I went straight back to the cabin and slammed the door behind me. How could he take that man's side? He literally threatened my life with a physical gun that could have gone off if he hadn't been careful. Not to mention, I had been stuffed in a closet like a rodent and tied up like a hardened criminal.

I kicked the coffee table as I sat down on the couch, sending it screeching across the wood-paneled floor. Rowen probably didn't even realize how scared I had been because he doesn't care about people's feelings. If I had "breaking and entering" on my record, the university that I have been trying to get connections to would never have accepted me, my parents would be beyond disappointed in me, and who knows if the man had even intended to really call the police. For all I had known at the time, I was sitting in a closet for a freak to come back and do God-knows-what to me. 

The door behind me opened and footsteps hurried in, but I was already getting to my feet. I didn't want to talk to him; I didn't want to see him; I didn't even want to be in the same house with him, let alone the same room.

However, as I reached for the backdoor doorknob, Rowen grabbed my arm. "Kevin, wait. Hear me out," he started.

I yanked my hand away with such ferocity that Rowen appeared physically burned. "Don't bother. I don't want to hear anything you have to say," I said. 

Though shocked by my backlash, Rowen followed me out the door and into the trees. "Kevin, I didn't know. If I'd known you were in there, I would've gotten you out sooner-"

I turned to him abruptly. "That's not even the point!" I hissed at him, my tone making him stop in his tracks. "But it's okay, Rowen. I'm used to you not getting it."

The look on his face was enough for me to know that not only had he missed the point before, he was missing it now. Rowen, for all his wisdom and capabilities, didn't seem adept in the knowledge of basic human emotion. He didn't understand fear, how could he? He instilled it in others. Whatever semblance of humanity he had in him, it certainly wasn't based in his comprehension of the human psyche. 

"Just forget it," I said, stalking away from him. "I want to be alone right now."

I walked in the direction of town. Eventually, I found myself at the mall for the second time that day. I didn't feel like walking around the empty, less-than-well-lit mall, so I walked around to the back and sat down in the center of the empty back road that served as the delivery station for new shipments. As I sat there, the wind bustled by and chilled my bones. I should've brought a jacket, but it was too late to go all the way back to the cabin to get one. Sighing, I settled onto my back and stared at the sky. If stayed here long enough, I might get run over by a truck.

It wasn't like Rowen hadn't done something like this before. He made such a big deal over me, but when it came down to it, it was all a facade. I should have known not to get spoiled by him. Even now, as much as I wanted to go back home he wouldn't help me. He'd play lame and say he would if he could, but he wouldn't even try. I'd swim through the flood if it would get me home. He was always making me feel like I couldn't trust natural cues. It was a roller-coaster of emotions when he was around.

All of the events of the past couple of weeks had been a mess. I never want to come here. I never wanted to spend a summer locked away with Rowen of all people. I just wanted everything to be like it had been. Zane and I sitting on my bed with game controllers while we ate popcorn and pretended that it would never end. I wanted life to be normal.

But it would never be normal again, and I knew that all too well. Even if I'd never come here, I'd still know Rowen and what happened between Zane and Cliff and why. I wouldn't know innocence anymore. The world would still be exactly as it was now: tainted, vile, messed up.

I stood up and walked back towards the cabin. I wasn't going back yet, but I might as well get there before it got dark so I wouldn't get lost. I debated staying the night in the woods, but it was so cold out, and I didn't have a jacket. I would freeze to death if I slept outside.

I was about halfway through town when I heard my name being called from across the street. When I looked around myself for the source of the shout, I saw that stranger jogging up to me. "Hey, Kevin, right? What are you doing all the way down here? Does Rowen know where you are?"

This man was the last person I wanted to see. "He's not my dad, and I don't have to tell him where I'm going," I said.

The man wasn't a fool. He knew I was angry and he bowed his head shamefully. "I want to apologize," the man said, sighing. "I didn't mean to scare you. If I'd known who you were, I'd have never done that."

I crossed my arms, letting my irritation show in my attitude. "So, what you're saying is that you'll just do it to some other teenager who happens to step on your grass? Real apologetic," I retorted. I turned on my heel and began walking away.

He hurried to keep up with me. "That's not what I meant. I was taking care of my home," he insisted. "I have trust issues."

I rolled my eyes at his lousy excuse and kept walking. I quickened my pace, hoping to lose him around a corner or something, but he stayed in step with me and I finally ended up stopping and turning to him with a glare. "Go away," I said.

"Rowen told me what happened," he said. "If you need to talk-"

"I don't care what Rowen told you," I snapped, "and I don't want to talk to anyone, least of all, you."

Thankfully, he didn't follow me this time as I made my way back towards the road up to the cabin. However, the closer I got to the cabin, the less I wanted to return. I considered, again, staying in the woods if only for the night, but I knew Rowen would go on a rampage if I did. He'd tear up the entire forest looking for me while I froze. I would go back to the cabin, but I wouldn't have to like it.

For as much as I didn't want to be there, I was relieved to see the familiar warm lights glowing from the window panes. Rubbing the cold from my arms, I stepped onto the porch and reached for the door. I barely had a hand on the knob before it swung inward and Rowen looked out at me. His face flooded with relief. "You've been gone for over two hours," he said, grabbing my shoulders tightly. His eyes looked fierce, but his hair was in disarray and his bottom lip bled from where he had been anxiously chewing at it. "Where have you been?" he asked.

I pushed his hands away. "None of your business," I told him. I pushed past him and went into the kitchen. "Sit on the couch," I demanded, leaving no room for debate.

Though surprised by the firmness of my tone, Rowen obeyed. As I stood across from him, he said, "I'm sorry for not standing up for you back at Rick's."

"Why were you there if you didn't know where I was?" I asked, suspicious of a lie.

"I had a favor to ask of him," he said. "I was going to see if he would take you back home for me."

My aggression fading into confusion. "What?" I asked.

"He has a truck that can get through the flooding. I was there because I wanted him to take you back down the mountain," he explained.

*******

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