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Kristina
Grandma Rose has always been a woman I’ve looked up to, respected, and valued as much as my own mother. There were times when I found her sudden mood swings odd. Her obsession with firearms, and her mandatory secret rooms within the house in which to hide—all red flags, I guess. But I always thought she was being paranoid.
It never occurred to me she might actually have a reason for her overprotective, somewhat obsessive, distrustful behavior. Since I brought Tiger home, she’s been a different person, but to know there’s more to it scares me.
“What?”
“I was ten years old when I had the misfortune of running into Gerard Radcliffe. Back then, our house was surrounded by tall, luscious trees all around. We didn’t have a paved road, just a dirt pathway leading up to house from the main street. Our little farm wasn’t easily accessible, but we were happy living in isolation.
“Pa had built me a treehouse high off the ground in the backyard. It was petite, but pretty—every little girl’s dream. I loved it.” Grandma’s eyes are on me, but her focus is somewhere far away. “One morning, soon after eating breakfast and helping Ma with the morning chores, I decided to go play with my dolls in my treehouse. I climbed the stairs Pa constructed out of leftover two-by-fours he’d used to build the garage, and imagine my shock when I found a young man, half dead, inside.”
Grandma hugs herself. “I got scared and ran off to tell Ma and Pa. Concerned, Pa took a shotgun to the man and threatened to blow his head to pieces if he so much as looked at Ma or me in a funny way. The man assured my parents he wasn’t a threat. After much deliberation, Pa and Ma took the man indoors, and nursed his injuries. He recovered quickly, told us about his ordeal with Gerard Radcliffe. Taking the man’s confession into consideration, Pa invited the man to stay in exchange for lending a hand around the farm. The man agreed.
“Drake, he called himself, was a hardworking man. Quiet, too, kept mostly to himself. Hardly ever spoke, but he was a decent lot, that one. But the longer he stayed, the more I realized he wasn’t an ordinary man.
“He was stronger than any man I’d ever seen, faster, too. I hardly noticed it at first, but being the observant child I was, it wasn’t long before I began comparing him to my own father, finding their obvious differences mind-boggling, yet intriguing. Occasionally, I’d see him chasing the dogs, playing around with them, and I could have sworn there was some form of communication going on. I’d hide in the bushes and hear him yip and bay at the dogs and I’ll tell ya, it was freaky.” She drops her gaze to the floor, sighing as she adds, “During the course of the weeks he lived with us, we formed a bond. He told me I reminded him of his daughter. He’d talked to me about what his life was before he was captured and taken to one of Gerard’s many locations.
“It was his kindness what won us over. Months passed, and we had settled into a comfortable routine. When Pa was too busy tending to the farm, he’d send Drake out to sell our crops. During one of these trips, Ma sent me along so that I could bring home a few yards of fabric she needed to sew me a dress.”
Grandma Rose complexion grows a shade paler than it had been moments before. “That was the last morning I’d see them alive.” She tilts her head slightly to the side, a single tear sliding down her left cheek. “Drake and I were on our way home after a successful sales trip, when he sensed trouble. Taking me into the woods, he circled around the house. We were almost upon the treehouse when I heard voices. I realized right away something was wrong. We didn’t get many visitors, and when we did it was usually the pastor and his wife, or Pa’s best friend and his family, which wasn’t very often. Twice a year, if that.
“This sounded like a large group of men. I found this abnormal, even more so because someone as big and strong as Drake was keeping himself from being spotted. Something had to be wrong. I knew it the second Drake urged me to hide behind a bush and stay down, but I didn’t listen. I peeked around the leaves and that’s when I saw the object of Drake’s fear.”
“Grandma,” I interrupt, unable to bear the sadness I can see on her face.
“Gerard Radcliffe didn’t look any older than Drake, mid-twenties maybe, with short, red hair and blue eyes, but what really caught my attention was the blood on his hands. I don’t...I knew Ma and Pa were gone.”
