"You're going to fly home on your own?" Eddy asked as I shoved all of my belongings into a single suitcase. He hadn't even raised an eyebrow when  I pounded on the door of the little house, but the questions were coming out now. "Are you sure that's the right idea? Didn't you just run away from there?"

"Yes. It's the best option. I have enough ID and enough of a paper trail that I can move around more freely. I just have to lay low for a while."

"Kaia, what are you running from? Are you even a legal Canadian citizen?" Eddy demanded. "Does this have to do with your water powers?"

"My water powers?" I repeated, my brow furrowing. My fingers froze over the brass latches of my luggage. "How did you know? How long have you known?"

"Long enough. You got lazy about hiding it a couple months in," he explained with a casual shrug, like he had found a hidden bottle of alcohol. He knew that I wasn't all human and the most reaction he had was mild curiosity. 

And I trusted Eddy. I had trusted him for as long as I had known him, he said what he meant and he had done everything he could have to help me. We always had some kind of unspoken bond and despite his rough edges he was an honest man. But this was all too strange, there was too many coincidences happening in such a short span of time. 

"Who did you tell?" I barked, taking a step towards him. "Who did you send after me?"

"I didn't tell anyone. Calm down, girl. It's not like I don't enjoy having you around. I would never do that to you. You should know that by now. Who would believe me if I told them anyway? They would just think I was some crazy old man with a brain that was giving out on him."

"But how would they know where I am?" I whispered, now speaking to myself as I began pacing. Christ this was all so messed up but there had to be a leak somewhere because there was no way all these little occurrences would just keep happening. 

"Is it those boys who were on my driveway when we were leaving?"

I only nodded my head.

"They're here in Scotland?"

"Well, one of them is. And we keep running into each other. He found me at the river here. I ordered him away and he was able to remember it. No one ever remembers when I command them. Then, he found me in a park. That's why I went to Glasgow. But he was there too! He was in the library I was in and at a restaurant where I was eating. There is no way those things all just happened," I ranted. "They have to have information coming from somewhere."

"I'm coming home with you," Eddy announced. 

"No!" I shouted, then softer, "No, I can't risk that. We'll be safer split up. Besides, if they're watching both of us they might think that I wouldn't leave the country without you. It might throw them off because we have been together for so long."

"Kaia-"

"I'm not changing my mind. I'm leaving now and you aren't coming with me."

"Fine, then I'm going to help you one last time. When you get to the house, go to my bedroom. I have an old dresser against the back wall. In the top drawer on the right hand side is some money. Should be about three grand in cash-"

"Eddy," I interupted.

He held up a hand to silence me. "You're going to need it to get back on your feet. How are you going to pay for rent with no job? And take my car. It's more reliable than yours. In my glove box there is a map of crown land. Get in the car and follow the route I have marked out. It will take you to my hunting cabin. It's only about an hour away, but it's stocked with some canned food and it's close to a river. The forest is so thick that anyone following you would likely get lost, most cars can't make the trail and the canopy is so dense that a helicopter wouldn't be able to see the car."

"Eddy, I can't ask you for this."

"I know, that's why I'm demanding that you take it. This is all the help I can offer. If you really think someone is following you then falling off the grid is the best way to go about it. And there is a gun out there. If you need to use it, no one will find out for a long time. And for the love of God Kaia, stop worrying about other people. If you need to break the law and you need to use your powers to keep yourself alive, then do it."

We booked my flight for the next morning together. I gave him a big squeeze, wrapping my arms around his body and holding on with all my might. In the back of my mind I knew this might be the last time I saw him, but I refused to acknowledge the thought, knowing I would break down.

I set off at the crack of dawn after having one last coffee with Eddy.

I was constantly looking over my shoulder on the street, on the bus, and on the train. I thought I would see Easton everywhere, waiting for me. He would cock his head to one side and ask me why I was leaving so soon, why I hadn't called him. But he wasn't there and the majority of the train cars and buses were almost empty at this hour. It would have been easy to spot anyone following me, green eyed or not.

I made it through the airport without many issues, though my anxious state did clue officers to the fact that something might be a little off. But my passport was scanned about a dozen times, never failing me as much as my sweaty palms and twitchy behavior did. My carry-on was swabbed as were my palms and my waistband, but I was free to go.

I got on the plane without any major hiccups and even had time to purchase two paperbacks before my flight. It was the last luxury I would allow myself.

When I landed in Canada again I was on high alert. I kept thinking that I had only seen Easton in Scotland, not his companion. There was a chance that his friend had been left to stake out Eddy's house, waiting for me to do something exactly like this. But I didn't have much choice now. I needed to go to the house for the money and for the rest of my stuff, things that would allow me to get another job and start over. 

I pulled into the driveway after I determined no one was following me, slowing Eddy's old CRV to a crawl. My eyes scanned continuously, looking for movement, a human face, a patch of fur, anything that would lead me to believe I was not alone.

Nothing.

I stood on the porch and strained my ears after I parked the car, listening for anyone who could be hiding in the house. 

Nothing.

I darted around the house once I determined it was safe. I grabbed everything of mine that held any value. I felt a twang of guilt when I took the money from Eddy, but knew that it was best for the both of us. He would be much safer if he never saw me again.

Once the SUV was packed up, I drove to a tiny, local grocery store. I knew the owners personally, having given their only child swimming lessons I usually got discounts here. Plus, the store was so old and so small that I doubted it had security footage or any monitoring system that could be used against me. I bought everything I might need, reminding myself that there was no running water, no washing machine, and no bathtub.

I paid for everything with cash then pulled out Eddy's map. I drove out into the Albertan foothills, following his jagged lines, dipping onto the highway occasionally, but mostly keeping to gravel roads until there was almost no road to speak of. Hell, there wasn't even two tire tracks to follow. I glared down at the map, then at the non-existent road in front of me. This was it, whether I liked it or not.

I drove slowly, dipping into ruts, squishing soft moss, and bouncing over tree roots.  A few times I heard branches thump against the roof of the car or slap the windows. A couple times I almost got stuck in greasy mud, the tires spinning and my heart panicking right away. But, I could almost hear Eddy guiding me, helping me choose lines that would be easier on myself and the car. 

I was throttled around in the driver's seat for about forty minutes before I saw it.

The cabin, just as promised. Tiny and primitive. 

I parked the car under a tree and glanced up. Eddy was right, leaves damn near sealed me in. I would have a higher risk of running into a bear than another human being.

And that was just perfect.