"Not so fast!"

Eric and I halt in our tracks and raise both of our arms above our heads. We turn back solemnly and the sight has us laughing.

"Oh cheesecakes! I thought they must have caught us", I say throwing my head backwards as I laugh some more.

"Well let's hurry up before they stop us for real this time". I remove the glasses and hope he doesn't recognize me.

"Sure. Just follow me I know where to go", I say, sprinting forward. I need to get this dude a disguise.

It turns out the 'Not so fast' wasn't directed at us. It was an angry mother cautioning her stray child amidst the commotion.

I slow down my pace a bit so Eric can catch up. Looks like he isn't cut out for running. I do a sharp left turn and land in an alley. I slow my pace drastically as the floor here is wet and slippery.

I duck beneath a broken wall and beckon for Eric to do the same. He looks scared and I roll my eyes.

"Surely the famous billionaire's son knows how to cross a wall"

"It's dirty", he states casually.

"Are you coming or not?", I ask impatiently, they might catch you alright but if they catch me I'm toast.

He gingerly bends down and crosses over successfully. I beam at him and take off again.

"Where are you taking me to? Surely you aren't a serial killer are you?", he asks as he runs beside me, shouting a little.

"Oh I am! I am taking you to my slaughter house", I reply dryly.

"Sassy and Sarcastic I see", he mumbles, smiling.

Wow! I can't believe I ended up with Eric. Eric Wilder! Is this how fate works? I mean, what was he doing in that bowling Arcade?

Doesn't he have a private bowling arcade just to himself? And why was he surrounded by so many securities?

So many questions dance through my head as I stop in front of our temporary destination.

Okay I've had enough of all this acting. Where are the hidden cameras? Surely this can't be real?

"A boutique?", Eric questions with a raised eyebrow as we arrive our temporary destination.

"Yea you need a disguise of course", I say ushering him inside.

How do I act around a popular being? Normal? Cool? Weird? Bold?

How do you want people to act around you?

I want them to act normal, but they are all scared of me. They believe I killed Asher Hudson. I just want to clear my name.

I sigh in exasperation.

"How does this disguise look?", Eric asks coming out from the changing room.

Woah! He looks cooler in shorts and shirt. With the shades too. And damn those legs.

"I don't know", I reply meekly.
This isn't you Samantha. You are friendly and nice. Act so!

He gives me a sceptical look and I clear my throat.

"Well you definitely look like not Eric", I say distractedly as I stare shamelessly at his legs.

"Oh My World!"

I whip my head back to the sound of the voice and doing so, my scarf falls from my head.

I wince in embarrassment as I notice that it is just a bunch of fan girls who enters the boutique.

From my peripheral vision, I see a flash of recognition play across Eric's eyes before disappearing, like it was never there.

I bend down and hurriedly put the shades back on. I put on the scarf and get up before turning back again to face Eric proper.
I hope he didn't recognize me easily.

Eric takes a photo with them and gives them his autograph.

"Okay, some people can recognize you so go back in there and get a new disguise", I order.

He does so and comes out in a holiday outfit.

"Are you so edgy and uncomfortable around people?",he asks as we leave the boutique after paying for the clothes.

"Edgy? I am not edgy? Am I edgy and uncomfortable around you?", I ask trying to change the topic.

"Oh come on! You know what I mean"

"I do? Do I?"

"Ah fuck! I mean are you always so jumpy around people? It's like you're suspecting everyone for something"

"No I am not!", I fiercely say.

As if to prove my disposition wrong, I spot two FBIAs and I freeze in my spot. Making Eric come to a complete halt beside me. He looks at me in consternation.

"Why don't we just take the other route?", I mutter under my breath.

As we turn to take the other route, we spot Eric's security team. We freeze. Now we are trapped

Think fast Samantha! What to do? What to do?

"Hey Wilder! Besides English what language do you speak?", I mutter beneath my breath and cast a glance at both sides. Both teams were approaching us... Fast!

"Uh... Um French, Spanish and German", he whispers underneath his breath.

He speaks German? Well that's rare. Oh no! They're so close.

"Whatever you do, don't speak English. Pretend like you don't understand a thing. Roger that?", I ask clasping our hands together

"Roger that", he says as he holds on to my hand tightly.

Okay maybe not acting, maybe a dream. Very funny dream, I've slept long enough now, can I wake up?

We make a move to walk past Eric's security team.

"Excuse me ma'am. Excuse me sir. Just a minute", an FBIA calls.

Nope! Definitely not a dream.

"beziehen Sie sich auf uns?", I ask feigning a confused expression.
(Translation: are you referring to us?)

"Excuse me. We would like a word", one of Eric's security team calls after catching up.

"was hast du gesagt?", Eric asks in a monotone accent. Clearly he's not too fluent with the language. Maybe I should have opted for French I muse mentally slapping my palm against my forehead, hoping he doesn't blow our cover
(Translation: what are you saying?)

"We are looking for Samantha Montero and was wondering if you've seen her anywhere nearby?", another FBIA asks.

"Ich verstehe dich nicht?  sagst du etwas", i ask again.
(Translation: I don't get you! Are you saying something?)

"This picture, have you seen it?", the FBIA asks, pointing a small portrait at us?

"Picture?"

"Yes yes, this one. Have you seen it?"

"N..n..n..no! S..s...sorry", Eric says as he pretends to battle with the word.

"Sorry for bothering you. Have a good day!", he says leaving.

I and Eric look at each other and shrug.

"Um excuse me we are looking for Eric. This dude right here",one of Eric's security team states.

