Chapter 12 - The Drive Into the Unknown
The cool night air hit Julian's face,
waking him from the nightmare of the ballroom,
bringing him back to reality.
He placed Lily gently into the front seat of his car,
buckling her seatbelt with careful hands,
ensuring her absolute safety.
He climbed into the driver's seat,
slimming the door shut,
shutting out the noise of the venue,
shutting out the chaos of his past life.
"Lily,"
he said softly,
turning to look at her,
"where is your mommy?"
"Can you show me the way?"
Lily nodded quickly,
pointing out through the windshield,
toward the dark,
winding roads that led away from the city.
"She's at the old cottage,"
"by the silver lake,"
"she told me to come find you if she got too sick to move."
Julian's heart stopped,
"Sick?"
he asked,
a new wave of panic washing over him,
"Is your mommy sick?"
Lily looked down,
her small fingers twisting the fabric of her coat,
"She coughs a lot,"
"and she sleeps all day,"
"she told me to bring you the locket so you would come."
Julian slammed his foot on the gas pedal,
the engine roaring to life,
as the car sped into the dark night,
May you like
racing against time,
racing toward the truth.
