Saturday, October 22, 2016

Escape: Day 18

Word Count: 108,010

Summary of Events:
Dallis spotted a carload of gangsters so Trace had to get his fellow truckers to do the blockade manoeuvre they'd done previously so the gangsters wouldn't follow him into Sioux Falls. Trace then went to pick up Dallis' passport, which took a lot longer and was a lot more agonising of an ordeal than he'd expected — and ended up with him revealing to the police that he'd found Dallis; which was a good thing. Trace and Dallis continued on driving for Fargo, with Dallis worrying that they would be caught . . .

Excerpt of the Day:
"Dallis took a deep breath. She didn't want to think about that. She didn't know what she was going to do if she were forced to run on her own. She wanted them to be able to make it to the border, because if that failed then there was no hope whatsoever.
She looked over at Trace and saw a drawn tension on his face. She had a feeling he didn't appreciate that thought either. And if that was the case then she wondered why he'd brought it up.
He had mentioned before that he was a pessimist, though, so it could be just the negative light of the whole situation had prompted him to say it, even though he didn't really like the thought of it himself.
Dallis had never felt more frightened, even in her prior escape attempts. She'd never felt this afraid. She'd never felt this much like she was standing on an edge, ready to jump, but with the land she was standing on more than liable to crumble out from underneath her feet before she could spring.
She shifted uncomfortably and looked over at Trace again. He looked very set and determined, although not entirely confident. He looked like he was determined to beat the odds and make it.
That confidence seemed to elude her now. She'd always been confident she'd be able to fight it out, but the fact that the men had caught up so quickly upset her.
"Dallis," Trace said quietly.
Dallis turned and looked at him. His mouth was half-upturned in a wan smile, and his hand was extended toward her.
Leerily, Dallis looked at his hand.
"I know, I know," Trace said. "I want you to touch me."
Dallis reached out and brushed her hand against his. Trace's hand quickly grabbed hers and squeezed it tightly.
It felt like a surge of energy had welled in her, even though Trace's hand felt cool to the touch. She returned the grip and gazed out the windshield as they kept driving. Her anxiety seemed to be fading.
Trace's hold loosened and his thumb gently rubbed across the back of her hand. Even though Dallis wasn't fond of being touched, she felt like there was something reassuring in Trace's hold, and so didn't let go.
"We haven't come by life easily," Trace said. "But I think we should be able to make it. And if we don't then, hopefully, maybe, someday, somebody remembers us, and we'll be hailed as heroic for at least trying."
"I don't want to think about that," Dallis whispered.
"If only there were something for us to do other than think," Trace said quietly.
Dallis nodded. She'd give anything to not have to think about the fact that prospects were not as good as she'd thought. She didn't want to think about the bleakness, being as the men were so vigilant, vicious, and likely to resort to any means necessary so as to get her back."

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