"Eric? Eric! Eric!", I say pretending to test the word.

"Fuck it's hopeless, let's just go", one of them voice out.

As soon as their retreating figures are out of sight. I grab Eric's hand and make a move to run but he remains stagnant.

"You're Samantha Montero aren't you? Finn Montero's daughter? The one who killed Asher Hudson?"

Should I play ignorance? Should I come out clean?

"Why don't we go somewhere private?"

He reluctantly follows me and I let out a mini sigh of relief

Fifteen minutes later, we arrive at a lake. A rather desolate lake. Thankfully no one is available. Just us.

This feels so surreal. I'm with a celebrity. Alone! If anyone had told me a few weeks ago that I'd be meeting Eric Wilder, I'd have probably laughed at their naivety.

"Well this is private enough", Eric says harshly. I wince from the tone of his voice.
Hot tears form at the base of my eyes making me remember my mom and home.
I miss you ma!

Stupid tears! Stupid emotional me!

"Well yes! I am Samantha Montero. Daughter of late Finn Montero. The one and only Samantha who is falsely accused of killing Asher", I say as so much bitterness laces my tone.

I take off my scarf and my shades. Revealing my brown hair and grey eyes. I cast a glance at my reflection in the water.

I look horrible!

I look back at him and I come face to face with a passive expression.

"Oh shit!", I mutter under my breath as I spot three MI6 right behind him.

"Don't bother saying anything. You'll never see me again", I solemnly say as I turn on my heels and take off.

Christ! How could I have been such a fool? Of course these people are trained smart asses. Of course, little disguises can't throw them off. I run and run because that's the only thing I'm good at

Shit! I hope I get out of this one. I do a zigzag turn and land in the middle of an uncompleted building right in the middle of nowhere.

I put on my scarf and pocket my shades.

"Am I lost? Surely I can't be. I am still in Australia right?"

I bring out my compass and it tells me in the West of somewhere.

I begin to walk. I walk for a very long time until I begin to feel my boots become soggy. I check my backpack I've been carrying for anything eatable.

"Oh my! There are lots of eatable things here. I better manage my limited snacks"

I take out a pack of oreos and begin to munch on it.

I trott sluggishly across a farmland and spot a farmer.

"Hey. Good evening sir. Do you mind telling me where I am?"

"Hey young one! You're in Indonesia, you must have passed the maritime boundary between Australia and us"

So that lake is the boundary between Australia and Indonesia.

"You look lost dear. Is everything the matter?"

For some unknown reason, hot tears burns at the back of my eyes. Samantha keep calm. Keep calm.

Who killed Asher?

"I am an explorer so I got a little lost. Do you mind showing me the way to the train station"

The way I lie easily is completely beyond me.

"Oh my! It's very late. As you can see, I am on my way home why don't you come with me and first thing at the break of dawn, I will take you to the train station?", he questions dearly.

"Oh that would be so kind of you sir. Thank you for your hospitality", I say, praying for the threatening tears not to spill.

"Oh no worries angel. Come, follow me. My wife would prepare you a hot bath and some soup. Weather forecasts says there's gonna be a storm tonight", the old man says as he picks up his basket and his tools.

"Oh let me help you with that sir", I say as my manners kicks in. He hands me the basket and trudges on.

He begins to tell me his life story and I only interrupt when I need to ask questions.

For some unfathomable reason, my mind wanders to Eric. I hope he's okay!

"Here we are!", the man announces as we arrive.

"Put them over there and follow me", he gestures and I do as I am an told. I suddenly feel the cool breeze and chills running down my spine. The storm is coming.

"Stacey! We've got guest".

A very robust looking woman emerges from the kitchen. Everything about her is just so round and petite. She's a fine woman. From her grey hair, to her small, round, black eyes, she's pretty fine.

"Welcome home Devan and wow such a lovely young lady", the woman squeals as she pinches my cheeks. My ears blossom red with embarrassment.

"Good day ma'am. I am an explorer and bumped into your husband in the bush. But don't worry, he promised to take me to the bus station first thing at dawn. So I will be out of your hair in no time", I rant. Samantha learn to talk less.

"Devan, she talks a lot", Stacey beams at her husband.

"And don't be silly, I love company. Come let me prepare you a bath and a fine soup. Weather forecast says there's gonna be a storm. Anyways once you're done with your supper, we'll knit by the fire and tell stories"

"Oh Stacey sweetheart! You talk a lot too"

"I know honey"

She whispers lovingly as she moves me to my room and gives me a change of clothes and some mufflers and winter cap.

Surely the storm is going to be heavy.

As I shower, I think about my own storm that I've been nursing for over a decade, my own hurt I've been bottling up long before the Asher incident.

As long as I live, I will always blame myself for that incident.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
Eric: What a chapter!

Author: yea what a chapter!

Eric: I'm referring to the errors.

Samantha: the earlier you get used to it the better.

Author: *snickers*

Samantha: I miss my mama. When will this be over?

Author: it depends on our dear readers.

Samantha: oh dear readers please vote if you want this to be over. I'm so tired of running and it seems our author has no plans of ending the run

Author: oh please. You're such whiny little girl. don't forget to comment your sincere thoughts in the comment box below.

Eric: also, don't forget to tell a friend, and that friend should also tell a friend till we create awareness.

Samantha: thank you all for reading, thanks for the votes, thanks for the comments. Please keep them coming in.
And do stay safe during this corona virus period. My heart goes out to victims of police brutality in Nigeria. We love you. ❤ 😘 😍