Chapter 5: The Secret Eli Carried
The ambulance had not arrived yet.
But the entire gas station felt different.
The bright sunlight that had made everything look safe now felt like a spotlight.
Like someone was watching from somewhere they couldn’t see.
Bear stood near the motorcycles, scanning the road.
Cole stayed beside the car.
Eli sat on the curb, holding the dirty rag in his lap.
For the first time since arriving, he looked less frightened of his mother.
And more frightened of the truth.
Cole sat beside him.
“What did your mom mean when she said Nia saved you?””
Eli didn’t answer.
Cole waited.
He had learned something over the years.
Sometimes silence wasn’t stubbornness.
Sometimes it was someone trying to protect themselves.
Finally, Eli spoke.
“She said Nia told her to run.””
Cole turned.
“Run from who?””
Eli shook his head.
“I don’t know.””
“Eli.””
The boy looked at him.
“My mom never told me everything.””
“What did she tell you?””
Eli looked at the payphone.
“She told me if anything happened, I had to call that number.””
Cole followed his eyes.
The old payphone stood there quietly.
Like it hadn’t just changed everything.
“Why that number?””
Eli swallowed.
“Because she said Nia would believe me.””
Those words hurt more than Cole expected.
Because they sounded exactly like Nia.
Always believing people.
Always helping.
Always stepping into situations where others were too afraid to go.
Cole looked down.
“She knew your mother.””
Eli nodded.
“She knew us before.””
“Before what?””
The boy hesitated.
Then whispered:
“Before we disappeared.””
Cole looked at him.
“What do you mean disappeared?””
Eli’s eyes moved toward the road.
“My mom said we weren’t supposed to be found.””
A motorcycle engine suddenly started.
Both men turned.
Bear was standing beside his bike.
Not starting it.
Watching another motorcycle approaching.
A lone rider slowed as he entered the gas station.
Black helmet.
Dark jacket.
Face hidden.
Cole stood.
The rider stopped near the pumps.
Then removed his helmet.
A stranger.
Middle-aged.
Cold expression.
He looked directly at Eli.
Not the bikes.
Not the gas station.
The boy.
Bear moved beside Cole.
“Do you know him?””
Cole shook his head.
The stranger walked closer.
“Looking for someone?””
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
Bear stared at him.
“We’re just helping a kid.””
The stranger smiled slightly.
“Kids always need help.””
Eli stood up.
And immediately stepped behind Cole.
That reaction told them everything.
Cole noticed.
“You know him?””
Eli shook his head quickly.
“No.””
The stranger watched the boy.
Then looked at Cole.
“You should leave him alone.””
Cole’s jaw tightened.
“And why would I do that?””
The stranger shrugged.
“Because you don’t know what you’re involved in.””
Bear stepped forward.
“Name.””
The stranger looked at him.
“What?””
“You heard me.””
A pause.
Then the man smiled.
“People call me Marcus.””
Cole studied him.
“Why are you here?””
Marcus looked toward the unconscious woman in the car.
Then back at Eli.
“Because I’m trying to stop this from getting worse.””
Cole’s voice dropped.
“What does that mean?””
Marcus didn’t answer.
Instead, he reached into his pocket.
Everyone tensed.
But he pulled out a folded photograph.
He held it up.
A picture.
Old.
Worn.
Cole couldn’t see it clearly.
Not yet.
Then Marcus said something that froze him.
“You want to know why Nia’s number was inside that payphone?””
Cole stepped forward.
“How do you know about that?””
Marcus lowered the picture.
“Because she put it there.””
Silence.
Bear’s eyes narrowed.
“When?””
Marcus looked at the payphone.
“Right before she disappeared.””
Cole felt his chest tighten.
“That’s impossible.””
Marcus looked at him.
“No.””
A pause.
“That’s the part you got wrong.””
Cole moved closer.
“Where is she?””
Marcus stared at him.
And for the first time, his calm expression cracked.
“I don’t know.””
The answer was worse.
Because it sounded honest.
Then Marcus looked at Eli.
“But she knew someone would come looking.””
Cole followed his eyes.
“Who?””
Marcus looked back at him.
“You.””
Before Cole could respond, the ambulance siren appeared in the distance.
Marcus immediately turned toward his motorcycle.
Bear noticed.
“Wait.””
But Marcus was already moving.
Cole stepped forward.
“Who are you?””
Marcus stopped.
Without turning around, he answered.
“The last person Nia trusted.””
May you like
Then he started his engine.
And rode away.
