Chapter 46

FORTY-SIX

Rainbow

Heart pounding, Shiloh followed Callie from the cabin. It was a trial run. They couldn't risk leaving now in daylight. If Evan hunted them down, the underbrush hadn't regenerated enough regrowth to hide them. At night would be their best chance, regardless of the risk of wildlife. They'd worried about the cameras seeing them and spent hours searching each room for the tiny peepholes. They'd found them, opposite the bed and in the bathroom. It seemed Evan wasn't interested in what they did in other parts of the house. This made it easier for them to plan their escape and they'd waited until they heard the sound of a vehicle moving away. Without a clock they had no idea of the time and went on the intervals between meals. Each took turns listening with one ear pressed against the food hatch. The lock on the door had opened without a problem. It seemed that Callie was as experienced in cracking locks as she'd insisted and managed it easily with a bent fork.

Cold wind smacked at Shiloh's face and flashed across her eyes like needles the moment she stepped outside. The building where Evan kept them was at least warm, as long as they kept the fire going and he left a good supply of wood for them. "Why don't we offer to take Bonnie with us? She's trapped here just like we are and it won't be long before the doctor takes you away. You really don't want that. He's a horrible man. I can't imagine living with him. He stinks of cigars."

"They both do." Callie pressed her back to a tree and scanned ahead. "Do you figure Bonnie will tell on us if she sees us?"

Shrugging, Shiloh looked at her. "I don't know. She doesn't talk to us at all does she? I don't know what Evan does to her. Maybe he beats her? She acts like a frightened mouse."

"Hmm." Callie headed for the house, moving from one tree to the other. "All the reason to be running away with us." She turned as Shiloh moved to her side. "She must want to escape and she'd be able to find us supplies. If we plan to survive even one night, we'll need food and coats. He must have our coats inside the house. She'd know where everything is kept."

Stomach flip-flopping, Shiloh crept toward the back door and pressed against the wall. The cold from the logs seeped through her clothes and raised goosebumps on her arms. They'd only been outside for a few minutes and her teeth chattered like castanets. She placed one hand on the doorknob. The ice-cold metal bit into her flesh as she turned the knob. The door opened and she peered inside. The house smelled of boiled cabbage and cigars. One thing for sure, Bonnie wasn't a good cook. She boiled everything and created a meal they called a forever stew. From the taste, she kept the pot boiling day and night and just added things to it.

"Go inside, we need to grab a few things we can use." Callie moved through the door. "We need to speak to Bonnie. If she won't come with us, we'll leave right away, or she'll tell on us when Evan comes home."

Following her, Shiloh spotted her coat hanging on a peg in the mudroom. She grabbed it and shrugged into it. "That's better. Is that your coat?" She pointed to a pink hoodie.

"Yeah, but I'll take the brown one." Bonnie took it down from the peg. "It will hide me better. It fits just fine." She pulled up the zipper. "Oh good, there are gloves in the pocket. "Now we need food and water. Maybe a backpack or something similar. Look around."

They found what they needed and filled two old and stained backpacks with anything useful but not too heavy. Shiloh heard footsteps and gripped Callie's arm. "Someone's coming."

They hid beside the washer as Bonnie walked into the kitchen and Shiloh gasped. To her dismay, Bonnie was carrying a chain that led to ankle manacles. Evan had chained her legs to prevent her from escaping when he was at work. Poor Bonnie needed to walk bent over to lift the chain so it didn't drag on the floor. Throwing caution to the wind, she stepped into the kitchen and startled Bonnie, who dropped the chain and one hand went to her mouth. Shiloh took a step toward her, hands outstretched. "Bonnie, don't be afraid. We need to get away from here, from Evan. He's evil. We're going to escape when Evan goes to sleep tonight. Come with us."

"You need to go now." Bonnie's eyes widened. "He's coming back before he goes to work. He's probably on his way. He only went to the doctor's cabin. He said he would be twenty minutes. He's angry. The doctor made him go to collect more beds. He's getting two more girls first thing in the morning. They'll be sharing with you."

Terrified, Shiloh gaped at her. "Okay, but we're leaving tonight and we'll need supplies. We need you to get them—and water and a first aid kit. Wear warm clothes. It's going to be freezing overnight."

"I'll get the supplies, but I'll stay here. I can't run in the chains and I'll slow you down." Bonnie pointed at her bruised ankles. "You go and get help. Send the cops."

"I can pick that lock, no worries." Callie smiled at her. "Just be ready to leave the moment Evan is asleep."

They headed for the door and in the distance Shiloh made out the sound of an engine. Panic twisted her stomach and she swallowed hard. "Run, we need to get back before he knows we're missing."

"One second." Callie was sifting through a tool kit open on the counter. She selected a few items and then smiled. "This will make things easier for picking locks and there's a pocketknife as well. We might need it."

Terrified, Shiloh grabbed her arm and dragged her out of the door. "We haven't got a second."

They took off, running back through the forest. Shiloh slowed to look behind her just as Evan's truck turned the corner. She ducked down and rolled in the grass. "He's coming."