(A Few Months Later)

Oh God no, please no. I quickened my pace, trying to be careful as I held my rounded belly. I had to get away before they realized I was gone. My life, well more like our life, depended on it.

"Phoenix, stop!" Shaun yelled out from somewhere behind me.

No.

Oh, please no.

I don't know where I'm going. The only light I had to guide me right now was the moonlight. I wasn't able to run as fast as I used to be, between my baby bump and the poor lighting, well it wasn't easy.

Please don't fall.

Phoenix, please don't fall.

I kept chanting this over and over in my head. I desperately needed to get away, but I also had to make sure that I was being careful. One wrong move and it could hurt or worse, kill my baby.

I slowed down to almost a stop, looking around, trying to figure out which direction I needed to go. But everything was starting to look the same. All I could see were trees. I was about to start running again when I felt two strong arms wrap around me.

I started to fight against the person who had a hold of me, but it was no use. I couldn't get out of their grip.

"Calm down Phoenix, stress isn't good on the baby," Shaun said, as I began to sob.

I slowly sunk down to the cold ground, Shaun following me as his arms never left me.

Why?

This isn't fair. Why me?

How did they know I was gone so fast? Shouldn't have taken them longer to notice.

I continued to sob as I protectively wrapped my arms around my stomach. Why was all of this happening to me? I never asked for this.

"Phoenix, I need you to calm down so you can hear what I'm about to tell you," Shaun said.

I slightly turned my head, looking at him, waiting for him to go on, as I tried to calm myself.

"If you really want to get out of here, then I can help you, but we need to do it now and we gotta do it fast. Tonight will be the only night that this will work," Shaun said, causing my eyes to widen as I stared at him in shock.

Was he tricking me?

He had to be. There was no way he would actually help me. He was Elliot's second-hand man. There is no way that he would betray him.

"I need your answer. Do you want my help?"

I frantically nodded my head. I didn't care if he was lying to me. There was still a small chance that he could be telling the truth.

"Come on then, we need to go."

Shaun let go of me as he helped me into a standing position. Shaun grabbed my hand as he guided me through the woods. He pulled out his phone, unlocking his screen as he began to call someone.

"Hey it's me, Shaun, I need a favor. I need you to meet me on the back road behind the hideout. I need you to care something out for me."

Shaun went quiet as the person on the other side replied to him.

"I can't wait, man. Tonight's the only night this will work. I don't know when he'll be gone again. It has to be now!"

Shaun quickened our pace as we took a right. I squinted my eyes, trying to focus them as much as I could. Am I seeing this right? Am I really seeing a gravel road?

"Thank you, we're going to find a spot to lie low in. When you get here, flash your lights three times so, I'll know it's you," Shaun said before hanging the phone up.

"This way," Shaun said as he guided me over to where there was a bundle of bushes.

He helped me crouch down behind them before he joined me.

"Why are you helping me?" I asked, hoping he could see my hands.

"Because Elliott's fucking crazy, that's why. He has done some crazy shit in the past, but he's gone too far this time. You're a good person who shouldn't be here. You should've never been involved with any of this," Shaun said as he watched the road.

Shaun and I were friends in a way, if you could even call it that. We've gotten kinda semi-close with each other since I came here. Shaun's a really good guy, that should have never been mixed up with this fucked up life he was sold into.

"Once you leave here, do not call the police. If you even want a chance for you and your baby to stay alive, do not go to the police. Elliott has some ties with them. He'll come for you if you go to them. Just stay inside and stay low. My friend who is coming to get you will keep you safe."

"How come no one else has shown up yet?"

"Because I'm the only one who knows that you're missing right now," Shaun said.

"But how? Isn't this place rigged up like a damn state penitentiary?"

"Yeah well lucky for you, you picked the day that our system had to be shut down for maintenance," Shaun said with a smirk on his face.

My eyes widened at his words. It had to be fate. That's the only thing that could explain it.

"Get down, I see lights," Shaun said as we ducked down.

The vehicle slowly drove down the road, flashing its lights three times as it crept down the road.

"Thank God," Shaun mumbled as he stood from our little hiding spot.

Shaun waved his arms, causing the vehicle to stop. I could hear the vehicle being shifted into park before one of the doors opened.

