When we reached the barn floor, I launched a discussion of strategy. Both of us were dusty and tired, Kael from tearing down the wall and I from the excitement of finding the jewel, but we had to have a plan.

"So, despite the dangers, our best option is still to go after Gideon directly," I half questioned, half stated.

He nodded, running his fingers along the large lump in his shirt pocket.

"The question is, how. Higgins must have discarded his phone, but don't worry about him or Madeline. I'll take care of them if we cross them again."

I chewed on my lip and flipped my dusty hair over my shoulder as I tried to help determine our next move.

"What about the safe house you mentioned? The one that you guys would use in emergencies? Guntha?" I pressed.

"Yes. The village is a couple miles east of here. I could see him going there but perhaps not staying there. It's close to Mason's group and difficult to stay out there unnoticed. They know what Gideon looks like and all their efforts would be focused on him if they knew he was that close."

"But it's a start," I argued. Right now, we had close to nothing in leads. "There's something else," I said petulantly. One of his eyebrows came up so I went on, seeing I had his attention, "I don't want to be useless anymore. I want you... I need you to show me how to do some stuff."

"Stuff being?"

"You know. Fight, defend myself, something! Every time we get in an altercation, I feel like I'm back in the middle of the street, vulnerable, handcuffed to you, and weighing you down. I just want to be able to help in the future." I couldn't read his expression so I went on, "just the basics. I know I'm not going to be able to do whatever it is you do." I waved my hands in the air in explanation.

He actually laughed and consented, "Alright, Harper. I'll show you some basics. Then, we need to leave."

I breathed a small sigh of relief. I hadn't been sure if he would take my request seriously. Considering our current situation, I had to abandon my familiar strategy of running from danger and learn how to face it for the first time in my life.

I hadn't expected immediate instruction, but when Kael removed his jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, my heart started pounding.

We stood facing each other for a second. Kael seemed to be deciding what to teach first. He moved toward me, and I backed up, holding up a hand. "Wai...wait. Don't hurt me, ok? I don't want any serious instruction."

"Yeah, alright."

He started toward me again, but I backed up further, brushing a strand of hair back from my face.

"And," I said as I pushed up my sleeves, trying to get ready, trying to delay. "Let's not make this too authentic ok? I don't want to be all..." I twisted my hands in the air, trying to think of the word.

"I'm not following."

Leaning forward, he placed his hands on bent knees and waited for me to unscramble my thoughts.

"I don't want to be all tangled in you, ok? That's what I mean." I wasn't sure that my words had come out as intended, but he had to understand the idea behind them.

"Don't hurt you, don't touch you. Got it."

Moments later, he stood just in front of me, telling me where to put my hands to use his own force against him, thus interrupting his attempts toward my throat, my face. It was amazing how much sense self-defense strategies made when he explained it. Despite the instruction, I harbored doubts that I would be capable of using these tools when actually threatened. We reviewed several times, each time ensuring I did the moves correctly.

"Say I'm behind you," he said and took my shoulders. Turning me around placed him behind me and a small measure of panic rose inside me. I was able to suppress it, knowing it was irrational. He won't hurt me, I reminded myself. I focused on the beam just in front of me. Wiping my damp palms on my thighs, I refocused on his words, "My hands are right at your throat. So you would..." He went on, but I didn't hear him. In a flash all the horrible images came back to me. I saw Madeline, the cell, the small blade. Every detail was there. I could feel the tension in my neck, her sickly sweet voice in my ear drowning out Kael's deep one, and the room grew darker and darker.

"No!" I cried out suddenly, moving a few steps away. "I can't, I just can't!" I was visibly shaking. I couldn't control the trembling and it grew worse by the second. "There's just too much like before. I can see her." I put my hands on my waist, let them drop, then nervously wiped a sweaty palm across my brow. Still unsure of what was happening to me, I headed over to the wooden steps to the loft and shakily took a seat.

Kael stayed where he was, watching me.

"I'm sorry," I gasped, "but with you behind me, it just reminded me of when Madeline..." Her name on my tongue made my stomach roll. I stopped talking.

