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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSED9Yt98t6
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1a6drxycMV
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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 .53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCM4Bs0A7iZ
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mtLiucPGv
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAU8p5oQrkY
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"We need to go," Hanna whispered to him urgently.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMgRhPGCWP
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUBy61ticu
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqcISrAcHc
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFz4AW695KA
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She heard footsteps behind the door and held her breath.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKPlZIAotO
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqFbcmZAIe
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07kqeKVl3g
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"It's clear. Come on," Hanna whispered to Ethan.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoRTa3HbLk
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Hanna went back to the door at the end of the hall, approaching cautiously as Ethan hovered over her shoulder.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucFhM5YbfJ
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"Stay back," Hanna whispered, holding the knife at the ready, and Ethan took a step back.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvFwdqKLAy
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRj8S0Hv0o
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"What is it?" Ethan whispered from behind her.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VlporvHUz
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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."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7siFdDDZw
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"Why not?" Ethan asked in a whisper.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoVJxjHgUp
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXj1rW2T22t
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"Wait here. There's something I need to do," Hanna spoke at her normal volume.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhw1BGV4Uqh
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuE33Hol50t
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PuoxBwcgy
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1a1Fq12WB6
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOjj7l5hu7
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It wasn't long before he smelled something odd. Then she reappeared right away, rushing through the door.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajyW5SGNMV
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"Done, we're leaving!" Hanna shouted, racing towards the exit.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VSzu5WH5J
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZ5jF5Etfm
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"We need to go!" Ethan called to her.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡta9EgTC34y
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"Dammit," Hanna muttered, abandoning her task to rush around and climb in the passenger side.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vp8kv6nHa
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8J9MLhcfd
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"Sweet. I didn't know you knew how to steal a car," Hanna commented with a grin.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wSDRRoNct
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Ethan looked at her like she was crazy. "I don't. I found the keys."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUxkOFJRAO
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"Oh, well, still nice work," Hanna remarked.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MylxCkIuh
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQfKpPYgOQ
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"Did you start that fire?" Ethan asked accusingly, fearing he already knew the answer.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQdK5g9ZpQ
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbUUzBw0xI
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"What if there were other people trapped in there?!" Ethan protested.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NmAIaRHxa
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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."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSBdwKSqcS
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"How do you know?" Ethan asked, thrown off balance by her tone.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QfZlH03HW
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"Just trust me," Hanna answered. "We need to get somewhere safe."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfALUtHLQE
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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."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCK3J3TPf0
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmYLXRVsn8
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmAKY3sAJC
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Ethan let his forehead rest against the top of the steering wheel for a minute. "Can you drive?"53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwM3Hzqgz1
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"Sure, no problem," Hanna answered in the middle of searching her car.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMKHERqx3U
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3V9wPT9J99
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"That ankle needs bandaging," Hanna remarked as she went to pull down his sock to look at it.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxApXAjjhgT
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlngyaUZBHe
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjsAt4ySRH
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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?"53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeb2jWV3sP9
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"North. Out of the city," Ethan answered confidently.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuPhnVFPPO
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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."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0XVWWfqzw
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHA0LYa3ZC
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyKtBFBHRJ
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmr2en6mu1v
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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?"53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMlLGHHyqO
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"Something to help me sleep through this ride," Ethan answered before downing the rest of the water bottle.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SkjHZhdXx
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Hanna was surprised he hadn't fallen asleep already given how exhausted he appeared.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrmFIX8TbG
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"Do you have something to write with?" Ethan asked, looking around the vehicle.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQ9EDL2cCi
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"Check the glove compartment," Hanna answered without taking her eyes off the road.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfBfTpydir
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfm1Ztd19jo
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLAdcQY4gI
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPYhpzznbj
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Hanna glanced at him taping up the ankle. "Can you heal that like you did my bruises?"53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JykGs3G4s
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"What are you talking about?" Ethan asked, his voice slightly lacking sincerity.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbBNmb0sO6
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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."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkb9TQYPjSj
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"I don't think so, maybe they weren't as bad as you thought?" Ethan suggested, responding quickly.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1IANnNLOi
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"Maybe," Hanna mused, still unconvinced.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMWoJlILVj
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Ethan changed the topic, he could feel the medication beginning to work. "How did you learn how to do that?"53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Wa3yhGCug
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"Do what?" Hanna asked, a slight smile passing her lips. "I've done a lot of things today."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYLJ7fcNbJ
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"Fight," Ethan answered dryly. He resisted the urge to say 'murder'.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeuH3mwPYk
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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."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9bdOU5Zwv
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"I guess that makes sense," Ethan replied lazily, like he wasn't paying attention to the conversation he started.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0M8zd2m6XI
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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."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJZ6mBflQt
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"Do you know how to use it?" Ethan asked sleepily.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOSmY84Atx
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"Of course, I wouldn't have it otherwise," Hanna answered dryly.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd68mbaJeLO
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"Makes sense." Ethan adjusted to a more comfortable position in his seat.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4it9HjKtI
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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?"53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6DdcUgKA3
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Ethan was suddenly more alert. "No," he replied firmly, without needing to think about it.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFvK8hySOf
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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-"53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbQPbJRqJL
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"She wouldn't," Ethan interrupted.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk20tr7FyCY
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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."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlv7Tp7DCyd
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Ethan exhaled slowly. "She doesn't know I'm Charax."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfmg9w7Uxt
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"You could tell her?" Hanna suggested reluctantly, trying to hide her own disdain for the idea.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobhEwTcELr
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Ethan shook his head adamantly. "She doesn't know and it needs to stay that way."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmhj3WSDwe
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKp71s1DaMU
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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."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdvXkBA1zD
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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-"53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJLCeG9PCW
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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."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9OHH9mf2r
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOc4eOzXkb0
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Ethan scowled. "I'm not going to bet my life on that. On her."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8zMGGa4Ja
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"You're sure?" Hanna asked softly.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJcu47kcod
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"Yes. Just drop it," Ethan replied confidently.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLK62KWZLJe
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"You'd rather have me?" Hanna asked in a small voice.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBATWmdGZC
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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."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMhXodzTMV
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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?"53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPC0ecQEyFm
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"Uh, sure," Hanna agreed tentatively.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzhnU8OMGs
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSgtqT5EH2
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"Okay." Hanna started driving silently.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT17uYDT2GY
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPR90FPaKEd
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A while later, Hanna noticed his nervous fidgeting. "Everything alright?"53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjh05YQreGi
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"No," Ethan answered irritably.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MTGdj7UiC
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Hanna glanced at home with concern. "Do you need me to stop?"53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dmkViL5PB
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1T55HTwe3B
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LVpEpRnGO
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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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhNdES4y9E
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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.