“The men left soon thereafter, but I knew they’d been looking for Drake. Because they didn’t find him, they killed my parents. Eliminate all witnesses, as they say. I was forced to take off afterwards. Drake took care of me, provided for me, raised me. We lived together until I met and fell in love with your grandfather.”
“Gerard isn’t a man to be taken lightly, Kristina. We will meet no mercy at his hands, should he catch us. I traveled this country for years before settling down here. And even then, I was scared to death he’d find me one day. I was ten when our paths crossed. I was well into my twenties when your grandfather and I settled and started a family.”
“I’ve lived in fear all my life. I had no reason to believe Gerard would recognize me, but I spent the majority of our first years living in this house looking over my shoulders. I went as far as changing my name, coloring my hair to make myself look more like Drake, and less like my parents.”
“Why didn’t you ever tell us this?”
“Why would I? Fifty long years have passed and I never heard of Gerard until today.”
“So you knew?” I look at Tiger, assessing him briefly before turning to Grandma Rose again. “That he’s not human?”
“I suspected it.” Grandma grabs my hands. “Now, we have little time to spare. Go upstairs and do as I requested. Please, Kristina. We need to get going.”
I slip out of Grandma’s grasp and run up to my room on the second floor. I find my old, maroon duffle bag and toss it on the bed on my way to the dresser. It’s small, and won’t be able to hold much, but Grandma did say to pack only the essentials.
I rummage through my drawers as quickly as I can, deciding on three tops, two pair of socks, one extra bra, and four undergarments. I fold and stuff them inside the duffel bag. I hurry to the closet, take out a pair of jeans, fold them, and put them in the bag with the rest of the clothes.
I decide to change into a clean outfit since I don’t have time to take a shower. I pull out another pair of jeans, a top, and a sweatshirt. I change, dump my dirty laundry into the hamper in my closet, and choose a pair of running shoes to put on.
Next, I run into the bathroom, grab my toothbrush and toss it inside my bag. My hairbrush, deodorant, and a couple of hairbands join the rest of my belongings. Packed with what I consider will cover my basic needs for the next few days, I run down the stairs to meet with Grandma.
I find the living room empty. So are the kitchen and the guest bedroom. Panic sets in again. I think to look upstairs. Maybe they’re in Steven’s room. I hope they are and she’s okay. Grandma Rose is with someone who’s not even human and I can’t help but worry.
I stop, halfway across the living room. Tiger isn’t human. How could I have made such a horrible decision as to bring him home?
“Kristina.”
I look up at the sound of Grandma’s voice. She’s descending the stairs with Tiger following closely behind her.
“Are you ready?” she asks.
“Yes.” I give her the once-over, noting she has no bag with her but Tiger does. “Where’s your backpack?”
“I’m not going with you.”
I think my heart stops. “No. No. We’re going together. I’m not leaving you.”
“Kristina—”
“No. I’m not going if you aren’t.” In my desperation, I grip her hand and shake it.
“Listen to me,” Grandma insists, reaching out to grab me by the shoulders again. “One of us needs to throw Gerard and his men off our trail. I’ve done this before. Drake taught me a few tricks. If I go with you, I’ll only be slowing you down. You two need to get as far away from this area as you can, and in a relatively short time.”
She lets go of my shoulders and produces a set of keys from her pocket, and a piece of paper. “Listen carefully, Kristina. Drive my truck to the first address on the list. When you get there, hide the truck in the barn, wait it out until nightfall, after which head into town to the bus station. Are you with me so far?”
I keep my mouth shut.
“West,” she continues, determined to get through to me. “Head west. Gerard will expect you to flee to more remote areas. Not farther into civilization.”
How does she know all this?
“You really expect me to go with him? Alone? And leave you behind?” I’m so scared I can’t think straight.
“Kristina, you have to go. I need you alive and safe.”
“Rose—”
“Tiger needs your help with something very important. This,” she lifts the paper so that I can see the names and addresses jotted down, “is a list of people who will help you along the way. They know about me, Drake, Gerard, and what this man does.”
