Karina: A Cinderella Story

2

Stretching out I can feel pain shoot through my body and then I feel the sores on my back pulling at what little they had healed. I open my eyes and realize I fell asleep next to the creek. The sun is already peaking through the cave and I can see someone walking toward me.

“Karina…Karina? Is that you?” The voice not more than a whisper.

“Yes, who’s there?” I respond trying not to panic. Lexi and I are the only ones that know about this place. No one should be able to find me here.

“It’s me, it’s Mark.” The person responds a little louder this time.

“Mark? Ummm… Mr. Beckham?” I ask.

“Yes, you need to come with me. Caroline showed up at our house last night looking for you. Said that you went missing and that she was worried for your safety. She is trying to get help from the police and their canine unit.” He exclaims. He reaches his hand out for me to take and I almost do, then I register what he just said.

“Mr. Beckham I can’t go with you. I can’t go back to that house.” I really don’t know how much of my story he knows. I never told him anything but that doesn’t mean that Lexi never told him.

“You aren’t going back there. Now hurry…I have brought you some of Lexi’s clothes. I am going to step out and you are going to change. When you are done throw all of your belongings in the river and the dogs will not be able to track you to my house. From there we are picking up Jenny, Mrs. Beckham.” He hands the clothes to me and begins walking back to the opening.

. “Hurry Karina. I’m not sure how much time we have.”

I don’t need to be told twice. He just helped make my decision. I will go wherever he sends me as long as it isn’t back to Caroline.

I quickly finish changing and throw my clothes in the creek as instructed. Mr. Beckham and I start the walk to their house. I’m glad Lexi’s house is a lot closer than mine. We didn’t even make it to the house. Mrs. Beckham met us in the field with her truck and everything we needed to leave.

“Hi, Karina. I’m sorry we had to meet again like this. Has Mark explained what is going to happen?” She asks as she throws the truck in drive and takes off like the damn mountain is on fire.

“A little probably not all of it.” I say as I yawn, realizing how tired I actually am.

“You will be getting on a plain and flying to Houston, TX. We wanted to send you to Lexi but Caroline knows where she is and we can’t have her finding you. Mark has asked a few of his bureau buddies to help with your relocation. You will meet one of them in Houston. He will be holding a sign that says, Karina Sawyer, you can’t be Karina Jones anymore.” I can tell she is talking as slowly and as clearly as possible. There is a lot of information for me to digest before we get to the airport and it’s only a 30 minute drive.

“Saw…Sawyer? That’s my mom’s maiden name.” I choke out trying not to cry as I think about her and leaving the home she was in.

“We know sweetie. It’s so obvious that Caroline won’t think to look for that name.”

I am handed a passport, a stack of cash, and a debit card. Mrs. Beckham said that the debit card has already been being used in Houston by the bureau contact so that they couldn’t link my arrival to the account usage.

At the airport they both hug and kiss me goodbye. Mr. Beckham hands me a cell phone and said it’s a burner that can’t be traced. Lexi will have my number of where I will be staying but for the next two months I am to use this for all contact with her and her family. I will be in protective custody with one of their bureau friends, they said his name is Jason…just Jason. I will be staying with him around the clock for two months and then they have already setup an apartment and a job for me.

Mr. Beckham said that Jason is only a few years older than Lexi and I. One of the newest members of the protective service, Mr. Beckham had trained him himself. So he knew he was trustworthy and could handle this assignment. “Me” the assignment.

Navigating the airport and boarding the plane was a little nerve wracking. I kept looking over my shoulder to make sure I didn’t see anyone that might recognize me.

Really? Who I was I kidding? I hadn’t been in public for over four years. The only people that knew me by sight were the Beckhams. My dad probably wouldn’t even know who I was outside of the house.

Once I’m on the plane, I realize that I was given a first class seat. I had never even been on a plane before and this was amazing. I honestly didn’t know what to expect but it wasn’t this. I had a big seat that was wide enough for two of me and the feet came up like a recliner. I found headphones to plug in for the tv and a blanket just for me. I turned on one of the flight movies and reclined as far as I could once the pilot gave the all clear.

There are so many things running through my head as I try to fall asleep. I can’t believe the Beckhams would help me the way that they are. Will I be able to find a new life outside of my nightmare? What kind of apartment will I have in Houston? I have never worked so I’m not sure what kind of job they were able to place me in.

These thoughts and others cloud my thoughts as I slowly drift off to sleep.

“Beep, Beep, Beep.”

What a horrible sound to wake up to. It takes me a few minutes to get my bearings and then a loud voice intrudes on my thoughts.

“This is your pilot speaking. Please return to your seats, place them in the upright position, buckle up, and prepare for landing. Thank you for flying with Captain Stew and his crew this beautiful Monday afternoon.”

I chuckle at his last comment as my nerves start to set in and I prepare for my new life.

Getting out of the terminal was almost as stressful as finding the right gate boarding the plane. I had to ask an airport employee how to get out to find my ride. She was very kind and pointed me toward baggage claim. I didn’t need baggage claim but it would get me out to where I could find Jason. This is so scary and busy. I can’t wait to be in my new home…anything will be better than the one I am escaping.

Walking out of the security hallway to baggage claim I can see so many people all over again. With all these carousels moving luggage around. I also see a bunch of different signs with names on them being held up in the air for the arrivals to clearly read. I start to get nervous and I feel my hands start to sweat when I don’t see “Karina Jones” on anything. I found “Karina Sawyer” and skim passed. Then I remember what Mrs. Beckham had said. I take a moment to collect myself and walk to the person holding the sign.

He is a tall man with broad shoulders, clean shaven, brown curly hair kinda like Heath Ledger out of “Ten Things I Hate About You,” and big blue eyes. I tap his hand holding the sign getting his attention. He looks into my eyes and I can see the faintest smile sneak across his face before he changes his expression back to ummm…constipated, angry, or like he got his lunch money stolen. That faint smile revealed the cutest dimples on both sides of his mouth. What a handsome man..wait I can’t think that. He is my protector. I’m just his assignment.

“Hi Jason,” I say after collecting my thoughts. “I’m Karina. Can we please leave I don’t feel comfortable or safe in such a busy place.”

He gives a stiff nod before grabbing my hand and leading us out of the airport.

Apparently he hasn’t been here long because our car was waiting with a driver in the pickup lane. Or maybe they just get special clearance for assignments like this one. Either way I am not complaining. I didn’t really want to go on a long walk through a parking garage.

After we are both seated in the car and it begins moving I decide it’s ok to try and talk to either of the men in the front seat.

“Excuse me. Could you tell me where we are headed? Could we stop for food or clothes? I need both.”

They both look at each other and neither of them responds. I fold my arms together, close my eyes, and lean back. Fine, I’ll just sleep until we get there. Before I know I’m really falling asleep and decide to make use of this large bench and lay down to stretch as much as possible.