The Light in the Dark

Chapter 32

I feel Carson moving on the mattress next to me and I slowly open my eyes. The basement is flooded with light streaming from the windows along the ceiling.

"Sorry did I wake you up?" Carson asks from behind me.

"Nope I'm still asleep," I reply sarcastically.

I turn around to face Carson and am met with a pillow thrown against my face. It falls lamely into my lap, revealing my disgruntled expression.

"What was that for?" I ask angrily. I've never been a morning person.

"I thought I should wake you up," Carson says with an innocent shrug of his shoulders. He stands up from the mattress and begins to pack his backpack.

"You are so annoying sometimes!" I groan in exasperation as I begin to fix my own stuff.

"You still love me," Carson states behind his shoulder.

I roll my eyes. "I don't know about that," I mumble.

Carson asks if I said anything and I just smile innocently back at him. He shakes his head and takes a seat where Chloe was yesterday.

I sling my backpack over my right shoulder and sit next to him. He starts to tickle my face with end of my hair. I try to stay mad at him but I can't stop myself from laughing. I try smacking his hand away, but Carson just smiles smugly at me.

Suddenly the door at the top of the basement opens, and Carson and I rush to hide.

"It's fine you guys! It's just me!" Chloe calls down as she clambers down the stairs noisily. "My parents just left a couple of minutes ago."

"We should get going too then," Carson says as he tries to straighten the chair that he sent astray.

"Yeah okay," Chloe nods her head, but she looks sad. Her eyes don't look as excited as they were yesterday, and her tone isn't upbeat.

"We have a really long way to go," I try explaining.

"Where are you going?"

I hesitate for a second before deciding I can trust Chloe. She could've left us on the street or turned us in, but instead she helped us.

I open up the map and point at a spot we circled in red. It's not far from where we are. If Carson and I hurry then we can get there before nightfall.

"Oh I know where that is!" Chloe exclaims excitedly. "We used to go to a place nearby for vacation. If you take this road, you should be able to cut off a couple of hours."

She traces a route along a smaller road with a pencil.

"Most navigation sites tell you to take the main freeway, probably just so the restaurants can make money."

Chloe seems more like herself now, the talkative, bubbly girl from last night. She twirls the pencil between her fingers before sticking it behind her ear.

"Thanks Chloe!" I tell her gratefully.

"No problem! It's just something I remember."

I shake my head with a light laugh. "No for letting us stay here. You have no idea how much you helped us, and you probably saved our lives."

"Yeah it was amazing for you to do this, especially after we scared you yesterday," Carson seconds with a sly smile.

"I'm glad I could help," Chloe answers. "That was actually a lot of fun." She smiles bashfully, and I pull her in for a tight hug. Carson also gives her a quick one in thanks.