Hanna stood at the door at the top of the stairs, she could see it was unlocked but she hadn't opened it yet. Ethan was on the steps behind her, nervously wondering what she was doing. She put a finger over her mouth, signalling him to keep quiet.
Hanna pressed an ear to the door then pushed it open slowly to confirm what she already knew, there were no other gang members around. She assessed the small room in an instant , glancing from the table and chairs in the centre to the drawers and cabinets on her left, before checking the two other doors.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBEv2uXhIh
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Satisfied they were alone for the moment, she turned her attention to the table in the other corner, piled high with assorted items. She found her clothes, thrown on top, and quickly dressed before starting to search the room.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiVmUH0bPG
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Ethan followed her into the room hesitantly, closing the door behind him. Hanna silently pointed out at the table in the corner to him and Ethan started looking through the pile as she continued her search. He found the rest of his clothing then kept searching for his bag .80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMnCEGUI45
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Hanna checked the drawers and cabinets for anything useful. Unfortunately, it seemed like these criminals were smart enough not to leave guns lying around but she found another knife, which she took. She didn't favour the idea of going up against their captors with only two small knives, but her first preference was not to fight at all.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7DdwlaXeR
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Ethan frowned as he looked through his bag, it had evidently been searched. The one thing he needed was missing. He slung the bag from the table over his shoulder and started searching the room.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSPtNGIHb7
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"We need to go," Hanna whispered to him urgently.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHK5ervaDo
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Ethan looked like he wanted to protest, but he nodded and followed her. He followed her through one of the doors into a long corridor, with various doors interspersed on either side. Hanna headed right to the end and listened at the door. She heard voices, getting louder. She resisted the urge to curse, they were coming towards this door.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanzokOjx82
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Hanna tried to use hand signals to tell Ethan to hide but he just looked confused. She sile ntly huffed in frustration and pulled him through the side door closest to them, which seemed to be some kind of storage area filled with crates and drums.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3jnPdbSJI
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"Hide," Hanna whispered to him urgently. He ducked behind one of the large crates while Hanna positioned herself beside the door, ready to attack with the knife if someone came through.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouZTnQrXDO
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She heard footsteps behind the door and held her breath.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxVUYVYiY8
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The footsteps stopped. Then started again. The sounds were becoming fainter now. She exhaled silently in relief. She heard the opening and closing of a door.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMPSdknMun
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She opened the door a crack to peek out into the hall, the coast was clear now. She waited a second just to be sure, but all she could hear was her own steady breathing and Ethan's more anxious breaths behind her.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzepeyMEaQ
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"It's clear. Come on," Hanna whispered to Ethan.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0VG31Tp4q
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Hanna went back to the door at the end of the hall, approaching cautiously as Ethan hovered over her shoulder.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EitA0gmHE
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"Stay back," Hanna whispered, holding the knife at the ready, and Ethan took a step back.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUqAq3219e
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As she cracked open the door, Hanna felt a cold breeze brush past her face, tinged with the scent of dead flesh. She peeked inside and saw a body on the metal table. Or rather, the majority of a body. She knew what this room was. She'd been in many like it before. She froze, her breath stuck in her throat.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCMtT6Ng92
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"What is it?" Ethan whispered from behind her.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYBiBj50pb
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His voice almost startled her as it crashed through her train of thought, but she forced herself to stay calm and collected. She didn't want him to see that. She refocused, there weren't any other exits in that room. They'd have to find another way out. "We can't go that way."80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIceBbQcyXI
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"Why not?" Ethan asked in a whisper.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFmyXdsewq
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"No time, just go," Hanna said hurriedly, pushing him in the other direction. He followed as she cracked open a third door in the hall, which led to a small loading area. Meaning there would be an exit to the road. They'd almost made it out. She saw the exterior door, behind some drums, and started to cross the room quickly but stopped unexpectedly, almost causing Ethan to slam into her.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzf2dqiDEPY
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"Wait here. There's something I need to do," Hanna spoke at her normal volume.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZI9y685zw
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Ethan looked from Hanna to the door, their escape route. "What could possibly be more important-" Ethan started, but then noticed she had already vanished. "Guess I'll wait here then," he muttered to himself.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oSi1EyJBf
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He stood there awkwardly, unsure about what to do, watching the door they'd come through. He cracked open the exterior door and saw a parking lot with a few cars and a van. He could just... leave. She'd been crazy enough to head back in. He didn't have to sit around and get caught with her.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmxWawLoDj
