Chapter 8 As they pulled their battered sedan into the parking lot, the two women looked at one another anxiously. The tension was almost visible and men were scurrying around in groups in what appeared to be aimless activity.  Lynn bit her lip and said, "Try to say as little as possible." She pushed the door open, acting braver than she felt. Assuming a confused air, she stopped the first men to pass, "Has it started yet?" "They escaped! They overpowered Fist when he went to get them!" Larry Tasker said dramatically. Britney had caught up to her mother and it was all she could do to keep the scorn off her face at this ridiculous statements. One glance from her mother though, put a shocked look there instead and she remained silent. "So what happens now?" Lynn asked innocently. Larry said self-importantly, "We're organizing search parties. We think they went into the woods so maybe they're still there. If not, I guess....." He stopped because he actually was not sure what was going on. Shit, Lynn thought, are they going to search the houses? She needed to find that out before they left. "Well, Larry, I don't want to hold you up. I'm sure they need you to help." She knew it was the right thing to say when his face lit up and he left, giving them a jaunty salute. Lynn turned to Britney, motioning her into the building. "C'mon, let's see if Lou's around." When Britney stopped short, Lynn sighed in exasperation. "This is not the time to get self-righteous. We need to know if they're going to search the houses." She turned on her heel and headed into the building. Britney ran to catch up. Lou was inside the gym looking furious. Surrounding him were the others. She heard Fist say, "Wait till I find those fags. They will really pay this time." Lynn shuddered inwardly wondering what he thought had happened up to this point. Then she shook herself mentally. Feigning a quizzical look, she said, "What happened?" Lou, who had a mild attraction to her, turned with a smile, "Lynn! You haven't heard? They escaped." "Oh my God," she said as if truly surprised. "How will you find them?" Fist, rage apparent, interrupted, "By searching every square inch of this town- the woods, the houses, everywhere. And when we find them, they'll be so fucking sorry!" "Watch your language, " Lou said sharply and Lynn rewarded him with a lovely smile. Fist seemed suitably chastened and muttered, "Sorry." Lynn didn't respond to that. Instead she addressed Lou again, "So we should go home and wait?" "Yes and lock your doors. They may be dangerous. Someone will be by later today to search the house." Lynn almost lost her composure then at these outrageous statements. The one boy couldn't *walk* alone much less fight and the other was hurt himself and so concerned with his lover that he wouldn't be much of a threat either. "Sure, Lou," she said and twisted toward her daughter who was staring at the stage, a horrified expression on her face. Lynn glanced up at the platform, ready for the prisoners. Chains hung down, four of them. The large leather whip lay coiled waiting for its prey. She knew Britney was envisioning them up there. Lynn grabbed her arm and pulled roughly. "Stop that," she hissed, "Let's go." Once outside, Lynn took a deep breath. "Hurry. We have to go." Britney looked stunned, "Mother, if..." "Not now, Brit, just get in the car," Mrs. Pearson said anxiously. As they pulled out, Lynn resisted the urge to stomp on the gas, choosing a sedate speed instead. When they were away from the school, she turned to her daughter, "Brit, they are coming to search the house. I need to think. We need a plan." "Can we drive them away from the town?' "And then?" "Keep going, Mother. Do you really think we can live here after this?  These two are not like the others.  We've talked to them, helped them," Britney asked in amazement. Lynn's hands gripped the wheel and tears streaked down her cheeks, knowing that her child was right. It was finished here. But then what? In a small voice, she sighed, resignation in her voice, "OK, we'll get them to safety and come back for our things." She pulled into the driveway and bent over the wheel, letting the sobs come. Britney placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, "C'mon, Mom, let's go inside." Lance had been dozing lightly, his hand resting on Justin's arm. The sound of the front door opening startled him awake and he tensed, listening for more noises. Justin stirred but didn't wake up. The footsteps on the stairs approached steadily and Lance closed his eyes, praying that it was Britney and her mother. The attic door creaked open and Lance heard Britney's whisper, "It's just us." Lance sighed audibly and relaxed a little bit. Britney saw it and grimaced, "Don't relax. We have to go." Lance's shoulders drooped. He didn't want to have to make Justin move again. "How come?" "My mom found out from that creep Lou that they were going to search every house. He told us someone would be by later this afternoon. They'll find you," she said anxiously. "C'mon." Tears filled Lance's eyes and he whispered, "But we have nowhere to go. They'll find us in the woods, too." "My mom is on our side now. We're going to take you someplace safe and then we'll come back and end it here," she said, sad for her mother, for having to move again, for having to find a new job again. Lance gently pushed Justin's head off his lap without disturbing him and stood up. "Let me talk to your mom," he said. Britney shrugged and motioned him down the stairs. He hesitated briefly, worried that Justin would be frightened if he woke up alone, but he had to go see Mrs. Pearson. They found Mrs. Pearson rummaging through her desk. She looked up distractedly. "Did you tell him?" Britney nodded and Lance spoke, "We can't let you do this. Let us steal your car. You can say..." Lynn sighed, "They're looking for *you*—walking, hiding, or driving a car. If we can hide you both in the back, maybe we can sneak by." She rubbed her forehead, "And maybe we can't. In case we can't, is there anyone you could call to help you?" Lance chewed his lip, "My parents." He knew they would be terrified but at least they were near here. Lynn handed him the phone, "Tell them not to call the police in any of the towns around here, *maybe* the state police would be ok but even that's doubtful. Lou has a lot of pull around here. Anyhow, *if* we get away, we can call them and tell them