"Man, this better be fucking important, calling me this late just to ship out something for you," a deep raspy voice said.

"It is," Shaun said as he helped me up.

I turned to see a burly looking man standing on the other side of the bushes. He had raven hair with a clean-cut bread to match it. You could definitely tell he worked out a lot. He was buffed up. He was tall, probably about six-four or so. He definitely towered over my little five-six self.

"Oh hell no, you did not tell me that it was a woman, a pregnant one at that," the man said after taking one look at me.

"Fucking hell Carter, just take her."

"And why should I do that?"

"Because if you don't, Elliott is going to kill her. God knows what he will do to her or her child," Shaun yelled out, causing an awkward silence to fall over us.

I placed a hand on my stomach, feeling my anxiety levels go sky high. It's like Shaun said Elliott was always crazy, but these last few months, it was like he was a different person.

The Elliott I know now definitely wasn't the one I met that night at the club. Then again, he was probably showing me his good side then as well. I shuddered at the thought. I can't believe I misread him that much. Usually, I could tell who was ok and who wasn't. Elliott was a different story though. He managed to slip past my radar.

Carter sighed before turning to me, then back to Shaun.

"What does she have to do with the crazy man?" He asked.

"He became obsessed with her for some reason and, as you can see, she is now pregnant with his child," Shaun said, causing Carter's eyes to widen before he turned his attention back to me.

"What the hell made you sleep with such a psychopath like Elliott?" He asked me.

"Trust me, it definitely wasn't on purpose," I signed to him.

"What did she say?" Carter asked Shaun, looking confused.

"She said it wasn't on purpose. From what I was told, it was a very drunken one-night stand."

I shook my head, agreeing with Shaun, causing Carter to chuckle at me.

"Liquor will make you do stupid shit, won't it?" Carter asked as he wrapped one arm around my shoulders as he guided me to his vehicle.

I groaned out as he laughed at me. Carter didn't seem too bad, yet at least. We walked over to his truck with Shaun right behind up. He helped me into the back seat, saying something about if I had to hide it would be easier than the front seat.

He closed the door as he and Shaun started to discuss some things.

"What's with the sign language?" Carter asked as they made their way around the truck.

"She's mute, been like that since birth."

"I see. What's her name?"

"Phoenix," Shaun said as Carter opened the door to the truck, getting in behind the wheel before closing it.

Shaun walked back around to my side, opening my door.

"Carter's going to take you somewhere, I'm not even sure, but it's safer that way. I'll try to keep in touch the best I can, but I can't promise anything. Remember what I said, lie low and no cops?"

I nodded my head, letting him know that I understood what he was saying. Shaun pulled out his wallet, pulling out some money before placing it in my hand. Closing my hand, making sure I was holding it securely.

"It isn't much, but it'll get you some things for you or the baby," he said.

"What are you going to tell them when they asked where I am?" I asked, putting the money in my pocket.

"Don't worry about that. I will handle it when the time comes," Shaun said, looking a little nervous.

Shaun pulled out a folded piece of paper from his pocket, sliding it into my hand, before leaning over to me.

"Don't look at this until you are absolutely alone. Understand?" He whispered into my ear to where only I could hear him.

We pulled away from each other as I gripped onto the piece of paper. I nodded my head, and Shaun nodded back at me. He was about to close my door, but I stopped him.

"Thank you," I signed.

Shaun gave me a small smile before shutting my door. He didn't need to say anything to me. I knew he was putting his life on the line for me, and I just hoped he knew how much I was appreciating it.

Carter put the truck in drive as we begin to drive off. I turned in my seat to see Shaun standing in the middle of the road, watching as we drove off. I watched as he walked back into the woods, turning back around.

"Try to get some sleep. It's going to take us a bit before we get there," Carter said as we turned off of the gravel road and onto what looked like the highway.

Just where exactly is this place at?

Sighing, I tried as best as I could to get comfortable. I turned in the seat, stretching my legs out across the seats, resting my back again the door. Not exactly the safest position, but it was semi-comfortable.

I closed my eyes, hoping I could get some sleep. Hoping that when I woke, I would finally be safe.