Utterly and completely numb, I refuse to take the items she offers me. I’m in complete disbelief and denial. Why would she send me off with Tiger?
“There’s something else.” She turns to Tiger, and he hands over a large envelope she then offers to me. “In here is ten thousand dollars. It isn’t much, but it will take you to where you need to get to.”
I make no attempt at grabbing the envelope, paper, or the keys. Exasperated, Grandma yanks the duffel bag out of my hands, unzips it, and stuffs the money inside.
“In three days’ time I expect you to be at the second address in the list. This is how I plan to keep track of where you are, and if you’re safe. You will hear from me then. Do you understand me?”
I take the duffel bag she offers me. “How will I hear from you?”
“Don’t worry about that. You just do as I said.”
Am I really going to hear from her? Or is she only saying this to get me to leave?
“Grandma, please, don’t make me do this.” I choke on a sob. “You shouldn’t have to do this. Everything is my fault. I should have never—”
I feel Tiger’s eyes watching me, but I pay him no mind. A part of me can help but blame him, if only in part, for all this chaos.
“Stop that. This isn’t your fault. The only way I’m going to keep you safe is by sending you off. I will do my part to keep Gerard from finding you. I’ve hidden from him for fifty years. I can certainly do it a bit longer.”
She shoves the keys and the paper into my hands.
“Gerard has done much damage in his lifetime. He will do more if he catches Tiger. I’m doing this for us, for you, for Ma and Pa. They didn’t deserve to die.” Framing the sides of my face with her hands, Grandma adds, “You have no clue as to what I found once I went inside the house. I don’t want that to happen to you.”
I throw myself at her and wrap my arms around her.
“I’m scared, Grandma. What if something happens to you?” I bury my face in her shoulder. As if losing Mom and Dad wasn’t enough, what if I never see Grandma or Steven ever again?
The events of the past hour become too much for me and I sob, unable to hold off the tears anymore. I haven’t cried since Steven left to serve his tour, and now I can’t seem to stop.
“You will, honey.” She returns the embrace, cuddling me to her for a moment longer before pulling free. “Now, get on out of here before it’s too late. They’ll be here soon and I need to get going myself.”
I wipe the tears off my cheeks with the tips of my fingers.
“Remember what I told you. Head off in the direction of address number two.” She tugs on my arm to get me walking toward the front door but then stops, turns to her right, opens the top drawer of a small table at one side of the couch, and hands over a packet of perfectly folded maps. “Since you can’t use the GPS on your phone, you’re going to have to go old-school.”
I take the maps.
“Stay away from major highways and freeways for as long as you can. It will take longer, yes, but it’ll be safer. If you have to stop at a motel, try to avoid those nearest to the main road. Don’t stay at one place too long. Don’t tell anyone where you’re going. Trust no one aside from the people in the addresses. Keep moving. And when you do find someplace to bed down for the night, make sure you get plenty of rest. You’re going to need stamina to keep you going.”
We walk out of the house to Grandma’s silver Buick Rainier. Opening the door, I toss my bag inside before spinning to hug her one last time.
“I love you, Rose.”
She kisses my cheek. “I love you, Kristina.” Grandma runs one hand down my long hair before tearing herself from me. “One last thing.” She pulls out a small black box from underneath the driver’s seat and opens it. Inside is a small-caliber handgun and an extra cartridge.
“No.” I push her hand away. “You know how I feel about guns.”
“This is the exception, Kristina.”
“But I don’t trust myself with one of these. I’ll blow my brains out.” I had all but one lesson when I was ten. The kick after I pulled the trigger was so powerful, the butt of the rifle hit me on the nose and nearly knocked me unconscious.
Never did want to get within three feet of any firearms since.
“You’re a smart girl. You know the gist. This is small but will put a stop to anyone who becomes a real threat.”
Grandma won’t let me leave without the handgun, so I reach for it. “Okay.”
“God be with you.” She plants a kiss on my forehead.
“And you, too.”