The cabin was situated on the edge of an expansive lake, and was as private as they could have hoped for.

  Ruddy glanced over at Teri. She was pale, but already looked better than she had at the bus station. “How are you feeling?” he asked.

  She yawned. “Tired.”

  Ruddy picked her up and carried her into the cabin. By the time he got her into the bed, she was breathing hard and sweating.

  “The numbing shot wore off, just like the doc said it would, didn’t it?”

  “It’s not bad,” she said.

  “Here, it’s been long enough. You can have a pain pill.” Ruddy struggled with the childproof cap on the bottle. It was too small for his thick fingers. “If I can just get these open ...”

  Teri shook her head. “I need to be able to hide us. If anyone see us, I’ll make them believe we’re a couple with a big dog. I can use him to scare off anyone who comes up, but I can’t do that if I’m drugged into a coma.”

  If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “Yeah, but who’s gonna come in the middle of the night?” Ruddy said. “I won’t let anyone mess with us, I promise.”

  “I know, Ruddy.” Teri squeezed his hand. “It doesn’t hurt much now that I’m lying down. I’ll be fine.”

  “Yeah, you’re probably right,” Ruddy said. I still wish you’d take the stupid pill.

  She smiled.

  He went to the kitchen to get her some water. When he returned, she was already asleep.

  This is the girl who rescued me from DSSA? he thought. She looked so small and vulnerable curled up on the bed.

  His stomach growled. They’d eaten some granola bars they’d found in the car but it hadn’t been enough.

  Where are we going to get food? I hope Teri can figure something out.

  He stretched out on the couch where he could keep an eye on her. Every time he dozed off, he remembered where he was and panicked.

  For the first time in life, he couldn’t pick up the phone and call his dad to get him out of trouble. No money, no cook, no driver. He didn’t even know where real people got food.

  I don’t know anything about anything, he thought. If it wasn’t for this kid, I’d be at DSSA having my brain erased. How are we going to make it a week if she can’t get out of bed? There’s no way we can survive …

  “Ruddy, I’m trying to sleep,” said Teri. “Stop worrying so much. We’ll figure everything out tomorrow, okay?”