Chapter 36

Chapter 36
Running in the Dark

Judith

The cold night hit my face. Caleb was holding on to me tight. His little legs were kicking, but he didn’t let go. My arms hurt. Every step felt like fire. But I had to run. I couldn’t stop.

The big house was gone behind us. Trees and cars flew past. Sirens screamed far away, or maybe just in my head. My chest hurt. My throat was dry. Caleb made little scared sounds. Almost like his heart was saying, “Run faster!”

I ducked behind a big trash bin. Pulled him close. His hands were shaking. “Mommy,” he whispered. I kissed his head. “I’m here, baby. I got you.”

But the street wasn’t empty. Dark shapes moved. People in black. Soldiers? Or worse? My stomach sank. I held Caleb tighter. “Stay low,” I whispered. “Don’t make a sound.”

We ran along the walls. Trash crunched under our feet. Every little sound felt loud. Every breath could get us caught. The city felt heavy and dark.

Caleb held me tight. “I’m scared,” he whispered. My heart hurt. “I know, baby. Me too. But I won’t let anyone take you,” I said. My voice shook, but I tried to sound brave.

We turned a corner, a narrow alley. Garbage cans tipped over. Broken glass shined in the streetlight. I ducked behind one. Caleb’s eyes were big. “Mommy, they’re coming?”

“They can’t touch us,” I said. My hands shook so much I almost dropped him. “Not while I’m alive.”

Footsteps came. Heavy and Fast. Someone swore. I pressed Caleb to the wall. His head was on my chest. My hands shook. But inside me, I felt something hard. Fire. Anger. Love. All together.

We kept moving, zigzagging through streets. My lungs burned. Caleb’s legs were tired. But I couldn’t stop. I had to keep going.

We ran into an old building. It smelled gross. Dust and old trash. I held Caleb close. Footsteps stopped outside. Heavy boots. Then gone. For now.

I sank to the floor. Caleb on my lap. Tears ran down my cheeks. He looked at me. His eyes were round and big. “Mommy… we safe?”

I shook my head. “Not yet. But we are close. I promise.”

The building was dark. Broken windows. Walls had graffiti. I made a little bed of old blankets for him. He curled up small and tired. I stayed awake. Watching. Listening. Every sound made me jump.

Outside, the city was alive. Cars, sirens, people laughing far away. But here, we were like ghosts. Hidden. Forgotten. Not safe.

I touched my pocket. The glass shard was there. Sharp. Heavy. A weapon if I needed it. A piece of Maxwell’s world I could use.

I whispered, “Sleep if you can, baby. We leave before anyone knows.”

He closed his eyes. I felt him breathe slow. My chest hurt. Every muscle in me was sore. But I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t let them take him again.

Then I heard it. Click. Footsteps. Outside. Too close.

I froze. Caleb stirred. “Mommy?”

“I’m here,” I whispered. Held him tight. My hands shook. The shard was ready.

The door creaked. Slow. Quiet. Someone came in. I held my breath. Caleb’s little chest pressed to mine. His heart was beating fast. Mine matched it.

The shadow came closer. I held the shard tight. Ready.

Then a voice whispered, low and scary, “Judith… you think you can run?”

My blood felt cold. I didn’t answer. My eyes looked around. No way out. Not yet.

Caleb whimpered. “Mommy… who is it?”

I hugged him tight. “Shh… it’s okay… Mommy’s here. I won’t let them take you.”

The figure stepped into the light. Black boots. Gloves. Tall. Quiet. My stomach dropped. Not just anyone. Someone who knew me. Someone who wanted more than fear.

I felt all my muscles tense. I could hear Caleb breathe. I could hear me breathe. I could hear the city outside. Nothing else mattered.

I whispered to myself, “We’re not done… not yet.”

The figure paused. Tilted their head. Watching. Smiling under the hood.

Then… another voice.

“Mommy!”

Caleb gasped. I gasped. Another shadow moved in the dark. Someone else followed us. Someone I didn’t know. Or someone I thought I had lost.

I froze. Held Caleb tight. My heart beat fast. My mind screamed.

The night wasn’t over.

And we were still running.

I could hear feet behind us. Fast. Heavy. Someone shouting. My heart jumped.

Caleb held on tight. “Mommy… they following us?” he whispered.

“I don’t know, baby. Just hold on,” I said, my voice shaking.

We ran past a broken fence. The wind hit us hard. I almost tripped, but I caught myself.

Somewhere far away, a car engine roared. Tires screeched. My stomach felt like it had dropped into my shoes.

I kept moving. Caleb’s little hands were clutching me. “I’m scared,” he whispered again.

“I know, baby. I know,” I said. “But I won’t let them catch us. I promise.”

Shadows moved on the walls. I didn’t know if they were soldiers, or ghosts, or something worse.

I looked at Caleb. His eyes were big. Wet. But he didn’t let go.

We ran into a small alley. I pressed him against the wall. Every muscle burned. Every breath hurt.

Somewhere behind us, someone cursed. I gritted my teeth. We had to keep going.

And even though my legs were shaking, my arms were sore, and the city felt alive and angry all around us, I knew one thing for sure:

We were not stopping. Not tonight.