He came over to stand by me then. Dropping down to put a hand on my shoulder, he said gently, "I should have thought of that. It's ok."

I sat staring at the wooden floors, wondering how long she would have an effect on me. I was so tired of the paralyzing fear the memories brought; yet I seemed powerless to control them. The room started to spin. I put my head down for a second to collect myself. Deep breaths, in and out. I gave myself a minute, finally lifting my face to see the room was still once again.

"Can we just talk through it?" I asked. Slightly embarrassed but more frustrated than anything, I didn't look at him when I asked. I was still convinced I could never break someone's hold on me like he had shown or hit them as recommended, but I didn't want to give up either.

"I've changed my mind."

He stood up, taking me with him with his grasp under my arm.

"What do you mean?" My voice betrayed my panic. I wished he hadn't witnessed my emotional breakdown, but I'd had no way to control it. The damage could be irreparable.

"Back to you hiding behind me. I'll do the fighting."

"I just wanted a back-up plan if we got separated."

He turned to face me, emphasizing his words with his hands, "Just remember. Hit them where it counts: face, neck, groin. Use their own force against them. And most importantly, scream." He gave me a half smile at the end of his short tutorial. Even if he found it amusing, it sounded like the perfect strategy to me.

"Got it. Thanks."

We headed back the house. I made a mental note of my instruction and tried to keep the flashbacks from sneaking into my mind by repeating them over and over in my head.

Agatha was still knitting on the sofa. I wondered if this was what she did all day. Her life hardly seemed stimulating, but I guessed the peaceful monotony was what she enjoyed. She didn't look up from her work, but asked simply, "You leaving?"

"Yes."

Kael walked over to the entrance and took a pair of keys off a hook by the door.

"What are you doing?" she demanded. Pushing a pink floral afghan off her lap she stood up and let her knitting fall to the floor.

Seeming not to notice her fury, Kael walked back towards me.

Her chubby index finger shot out and she scolded, "Hold on there. You aren't taking my car!"

"You don't drive, so yes I am."

He gripped the keys in his palm, as if daring her to argue further.

"That has nothing to do with anything! It's still stealing!"

She waddled over to us. Her face was turning a deep shade of red. "You hear him?" she said to me and then turned back to him, "Get your own car!"

"Kiley's not coming back, Agatha!" Kael exploded. He hadn't inherited her red locks, but he certainly had her temper. Angrily he continued, "If you decide you want another car to sit in your driveway, I'll send you one."

"Fine," she replied. Her stout chin rose an inch as she retorted, "Just take the car and leave."

"That's what I'm doing." As he spoke, Kael opened the door for me.

"Goodbye Agatha."

She crossed her arms, putting on her strong front.

"Well, just as well. I never saw you."

I felt awful about the parting words, but Kael nodded coolly, "That's right."

We left then, without looking behind us.

---

Kiley's car was an older model. Considering the square structure of the tan body, I guessed it to be from the 1980's. The engine took a few tries to start. Once it did, it made a strange whirring sound. Kael didn't seem too bothered by it, so I decided not to let it worry me either.

Most of the trip was spent in silence. Kael kept one eye on the road, one on his phone to navigate. I remembered him saying he didn't know where the outpost was, but Madeline had known.

Thinking about her made me shudder. The probability that she was still bound at the bottom of our boat was low. Perhaps it was my keen dislike for Higgins, but I didn't think he had enough decency to leave her there. She had proven to be a good tracker and fighter. Higgins needed both right now. Whatever his plans, I hoped he recognized that the woman would always put herself first.

The road curved until it finally straightened out along the side of a small cliff by the ocean. I looked out at the crashing waves and the gray sky, trying to get my mind off my rolling stomach. The landscape here reminded me so much of the bay at Harper Manor. I wondered if I would ever see it again. Even if I did survive this whole ordeal and rescue Garrett, I doubted things would go back to the way they were.

Ridding myself of this business would require that I turn all my intel over to the authorities. I shifted a little in my seat, uncomfortable thinking of getting Kael arrested when he sat right beside me. I kept my gaze out the window. In truth, this ending was inevitable.

