Captive Bride (The Secret Bride 1)

24

Christopher

Ember’s right. We can try to run as fast as we can in the snow, but it will take time. Time we might not have. And I can’t risk us being caught again. This is our one shot, and if I don’t plan this out perfectly, then Richard will win again. I can’t have that happen.

“We need the authorities to come to us,” I say.

“I told you there is no phone or radio. Well there is, but I know Richard has that on him,” Ember says.

I freeze for a second realizing that Ember has called her Papa Rich by his full name. She’s morphing before my eyes. Courage looks good on her, and I’ve never been prouder. I know this can’t be easy for her. I can’t imagine how terrified she must be. And not just because of the fear of being caught. But I also know she’s afraid of what happens if we actually do escape. She has no idea what awaits her on the other side.

And her thoughts are valid.

Can Ember survive in the world I live? This is a girl who has never worn shoes or watched television. Electronics and the Internet don’t exist in her mind. She doesn’t know what it’s like to have the constant buzz of sound in her ears from city life. She doesn’t even know what a city is. I’m the third person in her life she has ever spoken to since she was taken. She’s been a caged bird that has been raised in captivity. Is it fair to throw her out to the wild?

She has no idea what modern society is like, and I’m about to toss her into the lion’s den if we do manage to escape. The thought of what happens next for Ember is almost as terrifying as Richard finding and stopping us.

We will be free from the evil of Richard, but not necessarily free from evil in general. The world is hard and brutal at times, and it can chew up a normal human being. But Ember… she’s different. She’s fragile. And the world could engulf her. Life could be harder for her outside this town than it is inside it, but no matter how hard, anything is better than the hell of Hallelujah Junction.

“I have an idea that is going to help us,” I say. “We will bring the authorities to us.”

I lead us down to the cellar where we have left the lantern still lit. I pick it up and look at the small flame, knowing exactly what I have to do. Ember looks at me with confusion.

“We’re going to catch the town on fire before we leave,” I say, reaching for the matches as well.

“What? No. We can’t.” Ember tugs at my arm and shakes her head furiously. “It’s been here for decades. Long before us. We can’t burn it. The history… we can’t. It’s my home.”

“It’s not your home.” I try to take a deep breath and soften my voice. I know I have to be gentle with Ember even if I grow frustrated. I have to put myself in her situation, but at the same time, I know we are running against the clock.

“Christopher, I don’t—”

“We have no other choice,” I defend. “You’re right in saying that Richard might reach us before we get all the way to town. But if the authorities see the smoke and come, they will meet us halfway down the hill. They will get to us before Richard. The fire will be our own S.O.S.”

“But if he sees the smoke before he reaches Scarecrow, he may return quicker than planned,” she points out.

I pause and consider her words. “True. But it’s a risk we have to take.”

Not wanting to wait another second, I take the lantern over to the pile of dirty blankets that I spent my first week sleeping on. It will be therapeutic in a twisted way to watch the soiled material burn. The cellar should be the first place in this town to burn to the ground.

When they ignite almost immediately, I know we have crossed the line of no return. I lead us to the bathroom and yank the bottle of rubbing alcohol out of the medicine cabinet and begin splattering it all over the floor to help aid the flames in mastering the room.

We both stand for several minutes and watch the blankets burn and the fire spread across the floorboards, making its way to the wooden crates. I know that once the flames lick the wood, it won’t be long until the fire takes over completely.

Taking Ember by the hand, I lead us upstairs to the kitchen to grab the quilt and the coats Ember pulled out of the closet. I put the heaviest coat on her and then also wrap her tiny frame in the quilt. I pray she will be warm enough. We don’t have to last long… just until help comes from the fire department.