The Corner Cafe Escape

She always stops by the café on the corner after going to the gym everyday to get some work done, and today was no different. It was a cold January morning, and the wind whipped down the street as she made her way to the small café. The warm air and the smell of freshly ground coffee welcomed her. She ordered her usual: English breakfast tea with a splash of milk and honey, and a croissant. Then, she claimed her perch at the stool by the window—the perfect spot for people-watching and answering emails on her phone.

Emily brought over her tea and croissant. She thanked her as she placed them down on the table. Wrapping her hands around the mug, she defrosted them from the cold. The flaky, buttery croissant paired perfectly with her tea. She watched the world wake up and start their Monday morning. The dull gray sky brightening only slightly as the sun rises. Cars and buses blurred past, and people hurriedly walked by, noses tucked into scarves or the collars of their coats.

She shamelessly people-watched as she picked apart her croissant, when she saw him from across the crowded street, in between blurs of cars and buses speeding by. She’d know him anywhere: tall and wearing an expensive dark coat, with a hat to match, covering his curly blond hair. She chanced another look. Their eyes connected, sending a chill down her spine—he’d found her.

She sat frozen in place, her heart beating at a thunderous pace, drowning out the clamor of the café.

He couldn’t have found her. She had been careful. Oh so careful. She’d gone to great lengths to change her appearance—it had cost her quite a lot, actually. Meddlesome witches always asked a high price when they sensed desperation and she'd been dumb enough to let her desperation show. A new city, a new name, and a new face, and yet here he was, only a mere road and glass separating him from her. He couldn’t know it was her. He hadn’t even moved from his post next to the streetlamp. He hadn’t made his move, just standing and staring. It was too far to tell what those deep, dark eyes were saying, but truthfully, she didn’t want to find out.

Regardless of whether he knew it was her or not, she needed to leave and get home. Time to disappear once again. But she couldn’t draw attention to herself. She tried her best to resume drinking her tea, acting normal, like his presence meant nothing to her, just another person in the wave of people commuting to and from work.

Dave, another Monday regular, came up to her. “Katie, care for some company?” he asked. He was an older man with white hair and kind eyes who loved to talk the ear off of anyone willing to listen.

She smiled. “I’m sorry, I’m just about to leave,” she said.

He looked disappointed but understood and left to go find someone else to talk to. She felt bad but needed to get out of there. She cast another glance out the window—he was gone! Curse Dave for distracting her. Maybe he’d left to try another city? Could she be that lucky?

She gathered her things, placed the dirty plate and mug, still half full of tea, in the dirty dish bin, and headed toward the door.

There he was, blocking her only way out.

Her luck had run out.

“Hello, Katie,” he said, mocking, using her new name. “Two years of endless searching. You didn’t make it easy, but I’ve found you. Now, let’s not make a scene. Come with me,” he said. His voice was calm and pleasant, with only a hint of the underlying threat.

Weighing her options: go with him and probably die, or cause a scene and maybe escape. Did she have a chance? He wouldn’t reveal himself, would he? Show these people that the monsters walking the streets had faces like you and me? Plus, everyone here knew her—well, the new her, anyway. Emily was giving her a concerned look, phone in hand. That’s when the decision was made.

“I’m sorry to disappoint,” she whispered to him, “but I think I won’t be going with you.” A smirk graced her face before he moved unnaturally fast and grasped her arm.

“I said don’t make a scene,” he snarled, the fake friendliness gone. His dark, storm-gray eyes swirled with anger and hunger. The look sent an ice-cold chill through her. Did she make a mistake? Was she going to regret this?

She swallowed her fear. “Excuse me, sir, let go of me!” she yelled, ripping her arm from his grasp. His nails tore the sleeve of her jacket, leaving long slashes from her elbow to the cuff, blood starting to run down her arm. But it did what she intended—it caused a scene. Everyone in the café was looking at them.

There was a moment of shock on his face before it changed into pure rage. He hadn’t expected her to risk angering him by causing a scene. No longer would she be a damsel in distress, nor would she be his captive.

Everything slowed down, like moving in slow motion. The two burly men in the corner rose from their chairs, heading toward them. Emily was on the phone, probably calling for help. The little old lady in the chair beside them stood up, mug in hand.

Time sped back up. He lunged toward her, the hot liquid from the old lady’s mug hitting him in the face as the burly men grabbed him.

This was her chance to escape, and she wasn’t going to waste it.

She turned on her heel and ran down the small hallway to the back, exiting through the kitchen. She needed to move fast and put as much distance between herself and him as quickly as possible.

His voice echoed in her head: “You can run as far as you want, but I will always find you.”