Chapter 25 Escaping Soon
Evelyn’s POV
“Eve…..!”
I turned to meet Elena’s voice, her long curls bouncing as she jogged across the compound. Even from a distance, her grin was wide enough to stretch from ear to ear.
“Elena!” I waved, my heart lifting a little. She has always been here with me, my biggest support system. Most times when I was not around, Elena was always the one that looked after the kids. We built most of this together after we had graduated, and not for once have I regretted being on this journey with her.
The kids' voices echoed through the air, pulling me back to reality. They began shouting her name, racing towards her with open arms.
She barely had time to drop her purse before they swallowed her in that tiny laughter that always brings back life in me.
“Okay, okay, slow down!” she laughed, crouching to hug them all at once. “Who’s been eating too much candy, huh?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. It felt good to see joy spreading so easily around me again, the past few days have been chaotic.
I have decided to play calm and soft just to make Lorenzo believe that I was beginning to accept the whole situation.
But I was far from it. It was just a way to crawl into his heart and maybe that would make him lose the need to always walk around me everywhere I go. From there I could finally get my escape.
“For you to survive, you have to act humble.” Gideon’s words echoed in my head. And I’m never going to joke with that advice.
When I turned back, Lorenzo stood a few steps behind me, hands tucked into his suit pockets. His eyes trailed after the children, but there was distance in them, that quiet, sharp kind of distance that meant his thoughts were far away.
Elena finally noticed him and straightened up. Her expression tightened.
She leaned closer just enough for only me to hear her. “What’s he doing here?”
I managed a small smile. “He insisted on coming.”
She squirmed, her jaw clenched. “He doesn’t deserve to be close to the kids.”
I nodded. “I know but….”
“Nice to meet you.” Lorenzo cut in, too calm for the devil I have gotten used to.
Elena forced a smile. “Likewise.”
In the next moment, Demian ran to me, tugging at my dress, her small voice breaking through the moment. “Big sis, can we show him our garden?”
I glanced at Lorenzo. “Would you like to see it?”
He hesitated, his jaw tightening the slightest bit. “I don’t think I can….”
“Uncle please…..” Demian pleaded, touching his sleeve with his head arched. “I promise you, our flowers won't bite.”
For a second, I thought he’d refuse. But then he gave a small sigh, the kind that sounded like defeat. “Lead the way then.”
Demian beamed and grabbed his hand. Lorenzo stiffened at first, but Demian held on tightly, dragging him toward the small patch of flowers behind the building.
Elena leaned close to me and whispered. “He looked a bit softer than the night he badged into our hospital.”
“I know right.” I murmured. “It’s been a long story.
We followed them to the garden, where the kids had planted wildflowers in uneven rows. Lorenzo stood beside them, watching silently as Demian pointed out each flower. “That one is mine,” He said proudly, showing Lorenzo a crooked little plant. “It’s still growing.”
He crouched beside her, expression softer now. “You did this?”
Demian nodded eagerly. “Big sis said if I talk to it, it will grow faster.”
He tilted his head slightly. “And does it?”
Demian grinned. “Sometimes.”
For the first time since we arrived, I saw Lorenzo’s lips curve into something real, just a quiet smile that faded as soon as he released it.
Elena nudged my side, her face masked with pity. “For real, Eve. How have you been?”
I eased my shoulders, focusing on her completely. “At least I’m still alive. That’s all that should matter.”
“Will he be releasing you anytime soon?”
I lowered my head quietly. “I don’t think so. His witch friend that we met said that I will have to wait for the next moon to appear before a ritual will be carried out.”
Elena shut his eyes open. “That’s like next year?”
I nodded faintly.
She squinted her eyes in realization. “And what do you mean by his witch friend?”
“He said she is the moon goddess.”
“Oh….”
“Daisy…..will you still be visiting her at the hospital?” She continued.
“Of course I will.” I shifted on the bench, adjusting my dress. “I just have to figure out how to make Lorenzo believe that I have accepted all this madness.”
I reached out for Elena’s hand, brushing them with my thumb. “I need your help.”
“What’s that?” She asked, nodding.
“I might be escaping soon with Daisy, I’ll need your help with taking care of this place.”
Elena drifted away slightly, her face filled with concern. “How?”
“I don’t know, I'm still planning.”
“Hmmm.” She hissed.
We fell silent, staring at the thin air.
My gaze moved to where Lorenzo had been standing, and our eyes locked. A sharp ache hit my heart.
Has he been hearing us?
Before I knew it, he was standing right in front of us, his red eyes darker like other times he had seen something strange.
He placed a hand on his waist. “It’s strange,” he murmured. “You find beauty in broken things.”
I smiled faintly in relaxation. "Maybe because I was one once.”
He said nothing after that. Just watched me with those dark, unreadable eyes.
Elena, sensing the quiet tension, clapped her hands suddenly. “The kids…..we need to refill their provisions. And you need to go get them from the mall.”
I blinked. “Yeah, you are right.” I stood up. “I should get going then.”
“Not too fast.” Lorenzo stopped me. “I’m coming with you.”
My eyes flew open, I saw the same reaction in Elena too.
“It’s just a mall, Lorenzo.” I groaned. “I will be back before you know it. You can’t keep following me around like a bodyguard.”
He chuckled, his calmness annoying a hell out of me. “If that’s how you see it, then I don’t mind.”
“Jesus Christ!” I bit my lower lip in frustration.
"fine"