Page 29 of Bishop

Frank comes back out from the back with his coat on and some more sweaters for the girls. He's also carrying what looks like a big tarp in his hands. "I figure if you guys are on the run, you might not want anyone to see you. Y'all can lie down in the bed of my truck with this draped over you."

I nod my head. It's a good idea, except it puts me at a disadvantage. If I'm covered up, I can't see where exactly he's taking us.

Both April and Gabrielle look at me, waiting for me to give them the go-ahead to get into the truck. If I make the wrong decision, it'll hurt not just me but these two as well. The problem is, I don't have the time to flip-flop about this. We need to get going.

"Yeah, okay. Let's go." I turn toward the door, but Frank rushes to get there in front of me. He pokes his head out to make sure no one is in the immediate vicinity before turning back to me.

"Let me get the truck and pull it up front. You all can slide in the back under the tarp, hopefully without anyone seeing you."

"You have many neighbors out here?" I ask, my eyebrow hitching.

"Not neighbors, but there's the odd hunter every now and again."

I don't want any hunters to see us either. It'll only take one person to tell Liam and Shade where we are. One mistake could mean the end for us.

"Okay, be careful." I stand away from the door as Frank bundles the tarp in his arms and leaves the three of us in the house, waiting for his return.

"It's going to be alright now, right? I mean, he's going to help us?" April asks, her eyes wide as they bounce back and forth between Gabrielle and me.

"Yeah, he'll help us. One way or another," I add. When April gulps hard, I know she gets my meaning. If I have to kill the old man to get us out of here, I will. I hate that I've had to come to this, but this isn't about my morality right now; it's about survival.

I'll do anything to make sure that we all get out of here. I can't lose anyone else, not after what happened to Uma and Willa.

In the background, I hear an engine start up, and a second after that, wheels coming in our direction. It stops right in front of the door, and a second later, Frank opens the door and ushers the three of us under the tarp he has laid out in the back.

April is the first to get in, followed by Gabrielle. Instead of going in head first like the girls, I go in feet first so my head is lying near the edge of the truck bed. I want to be able to pull the tarp back and see where I am.

Frank makes a face when he realizes I don't trust him enough to let him keep my head covered, but I couldn't care less.

After that, everything seems to happen so fast. One minute we were in the safety and warmth of Frank's cabin, then we were driving along a rocky road down a mountain in the forest. I don't even have a clue where I am. But the drive gives me long enough to think about all the worst things that could happen. What if the guards are waiting at the general store when we get there? What if we run into some people from the Faceless who tell Liam and Shade where we're off to? What if Frank is leading us to the edge of a cliff where he can jump out of the car and let us careen over the edge? The longer I stay in the back of the car, the more wild my what-ifs become.

It's not until I feel Gabrielle and April wrap themselves around my legs that I start to feel even the least bit calm. If I'm with them, it's going to be alright. No matter what happens, even if this is the end for us, we gave it our best shot to get out of there, and even though there were some casualties along the way, I don't think I'd have changed my decision to break out when we did.

The rocking back and forth of the truck acted almost like a lullaby, and my tired, aching, feverish body basically demanded that I rest. My eyes are heavy and everything hurts.

I could just rest my eyes for one minute. That's all I need, just a minute.

The second my eyes close, the truck comes to a screeching halt. I peel back the tarp and look around. I don't see any trees, just open blue sky.

"Bishop! We've stopped. Do we get out? Is it safe?" Gabrielle whispers from where she is.

"Hold on." I whisper back. I could lift my head, but I'm scared. What if the first person I see is Liam? I don't know how I'd be able to handle that. Gathering up the last remains of my energy and my bravery, I lift the tarp slightly and lift my head out of the truck bed so I can look around. We're in a parking lot. Frank was being honest.

"I think it's okay." I scramble out of the tarp and hop over the lip of the truck bed, landing hard on my feet. The impact jars my bones, and I have to put my hand to my mouth to keep from vomiting. I feel like I might keel over at any second. I know it's cold outside, but my body feels like it's being baked alive.

I don't wait for Frank to walk me in. Instead, I stand as tall as I can and speed walk in the direction of the general store. Two people walk out, and when they see me, they scurry off to the side like I'm a wild animal. I am. I'm an animal ready and willing to attack at the slightest provocation.

I basically stumple into the small general store and everyone stops what thier doing to look at me. I beeline straight for the cashier and almost collapse onto the counter. "Please, I need a phone."

The man stares at me with saucers for eyes, his mouth hanging open slightly before he nods and reaches behind him for the cordless phone. He hands it to me and I craddle it in my fingers for a second like it's the holy grail. Trembling, I dial the number to the clubhouse. I have to start over a few times because I pressed the wrong buttons. Finally I get it right and place the phone to my ear. I want to cry in relief the second I hear ringing.

Such relief. It's almost over. Almost.

"Djinn. State your business." A voice I don't know answers the phone. I don't want to talk to him.

"Get Wyatt."

"Who's this?"