Amber Valley. 11:28 pm.
Lucas and Ashley lay tangled together; she massaged every inch of him, and Lucas fondled her. He memorized her lovely lips, each kiss desperate enough to be numb. Eventually, they settled beside each other, their breath in sync within the dark. "That was… Interesting." she panted. "I pray that this could be every time." he smiled. "Then why don't we? What's stopping us?" Ashley asked. "I don't know… Life's messy." he replied. She lay against his chest. "I love you." she whispered. His heart hammered beneath her ear. "I love you too." he said, almost a vow in the shadows. A blush crept across her face. "Choker" she teased. "Nothing to choke on this time." They giggled while entwined beneath the blanket.
Palmborough. 12:20 am.
26 Benny St.
Antonio ran through his apartment; he stuffed clothes and I.D's into his bags. Down in the basement, he grabbed the leftover two million he had stashed away. By the time he was done, the apartment was nearly empty. He carried the bags outside, loaded them into the trunk, and hopped into the car. The engine roared as he drove off, headed for Katherine.
CRYSTAL AVENUE. 12:38 am.
Katherine stared into the dresser mirror. Abruptly, her cellphone buzzed on the nightstand. She rose quietly; her heart raced as she went into the bathroom. "Toni?" She answered. "Kathy… I'm pulling up. Make sure you're ready. No dawdling—we don't have time." he said. "Okay, But—"
"No buts, Kathy. I'll meet you in five minutes."
"Toni!" she whispered furiously, but—the call ended. Back in the room, Katherine put a coat on and scooped Mila from her cot. Mila stirred, but she patted her gently back to sleep. Bag in one hand, she glanced at Stephen—fast asleep. A single tear slipped down her cheek. She kissed the door frame before she left. She silently went to Akirá's room, careful not to wake him. Katherine tied Mila on her back with a towel while Akirá slept in the baby carrier on her stomach. A hooter blared outside. She hurried down, only to freeze. Tokyo stood in the kitchen. "What do you think you're doing?" Tokyo cleared her throat. Fear clenched Katherine's chest. "Uh… I… uh…" she stammered. "Don't even finish. I already know what's going on. I always knew there was something wrong with you… I didn't care back then." Tokyo exposed.
"Please, Tokyo… It's not what it looks like." Katherine pleaded. A harsh laugh escaped her. "Then what is it? Because it looks exactly like what it is." she cackled. "Tokyo… I need time for myself. Me and your father… we fought, and I—"
"Cut the bullshit, I don't care. I'm sure it was that hunk, what was his name—Antonio? Anyways, just go… but the kid stays." she argued. "I am their mother; I can't leave them." Katherine sobbed. "I don't care. Take Mila if you want… but Akirá stays. And I know the truth—Mila isn't Stephen's… she never was. I caught onto your crap with Antonio." she scolded. "Stop, Tokyo." she pleaded. "Or what? I could scream right now—wake Dad up. And what do you think he'll say when he sees you like this?" she asked. A faint hooter echoed from outside. "Looks like Prince Charming is waiting for you. You should go." she threatened with each step to her. "Please, Tokyo." she muttered. "Don't 'please' me—I'm sick of that shit." Tokyo yanked Akirá out of the carrier. "Just go… and NEVER come back." she said. "Tokyo, Pl—"
"You better leave—before I change my mind… Because I won't hesitate to scream." she said. Katherine left like a shadow as she fled the mansion. Outside, a car waited. Tokyo had opened the main gate as she watched from the window.
Antonio came out of the car. "Come on, Kathy. We don't have much time." he rushed. Antonio loaded the bags into the trunk, then he took Mila into his arms; he kissed her forehead. "My girl." he strapped her into the baby seat. Antonio jumped in the car, but Katherine's eyes lingered on the mansion—a fleeting glance. "Kathy. Get in." he urged. Eventually, she got in. The engine roared, and the tires scraped the asphalt as they drove off.
South border. 1:29 am.
23 Miles. Vinniger Lane.
The outskirts of San El Zorro stretched out endlessly—miles from the city, only a few more miles from the border. Headlights cut through the darkness; they drove down a straight road. Sand and hills sprawled across the land like sleeping giants. The car kept a steady pace; the dashboard lights bathed the interior in a muted blue. Antonio's eyes constantly scanned the mirrors. Beside him, Katherine played with the radio until rhythm and blues hummed through the speakers. Mila slept in the backseat, unaware of the miles being put between her and everything she knew. Still, Katherine's thoughts churned. She stared at Antonio. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "What's wrong?" he asked. Katherine hesitated. "Don't worry. We're almost outside the border." he assured. "That isn't the case. I-I… I can't help but feel to be blamed. Everything feels… wrong." she replied. "I thought we spoke about this already." he said. "We talked… but that doesn't mean it stopped hurting." she answered.
"I thought. We said we wouldn't hide stuff from each other." Sheglanced at the rearview mirror. "This is our daughter, Toni… for goodness' sake. Let's grow stronger. Better. For the sake of our daughter." she said. "You think I don't know that?" he asked. Mila whined in her sleep. The sound alone was enough to quiet them. "You think Stephen knows by now?" she whispered. Antonio tightened his grip on the steering wheel. "Don't start, Kathy. That life is dead. We have to move on." he kept on scanning the rearview mirror again. "If he knows—"
"If he knows. Then fuck him... And if he doesn't—then still fuck him." The music blew through the car. Then the rhythm faded. "Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I'm Gavin Celeste." the radio host greeted, "and salute to all the night crawlers still tuned in. We've been reading your messages—every single one—and we want to say we're grateful. Truly."
"My man Gavin has been reading those messages for the past hour—he even left the studio to me." Both hosts laughed. "What? I love every one of them. That includes you too, Jerry." Gavin replied. "Oh? Piss off, mate." Jerry joked. "Alright, people—welcome to the after hours for all the new listeners. Where the dark turns to day for those who take it there. Keep those messages coming while we feed you with more R&B to set the mood—whether you're studying, sipping your morning coffee… or one of those couples still awake. Stay tuned. You're listening to nine point five." Gavin giggled.
A commercial tuned in. Antonio took a slow sip from his cup. "I love you, Kathy. And that's all that matters." he confessed. "I know. I love you too… but…"
Suddenly, far ahead, another set of headlights appeared on the road. It crept closer with each second. "But… but what?" he asked. "Never mind. It doesn't matter anymore… We just, have to do everything right this time, Toni. Our daughter isn't going to grow up like us. She's going to go to the best school… eat the best meals… receive the best gifts. We have to give her the best life she can dream of." Katherine reached back and brushed Mila's cheek. "And she will get it. I promise." he said. The car in the opposite lane drew closer; its headlights stabbed through the windshield.
Unexpectedly, the car swerved into Antonio's lane. "What the fuck?" he slammed the horn. Katherine's hands gripped the edge of the seat. Antonio swerved into the opposite lane, but the other car reacted faster—it smashed into the side of the car with a deafening crunch. The car tumbled once, then rolled before it came to a shuddering halt. The other car skidded off the road; it flipped end over end like a toy, and it left shards of metal scattered across the road. Piercing cries of Mila sounded. She screamed with all the volume her little lungs could muster; her tiny fists pounded against her straps, tears streamed down her face like a river unleashed. The collision had panic and shock flood into her. Antonio slumped over the wheel, unconscious, as was Katherine, who lay next to him. The rhythm and blues from the radio still played softly through the wreckage. Mila's cries echoed across the empty desert. The cars were broken, and the road was silent. The city was miles away. And in the dark desert, only her wails remained.