not safe.  Adding my narcoleptic tendency to sleep didn’t really decrease my life expectancy that much more.
    He loosened the strap as I argued. “Sleeping strapped to you is better than sleeping here.  We need to keep moving.”
    “Believe me, I’m all for hurrying, but I’m not going to risk you falling off.”  He lifted the strap over his head so we were no longer pressed against each other.
    I scrambled to dismount.  “I’m not tired anymore.”  I saw in his eyes he didn’t buy it for a second.  “I don’t want to stay here,” I said as I started to panic.
    Taking a ride from him was different from locking myself in a room with him. I didn’t trust him—us—in a room.  There was too much pull going on.  My stomach went wild at the idea of a room with a bed and him in it.  And my eyes dipped to his snug fitting shirt.  Given his reaction when I got close to his neck, I didn’t see how this would end well for me.
    “Too bad.  Inside.  Now,” he practically growled at me as he pointed to the door marked “Office.”
    I met his eyes for another moment and then pivoted on my heel intent on walking if I needed to. I took one step toward the road.  He stood in front of me before I took the second step.  He didn’t look happy that I hadn’t immediately complied.  We scowled at each other.  A yawn ruined any hope I had of him taking me seriously.  His expression changed to one of concern.
    In my crazy, sleep deprived state, all I wanted to do was lean into him.  If he happens to kiss me, I thought vaguely, I’ll just have to endure.  Wait.  What?  No!  No kissing.  It led to other things, which led to a life of misery.  I shook my head to clear it.
    He sighed and tilted his head at me.
    “You are so tired, luv.  Please.  Sleep a few hours,” he said.
    My stomach went crazy with the pull.  Disgusted with myself that a caring tone and a few nice words could cause such a reaction, I snapped at him.  “As if sleep is what you really have in mind.”
    His eyes widened, and he held up his hands.  “Sleep.  That is all.  I can’t drive fast with you sleeping.  Too many things could happen.  I might not be able to catch you in time.  If we keep going as we are, snow will cover the roads before we reach the Compound.”
    “Compound?” I asked, wondering why I was even listening to him.
    “It’s where Gabby said to bring you.  She promised she would be there.”
    The way he worded it gave me pause.  “No one is holding her there?”
    “Holding her there?  No.  She...visits.  Honestly, she doesn’t seem to like it very much.”
    I looked down at the faded blacktop.  If they didn’t hold Gabby as a prisoner and she remained free to wander as she pleased, it probably meant Luke truly wanted to help me get to her.  Though, it could all be a lie.  Calling the number he had given me wouldn’t prove anything.  Any woman could answer, and I wouldn’t know the difference.
    “I don’t trust you.  But...”  I looked at the motel.  Sleep tugged at me.  I was doing what I thought the dreams wanted me to do.  Maybe they would leave me alone, and I would actually get some real sleep.  “I’ll stay.  Just not with you in the same