I wondered if I should visit Kael in prison. I wouldn't visit my father of course. After what he'd put me through, I had lost most of my fascination with meeting him, but Kael had never hurt me. In more ways than I cared to admit, he'd helped me. I chanced a look in his direction, and found I was able to stare at his profile without drawing his attention. He was focusing on the road, still glancing occasionally at the map on his phone. Brows furrowed, he looked intent yet his expression was typical now that I knew him. I couldn't help but remember the smiling lad in the photos at Agatha's. I wished that side of him surfaced more often. After tensions had died down, I should visit him. After all, he'd risked his life to save me for no apparent reason. The meetings would be awkward at first. He would feel betrayed that I had turned him in after all he had done for me. I couldn't blame him.

Deep down, I wished I didn't have to follow through. But my conscience would never allow me to do otherwise. This was why I had to keep a strong sense of direction, not get distracted by emotions. The thought of the lives he had helped ruin, the innocents trafficked through Harper Manor with his supervision disgusted me beyond words. His only defense was that his upbringing had played a large part in his decision to participate in such a business.

Perhaps every year I would come over, pick up Agatha and head to the maximum security prison where he was held. We'd spend an hour or so in stilted, awkward conversation. Then, I'd take Agatha out for lunch or tea. We'd discuss how sad things had turned out for him. How we wished things could have ended differently.

I was so lost in my alternate reality that I failed to notice that Kael was now splitting his time between watching me and the road. His voice brought me back to reality, "What are you thinking about, Harper?"

I jumped and lied, "Oh gosh..." my voice shook slightly as I finished "...nothing really." I shifted in my seat, glancing his way and out the window. I began twisting my hair over my shoulder.

"You lie," he accused softly. A numb tingling crept down my spine.

I shouldn't have been thinking about these things while with him. He could sense my pensive mood. I wondered what he would think if I told him. What was the worst he could do? I abandoned that line of thought as soon as it came to me. Nevertheless, my curiosity got the better of me. I decided to be brutally honest. "I was deciding whether or not I should visit you in prison." I managed a casual tone as I said it and continued to twist my hair over my right shoulder as I spoke. Shoes off, I tucked my legs up under me waiting for his response.

"And? What did you decide?"

He kept his gaze on the road.

"You don't mind?"

I was surprised. I thought he'd be upset to hear how I anticipated this ordeal ending.

"Mind you visiting or thinking about it?"

He tapped his thumb on the steering wheel, the sides of his lips turning up a little.

"I guessed it was something along those lines by your face. I wouldn't worry about it," he said. I looked over at him. He didn't look concerned.

I shifted in my seat to face him and asked, "You really don't think I would turn you all in considering all I know?"

He glanced at me then turned his attention back to the road. "I think you'll try."

I wanted to ask him what gave him such irrational confidence but he tapped my shoulder, and said, "Look," while pointing out the window. I turned to see us passing a low sign reading Welcome to Guntha: Population 530.

"Small town," I observed.

"Yep. Perfect."

The little village was set right beside the water, with an authentic English feel. Numerous homes boasted old-fashioned thatched roofs, and tall black lamp posts lined the town's cobblestone streets.

"How much further?" I asked. My hair was perpetually wrapped around my fingers as I inspected the area.

He glanced down at his phone again, swiping the screen a few times before he answered. "Should be... just on the other side of town. We're in Mason territory now, so we'd best keep our heads down."

I nodded, not knowing what he meant. We were through town in a matter of minutes, despite the slow speed limit. On the outskirts of town, the landscape could be better appreciated. A wide expanse of heather was softly blowing in blankets of pale purple to our left, like ballerinas moving to music in unison. The light blue ocean lapped to the right. The road continued to wind through the countryside reminiscent of the days when the road was nothing more than a sheep path. Up ahead, I suddenly noticed an imposing wide stone structure. It strongly resembled a bunker.

*****

What do you think we'll find here? Gideon?? More adventures to come!

*****