Hide (Sequel to RUN)

Chapter 16

"Wanna tell me why you're here, Lekia?" I could practically hear the relief in his voice.

"I just needed to get away," I breathed, eyes still closed. I finally got up the nerve to look at him.

"Do you mind if I just...if I just stay here for a while? I can't go back right now."

"Why not?"

"I just can't!" I yelled, the anger coming back with a burning vengeance. Why couldn't everyone just stop trying to pry into my mind? I took another deep breath.

"I can't go back. Please, just let me stay here for a while." Mr. Bollinger looked more scared than he did sympathetic, but either one worked to keep me here.

He nodded tersely.

"Thanks," I smiled. I was out of that office within the second, hitting the lights to the gym as I went.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mr. Bollinger picked up the phone, not sure who to call at first. He wasn't blind. He wasn't going to call Lekia's father. Who knew what that girl would get when she got home.

He sighed and called the only other person he could think of.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Palika strode into the gym about five minutes later. He looked around, finding Lekia almost immediately. She had conveniently chosen the punching bag where she could see the entire gym.

He saw her glance up quickly, then go back to her bag.

"Hey!" he shouted, giving her a slight nod. She stayed concentrated on her bag.

"What's her deal?" Palika asked, peeking into the office. Mr. Bollinger took his eyes off his laptop to glance at Lekia. He shrugged, "She was here when I got here."

"Any idea how long she's been here?"

"Nope," Mr. Bollinger went back to his computer. "All I know is that she stole my gun and then had a panic attack while it was still in her hands." Palika's eyes widened as he glanced back at Lekia.

"Good to know," he muttered, pushing off the door frame. On the short walk to Lekia, thoughts swirled in his head about what he was going to say to her.

This was a whole new kind of crazy, even for Lekia.

"You gonna acknowledge me, Nameless?" Palika teased, reaching the bag. Now that he was close up, Palika could hear her panting and see the sweat dripping off her nose.

He grabbed ahold of the bag and hoped that she wouldn't punch him.

"Whatcha doing here?" She didn't even glance up.

"Maybe I should start calling you 'Speechless'," he joked halfheartedly.

"Palika?" Lekia panted, finally stopping with the bag and looking him in the eye.

"Yeah?"

"Do me a favor and shut up."

"Will do."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had ignored my feeling of weightlessness and now I was paying the price. Black spots flashed across my retinas, making the world spin. I grabbed my forehead with one hand and threw out my other to keep balance as my feet stuttered.

"Whoa, there," Palika rushed to my side, grabbing my elbow.

"I'm fine," I murmured, gripping his bicep despite myself. "Just got a little light-headed."

"You're pale as a ghost," he stated, his voice filled with worry. The punching bag swam in my vision as the hand clutching at my forehead fell limply at my side.