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Ethan glanced back at the door to the hallway uncertainly. He noticed some car keys hanging conveniently on a hook next to the door and he grabbed them. This was probably the keys to one of the cars out there. At least this meant they’d have a quick getaway.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JBCdnwZvs
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Ethan waited, shifting uncertainly, trying to ignore his painful ankle. He decided to give her a few minutes. He owed her at least that much.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjgOg4axIW
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It wasn't long before he smelled something odd. Then she reappeared right away, rushing through the door.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFQS6Qj4JJ
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"Done, we're leaving!" Hanna shouted, racing towards the exit.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmrZTGCgms
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That was all the encouragement he needed. Ethan went out the exit and tried the keys on the van next to the door. Luckily, they were then right keys. He quickly got in the drivers seat and started the vehicle. He looked up to see Hanna busy was trying to jam the exterior door shut with a piece of scrap pipe.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZQ9e42xa9
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"We need to go!" Ethan called to her.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffiopgutzE
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"Dammit," Hanna muttered, abandoning her task to rush around and climb in the passenger side.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2lcQ2b2Kv
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Ethan started driving immediately, ignoring the pain in his leg from the motion, with no destination in mind at the moment.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yoByk4I23
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"Sweet. I didn't know you knew how to steal a car," Hanna commented with a grin.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbfWhyvwUI
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Ethan looked at her like she was crazy. "I don't. I found the keys."80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIZcDCz5fK
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"Oh, well, still nice work," Hanna remarked.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNa5mU2z18
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Ethan kept his eyes on the road, trying to ignore the growing headache sitting in the back of his mind along with the rest of his injuries. Now, farther from the building, he could see a growing fire consuming the building in the rear view mirror.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7N3cluJMk
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"Did you start that fire?" Ethan asked accusingly, fearing he already knew the answer.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPwbhaTGh9
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"I wasn't going to let them keep killing people," Hanna exclaimed angrily. The was half true. She wasn't going to leave tracks for the Crimson Keys, or worse, her family, to find. She crossed her arms and looked out the window.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKVWeLUU9Y
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"What if there were other people trapped in there?!" Ethan protested.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGeFHwXfMS
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Hanna let out a tired sigh then looked at him sadly. "I assure you, there were no other prisoners in there."80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2902tDcuV
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"How do you know?" Ethan asked, thrown off balance by her tone.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwybBm4q6F5
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"Just trust me," Hanna answered. "We need to get somewhere safe."80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibv29eUZBr
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Ethan could see a sad look in her eyes and bit his tongue, letting the matter drop for now. "I know where to go."80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHa93wUeNpD
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"Good, we need to switch cars. We can take mine, it's parked nearby." Hanna directed him to the parking lot and he parked beside her car.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYi1mknT8AM
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Hanna jumped out of the van, then reached under the car and pulled out the keys. She was in high spirits, meanwhile, Ethan was beginning to feel the strain of his injuries catching up to him.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMBzjiKF9J
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Ethan let his forehead rest against the top of the steering wheel for a minute. "Can you drive?"80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CfoDsZbG9
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"Sure, no problem," Hanna answered in the middle of searching her car.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVeI3w84K4
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Ethan could feel the adrenaline leaving his system as he got out of the van and into the passenger seat of Hanna's car. Hanna, finally managing to find the first aid kit, pulled it out of the trunk. She brought it around and set it down on the ground.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQXLLVSPKo
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"That ankle needs bandaging," Hanna remarked as she went to pull down his sock to look at it.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9lskqHWYd
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Ethan hadn't noticed his sock was soaked with blood. His makeshift bandage had been very... makeshift. He did want her help but he was more worried about what her touching him would start. Even her being this close was difficult.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodKwCdsZ2G
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"No, don't touch me," Ethan said quickly, forcefulness lacing his voice. Hanna pulled back instantly, looking at him with concern. "You drive, I'll do it." It would be less risky for him to do it on his own and he was done with risky things for today.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyywo6NonM
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Hanna nodded and handed him the first aid kit before getting in the drivers seat. She started driving immediately, to get farther away from the fire and hopefully discourage any pursuers. "Where are we going?"80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCV1eZOzxD
