I never realized how deep into the woods I had run, until we had to retrace our steps back to the car. Golden Eyes seemed to be in full commando mode, as he pulled me along by my elbow, pausing every now and then, to scan the premises for danger.

I had long legs, thanks to my height, but this guy was taller and the steps he was taking were too wide for me to keep up with. I glared at the back of his head, willing for him to trip over a stone or something so I could at least catch a breath.

"Could we maybe, stop for a bit? I....need...a....breather!" I was gasping, and my elbow was a bit sore from all the dragging along. Golden eyes spun on his heel, fixing me with a cold glare.

"Well need I remind you that this was all your fault? If you hadn't just stayed in the car, none of this would have happened!"

"'Stayed in the car'?! Are you kidding me? You tried to kidnap me and you expect me to go along with that? What kind of sane person does that?!" I was yelling by now, not caring where we were, or what danger I was supposedly in. The events of the evening were getting to me. 

Having your house invaded by a man with inhuman eyes, whom you saw murder someone in cold blood, and later save you from a demonically possessed woman with wings sprouting on her back and presently running for your life with the very same man, may or may not result in an emotional breakdown, sooner or later. 

"I was trying to protect you! Don't you still get it, Lena? I'm not the one you should be running from." With every word, he stepped towards me, until I was sandwiched between him and the trunk of a tree behind me.

There was just about an inch of a gap between us, his hands were at his sides, clutched into fists. I refused to lose eye contact, I wouldn't show weakness. I was fuming, fisting the fabric of my shirt in my hands, as I glared back at him with fervor.

His eyes weren't golden this time, they were the darkest grey. Like a brewing storm, barely under control. Emotions swam in there, too distinct, too veiled for me to figure out for certain what they were.
But for a moment I though I saw tears welling up in them which were followed by sudden sparks of gold, like lightening, and it was gone. I gasped and he immediately backed off, blinking his eyes rapidly.

"We need to get to the car. It's not safe," he said, his voice low, as he walked off. 

He was sad. But what about? And why did it make me so sad? It was a weird moment back there when I almost felt connected to him, in a sense that I felt the sadness that he was feeling just then. Almost like the sorrow was directed at me. But like we shared it. 

I stood there for a few seconds, pressed against the tree, before I followed him. The lunatic was speed walking away, and I had to sprint to catch up with him. When I finally did, he refused to acknowledge me, looking anywhere but in my direction.

Frowning, I put my head down, concentrating on avoiding the thick roots and sharp stones that lay on the forest floor. After about 30 whole minutes of trudging around the woods, we finally reached the highway.

When I saw the lights of the car peeking through the trees, I nearly ran towards it. But I was just too drained, this day had been too much. Initially when we were walking, I plotted on taking the car for myself and ditching Golden Eyes. But now my adrenaline was used up, and all I could think about was curling up in those vinyl seats.

I glanced to my side, but he hardly seemed aware of his surroundings. His hands were deep in the pocket of his jacket, and his face looked almost thoughtful, and faraway. I looked back to the car, and back at him. Maybe if I....

"Dont even think about it."

My head whipped to the side, and he gave me a bored look. I could feel my face getting warm, he seemed to have noticed it too because he let out a dry chuckle at the sight of it.

"Get in the car, Lena."

Huffing I walked to the passenger door, with my arms crossed over my chest, as I tossed him a defiant look.

"You don't tell me what to do here. I'll get in the car because I don't want to see any more creepy guys, besides you, or any more assassins. I'm getting in the car because I want to!"

I slammed the door shut behind me with extra force for emphasis.

Although I regretted the moment I did it, because my shoulder was still sore and that sent a sharp twinge of pain through my arm.

He got in the driver's seat, jaw clenched, and eyes not meeting mine. I sat facing the window, rubbing at my arm, as he turned on the ignition and the heater sparked up, sending waves of warm air through the car. Placing my hands over the vent, I closed my eyes and let myself relax.

"Erik."

For a moment, I thought he let out a hiccup. Opening my eyes, I gave him a questioning look, shooting an eyebrow up.

"Sorry?"

"My name. It's Erik. Erik Hayes."

He kept his eyes fixed on the road. His jaw still remained clenched as his eyes shifted between the road and his hands on the steering wheel. I sat back in my seat and continued to watch him. He grew more and more antsy under my scrutiny, and eventually turned to look at me.  

"Finally!" I tossed my hands up in the air, rolling my eyes at his stubbornness.

"What?" He sounded irritated, almost embarrassed. His resolve hadn't entirely dissolved, but I could see I'd managed to make a chip in his armor. I'd gotten his name out of him after all.

"Do you often forget to exchange names with the random girls you kidnap?"

"Well they only want one thing, and its not my name." He turned to look at me, an arrogant smirk made its way onto his face, and I must say, it looked better than the Grumpy version of him. Although anger gave him a smoldering hotness...

No, no, no. Wrong train of thought.

"Eww, gross!"

I said out aloud, shaking my head at the thought. What the hell was wrong with me? He laughed at my exclamation, thinking it was over his comment. Maybe I was developing Stockholm syndrome. I needed to get away from him ASAP.

"Where are we going? You still haven't answered that question of mine."

He didn't answer me immediately, but rapped his fingers across the steering wheel. His face was scrunched up, and he nibbled at his lower lip. Probably thinking of a way to lie to me. I narrowed my eyes at him.

Before I could call him out on his assumed tell, he spoke up.

"I'm taking you someplace safe, but you have to trust me, Lena. There's someone there who'll give you all the answers you need. You just have to be patient a little longer."

He turned and looked me full in the face.

"Trust me, alright?"

The intensity in his eyes made the words clog up in my throat, so I just nodded. I couldn't not agree with his demands. Even though I wouldn't accept it out loud, deep down, some irrational part of my mind had come to trust him.

He did save my life, more than once.

A sense of comforting silence settled around us. I molded myself into the seat, making it as comfortable as I could. Laying my head against the window, I tucked my legs under me. It was an awkward position, given my legs didn't fit in the seat entirely, but I made do. As I pushed myself against the window, my shoulder scraped against it, and I let out a hiss at the throe.

"You alright?" he asked concernedly, taking his eyes off the road to inspect me.

"I'm fine! My shoulder is just sore from the fall. Just, keep driving." I bit out, although my shoulder continued to throb.

"Are you sure? I think it would be better if you lay down in the back, you don't look very comfortable there," he eyed my legs, cramped up under me.

"No it's alright, I'm alright," I assured him, waving my hand at the wheel, telling him to keep driving.

"Fine" he breathed deeply out his nose, facing the road again, resuming his position. But I continued to look at him.

Little did I know, that my routinic life would ever have such a twist. I had a feeling there were more surprises to come. The night was still young.

But one thing I knew was, I trusted him. It was true, all he had done was save me.
But that wasn't the only reason. I decided to trust him, because he promised me answers. And there were several lacunae in my life, that left me questioning my identity and existence.
Questions that were often ignored and more than often, I had been yelled at for asking. But here he was, offering the answers. And I decided to take it up.

He wasn't the one who wanted hurt me. But there evidently were people, no, things out there to get me. The thought of it made my insides squirm.

Was I going to die?

No.

As long as he was here, I knew that he wouldn't let anything happen to me. A hopeful smile slipped onto my face.

"Erik?"

I saw his eyes widen a little, before he turned to look at me, giving me the same look I had given him when he told me his name.

"Thank you."

 I smiled at him, and he did the same. I closed my eyes, the sight of his smile etched behind my closed lids, and allowed sleep to take over.

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