Chapter 12 - Packing in the Shadows
I stepped out of the bathroom, my heart pounding a frantic rhythm against my ribs. I moved silently up the carpeted stairs, avoiding the steps I knew would creak. I slipped into the guest room where Emily was waiting. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, her hands resting protectively over her stomach, her eyes wide with terror.
"Mark is on his way, and Diane is ready to help us," I whispered, pulling my small overnight bag onto the bed and unzipping it completely. "We need to move fast, Emily. We are only packing the absolute essentials."
I handed her a small duffel bag from the closet. The panic in the room was palpable, thickening the air. Every tiny sound from the house—the hum of the air conditioner, the distant cheers from the television in the family room—sent spikes of pure adrenaline rushing through our veins.
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"Get your ID, your health insurance card, your phone charger, and any daily medication you need," I commanded softly. "Do not pack heavy clothes. Do not worry about the baby gifts. We can replace material things later."
Emily moved as quickly as her heavily pregnant body would allow, but the physical toll of her exhaustion and fear was obvious. She was breathless, her hands shaking so badly she dropped her wallet twice before finally securing it in the bag. We moved like ghosts, terrified that a single creaking floorboard or the loud zip of a bag would alert her captors. We managed to gather her most critical documents, stuffing them haphazardly beneath my clothes to hide them.