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"North. Out of the city," Ethan answered confidently.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZCYlgU3Ve
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Hanna changed direction. "Make sure you eat and drink something. There's stuff in the glove compartment. It'll help with the blood loss."80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4gB11xMgJ
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Ethan found the water bottles and power bars Hanna had stashed in there. He dug in, feeling truly hungry for the first time in days. After devouring a couple power bars, he decided to look back though his bag. He tipped the sleeping pills out into his hand.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6ndSKiMQ9
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Ethan looked at the pale pills in his hand, hesitating. He glanced over at Hanna. There was no doubt in his mind that he wouldn't be able to stand the whole trip with her sitting next to him. Yet, he couldn't think of a worse time to knock himself out. He had no idea what might happen while he was asleep. If they'd be followed or any other problems might come up.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyKKZ92r9q
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He took a deep breath. Staying awake through this would be torture. Falling asleep could be dangerous. He closed his eyes and decided he'd have to trust her to get them there.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uN5VACuEs
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Hanna saw Ethan taking a bunch of pills and washing them down with half a water bottle, also observing the pill bottle was empty. "What's that?"80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5J8rJIHar
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"Something to help me sleep through this ride," Ethan answered before downing the rest of the water bottle.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviP8SB6Fpn
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Hanna was surprised he hadn't fallen asleep already given how exhausted he appeared.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0hcHoVwL6
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"Do you have something to write with?" Ethan asked, looking around the vehicle.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIH8PNxgMf7
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"Check the glove compartment," Hanna answered without taking her eyes off the road.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtWJelH3iE
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Ethan found a notepad and pen then scribbled something down quickly. "This is the address." He handed her a slip of paper. It had an address with another number underneath.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuz0Cu5YXW
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Hanna took the paper, keeping her other hand on the wheel and glanced at it. "This is far. You're sure it's secure?" She placed it in the cup holder.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5I2sWZ5wzG
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"Yes. No one will find us there." Ethan set to fixing up his ankle, it was good he had something to keep his mind occupied. The pain from cleaning it had helped push any thoughts of sex to the back of his mind.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4YMfb1II9
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Hanna glanced at him taping up the ankle. "Can you heal that like you did my bruises?"80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpqxQUDNF1
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"What are you talking about?" Ethan asked, his voice slightly lacking sincerity.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeK0nFtwtK
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Hanna suspected he knew exactly what she was talking about. "When I woke up down there, I had some bad bruises but they were gone by the time we left. I assumed you did something to heal them."80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptXuwV80FP
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"I don't think so, maybe they weren't as bad as you thought?" Ethan suggested, responding quickly.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXjDmKcYe4
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"Maybe," Hanna mused, still unconvinced.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozCTQLCxrL
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Ethan changed the topic, he could feel the medication beginning to work. "How did you learn how to do that?"80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqY5Cpu98L
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"Do what?" Hanna asked, a slight smile passing her lips. "I've done a lot of things today."80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuUfnYmHn6
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"Fight," Ethan answered dryly. He resisted the urge to say 'murder'.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXWoz5eY5c
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The smile disappeared, replaced with a much more serious expression. Hanna paused for a moment before answering. "I've been in fighting classes since I was a kid. Having a weapon is easier." She tried to give him a reassuring, nonthreatening smile. "It also helps to be very, very lucky."80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5YKRKYfD2
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"I guess that makes sense," Ethan replied lazily, like he wasn't paying attention to the conversation he started.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vBESu3w9g
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"I have a gun in the car too," Hanna revealed calmly. "But I'd prefer not to use it." She glanced to the rear view mirror. "I don't think anyone is going to follow us."80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPyzZbS5E7
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"Do you know how to use it?" Ethan asked sleepily.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVkl1iS4PZ
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"Of course, I wouldn't have it otherwise," Hanna answered dryly.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQn1N7CbOH
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"Makes sense." Ethan adjusted to a more comfortable position in his seat.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCfqFh3yfU
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Hanna took a deep breath. She had questions she needed him to answer before he passed out. Small talk time was over. "Do you want me to call Alice?"80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACZwIcCToQ
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Ethan was suddenly more alert. "No," he replied firmly, without needing to think about it.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡic0ACBRbBg