where to meet us. If they haven't heard from us in two hours, they'll know it didn't work. Then they can..." she trailed off, her hands fluttering in confusion. As if she had suddenly become boneless, she sat down, her face in her hands and began to sob, "This is such a mess. For you, for us, shit!" Britney went over and gently rubbed her mother's back, trying to give her the courage she needed to see this to the end. Lance made the call, keeping it as brief as possible, focusing on the instructions rather than on how bad things were for them. "I love you, too. Soon, Dad, say a prayer," he said quietly, "We've gotta go." He hung up the phone and stood for a moment, unshed tears in his eyes, storing up the memory of his voice. Then he wiped his eyes and turned to the two women. "Tell me something. What will happen to the two of you?" "New job, new town, new life," Lynn said, the resignation in her voice tearing Lance up. She shook herself then and stood, pulling herself upright, "C'mon, we have to go. Go get your friend. What's his name?" "Justin," Lance said and then as he started to protest further, Mrs. Pearson held up her hand and waved him upstairs. Britney grabbed his arm and started to pull. Lance exhaled noisily and followed her back to the attic. Justin was still asleep. Lance knelt down and looked at him. The bruises were becoming more vivid against his pale skin and when Lance stroked his cheek, Justin moaned and shifted away from his touch. Lance shook him gently, calling his name, "Jus, wake up. C'mon, baby, time to get up." Justin's eyelids opened briefly and then with a sigh, he closed them again. "Please, Curly, wake up. We have to go!" Justin opened his eyes then and stared at Lance balefully, "You said it was ok, I could sleep. Please?" he whispered pitifully. "I know. I'm sorry. They know we're here." Lance felt guilty telling Justin a lie, but he was sure that it would frighten Justin into action. Judging from the terror on the younger man's face, he was right. "It's ok. Just get up, Justin." Justin rolled on his side and groaned and then forced himself to his feet. He staggered toward the door and Lance came over and, encircling his waist, prepared to help him down the stairs. Justin's gasp, however, startled him and he let go quickly. Without the support, Justin went down on one knee. "Lance," Justin looked at him pleadingly, "Sorry. You touched a place, I don't know, my rib..." He let the words die as he fought to gain some control over the pain. "Tell me what to do, Jus," Lance asked fearfully, "I don't want to hurt you." Britney had been watching, biting her lip. She stole a glance at her watch and said in a low voice, "We *have* to go." Lance put his arm around Justin again. This time when Justin gasped, he held tight and they started down the stairs. Justin leaned heavily on Lance and their progress was slow. At the bottom, Justin slid to the floor, panting with the pain, perspiration evidence of the effort he had made. "Not much farther, baby," Lance said softly. Justin raised his eyes and Lance drew back at the suffering reflected in them. "OK, Lance, one minute," he said in a voice so low that Lance could barely hear him. When Justin shifted, Lance reached down and helped him to his feet. "The back seat?" Lance questioned, wanting to let Justin lay back down again. Britney nodded and Lance practically carried him out and placed him in the old Volvo. Lance covered him with a blanket so that anyone glancing in wouldn't pay much attention. Then he went in search of Britney and Mrs. Pearson. He found Mrs. Pearson first. "Are you sure about this?" Lance asked. "It's not right that  you get hurt, too." Lynn shook her head angrily, "Don't worry about us! Let's just get this finished." Lance stepped back, intimidated by her mood, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I involved you. I was just so scared for Justin that I was willing to try anything." He turned to leave but stopped when he felt her hand on his arm. Twisting around to face her, he saw the sadness that was behind her anger, "Lance, *I'm* the one who should be apologizing. *You* haven't done anything wrong. I guess I wish I was more sure that this is going to work." She stroked his cheek gently and he leaned into it, thinking of his own mother's soothing touch. Very softly, he said, "Whatever happens, I am so grateful to you for trying. Sometimes it seems..." His sigh said it all. "Not everyone hates you. Some of us even love you. Remember that if things don't work out. But now, we better get moving." She left quickly then, calling out to her daughter as she went. Lance stood for a moment, allowing himself to feel the kindness and acceptance that they offered. Sometimes it was so damned hard to choose this lifestyle. Choose? He snorted to himself. It was never a choice. He had fallen in love with Justin from the first glance and now, now there was no choice either. He could never give up Justin, not for anyone or anything. He startled when Lynn took his arm and said, "It's time." He looked around and realized what they were sacrificing and was overwhelmed. But before he could speak, they were out the door, leaving him to follow. Lynn stood at the back door of the car looking in, hands on her hips, shaking her head, "Damn, it's so obvious.  Can he scrunch up on the floor?" Lance was doubtful. "I think he has a broken rib.  I'm afraid to risk it." Lynn shrugged, "So what do you suggest?" "I'll lay on top of him as much as I can and you can put boxes on us as if we were just junk." This time Lynn looked doubtful but it seemed as if their options were limited, so she shrugged again and sent Britney in to get some things to camouflage the two boys. Lance stretched out alongside Justin before putting his weight on him. Justin groaned loudly and his eyes opened, "Lance, get off." "I can't, baby, this is how it has to be. I'm sorry. Jus, no noise. OK?" Lance said sweetly. Tears from the pain were flowing freely, "God, Lance, it hurts ..." Then he stopped and bit his lip to prevent the groans from escaping. Lance's hand smoothed the riotous curls back and soothed the younger man with gentle words. And then they were under the blanket and boxes were piled up. Lance tried to keep the additional weight off Justin but he could tell from the sharp intake of Justin's breath that he was unsuccessful. Please God, he thought, let this end soon continue menu