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That answer took Hanna by complete surprise. She'd expected him to at least consider asking for help from his ex-girlfriend. Her stomach dropped, realizing this was just another thing that she'd screwed up. "I'd explain what happened, I'm sure she'd help you-"80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9byv79tTRr
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"She wouldn't," Ethan interrupted.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5XZYsc8fr
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"You wouldn't prefer to have someone you know well with you for this?" Hanna asked. She waited for him to respond but he just sat there, staring out the window. She bit her lip nervously. "You two broke up, it wasn't even cheating. Plus it was in the middle of heat too, she can't get too upset over it."80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgL3FFiMkc
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Ethan exhaled slowly. "She doesn't know I'm Charax."80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWzgFqx8SZ
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"You could tell her?" Hanna suggested reluctantly, trying to hide her own disdain for the idea.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymqM1MjYIw
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Ethan shook his head adamantly. "She doesn't know and it needs to stay that way."80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAXH1SqfKf
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"She might... understand." Hanna wanted to at least given him the option. Maybe we could share, Hanna thought. She shook the thought of a threesome out of her head, this was a bad time for that sort of idea.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtTOCWarhg
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Ethan sighed, resting his elbow on the passenger door. "You don't know her. I wouldn't use the term 'understanding' to describe her."80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHj8iPqwbdh
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Hanna didn't know Alice that well, personally, but she'd dug up enough information on the older woman that she felt like she knew Alice. Maybe there was something she didn't know, it seemed odd that he'd reject his old girlfriend so easily. "But-"80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKN1UuHGaw
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Ethan cut her off before she could even get started. "You don't get it. We broke up because I knew the heat was coming on. She would have freaked out when I wouldn't have been able to hide it from her."80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbfKBfFhja
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"You won't know until you talk to her," Hanna stated hesitantly. You aren't sabotaging yourself, you're just giving him a choice, she thought in a poor attempt to reassure herself that she was doing the right thing.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOc1ZNNbxs
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Ethan scowled. "I'm not going to bet my life on that. On her."80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGI2zXBCBxS
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"You're sure?" Hanna asked softly.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mkH5eJLAo
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"Yes. Just drop it," Ethan replied confidently.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKZQENg65g
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"You'd rather have me?" Hanna asked in a small voice.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExaULjN7LU
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Ethan turned to look out the side window, not paying attention to the passing streetlights. "You knew what you were getting into."80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDu7eWFbkBc
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Not much of a yes, Hanna thought uncomfortably.
Ethan rubbed his temple. "I'm falling asleep, if this is a problem can we talk about this later?"80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1xENENW1N
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"Uh, sure," Hanna agreed tentatively.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdYYDNYO6v
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"Don't call anyone, don't tell anyone. Please just go here to this address and wake me up when we get there," Ethan told her, still facing the side window.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJ4nzG7E0o
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"Okay." Hanna started driving silently.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWdmSKSTWG
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After a few minutes, Hanna noticed Ethan still wasn't asleep. He actually seemed to be getting more agitated. Didn't he just take a handful of sleeping pills? Hanna wondered.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPN17AyX2Q
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A while later, Hanna noticed his nervous fidgeting. "Everything alright?"80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyjhsVbgzh
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"No," Ethan answered irritably.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv55Ky5Q5zp
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Hanna glanced at home with concern. "Do you need me to stop?"80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWM264EJFm
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"What I need is for these drugs to kick in," Ethan said irritably, leaning his head back and pinching the bridge of his nose. It was difficult to ignore her presence now. The confined space didn't help either.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9o7W1XRf5P
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Hanna glanced over at him quickly before turning her eyes back to the road. She wasn't keen on stopping in the middle of the trip for sex. She'd noticed how he looked... troubled even though they'd only been driving for half an hour. So she supposed it was a good thing he would be sleeping through the rest of the trip.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOv8Ho5S5RR
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Quickly enough after that, he fell into a deep sleep. His head was turned away from her but she could see the steady rise and fall of his chest. She thought he looked five years younger already, despite the bruises peeking out from under his clothing. Those reminded her that his recovery wasn't going to be as easy as a good night's sleep, in contrast to her own, given she felt almost completely healed.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHNweWTCmd
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She hadn't noticed the wheel drifting as she had been looked at him. She suddenly jerked it back so they were driving straight again. Eyes on the road, she thought to herself. She doubled back and made some random turns before finally plugging the address into the GPS.
