The fresh air hits me and at first I'm relieved but then the scene here sets in and the realisation of it being a worse idea to come out here sets even further in. There are police cars everywhere and the police are running around all over the place, knocking D.A.R.E members to the ground and arresting them.

In the few seconds I have to contemplate what I do next, a hand is placed firmly on my shoulder and I flinch. I realise it's just Smith which is when I collapse and he takes Mae and catches me with the other arm before we fall to the floor.

"Willow, I'm so sorry I couldn't get to you." He says sincerely with a solemn look. I dread to think how much sadder his face will get when he finds out about August. When he sees the look on my face as a response, his face becomes a mix of intrigue and concern. "What... what happened?"

I try to tell him. I really try but nothing will come out of my mouth. All I can do is breathlessly gape while streams of tears cascade down my cheeks and I can't stop it. Smith just patiently waits for my reply but I become distracted by something happening a few meters away.

It's the head of D.A.R.E with at least four men all tackling him together to finish getting some handcuffs on him and then shoving him in a police car but he's putting up a lot of a fight. He takes a swing at the one closest to his arm but his aim is off like he's lost his focus and he misses. They then finally get control and before I know it he's been stuffed in the car, the door loudly slammed after him.

"Sir, there's only one member left to catch." One of them men inform Smith as they quickly pass us by.

Smith finally breaks the intensely concerned gaze he had on me as he looks to the officer. "Okay, everyone can head back, just tell unit 7 to hang around."

"Yes, sir." He mumbles before he scuttles off and jumps into the driver seat of the police car that has the head of D.A.R.E in the back. He starts mumbling into a hand device of come sort and then seems to pause while they respond. Then the car starts up, while I watch and expect them to drive away but they slowly pull up beside us instead. "Unit 3 are also sticking around just to be safe." He adds and Smith nods in understanding but their following conversation becomes a background noise when my gaze falls on the back window.

Everything around me becomes a slow blur and my heart beat becomes so loud that I want to block my ears.

The head of D.A.R.E is returning my gaze but while I can feel myself radiating all kinds of emotions his way, he just looks reserved. He's trying to hide the collapse he's feeling inside from everything that's happened and I feel no pity or anything. He deserves everything he gets.

I notice that the window by his seat is down by a few centimetres and even though he won't be able to escape through that, I know never to underestimate the guy. Or anyone from D.A.R.E for that matter. I interrupt Smith's quick talk with the driving officer with a stuttered voice, "P-put his window up-p."

The officer gives Smith an uncertain look before sighing ever so slightly as he reaches for the window switch and the tightness in my stomach eases a little.

"This won't be the last time you see me." A gruff voice rasps from behind that slightly open window just before it can be closed and I take in a sudden but quiet breath. Even though right now the only thing I really feel is fear, when I see the smug look on his face, I get a boost of confidence.

While Smith and the officer's heads are turned towards the head of D.A.R.E and are distracted by his brief but threatening few words, I lift my head up and shoot the boss the most confident smirk I can muster with a careless shrug. Sure enough, his smug look slides straight off his face in a heartbeat and with that, the officer pulls the car away and before I know it, they're out of sight.

After standing my ground a bit, I feel myself beginning to return to reality when Smith taps my arm. I turn to him in a bit of a daze but when I focus on the little girl in his arms, I'm brought fully back to the world. I hold my hands out to take Mae back and he hesitates a little until he can see I'm okay to. Having her back in my arms brings a warmer feeling to everything and I start to feel less numb.

"What happens now?" I ask just to fill the uncomfortable silence between Smith and I. I can tell he just doesn't know what to say especially after I avoided his first question about what happened.

Which reminds me, an officer that hasn't returned to the station yet will go into that shop and find August any minute now so I have to get out of here before I see him again and I crumble into a million pieces, never to be fixed.

"A lot, to be honest. We need to you to come to the station to answer some questions..." He takes a breath and seems to go to continue his list but I stop him.

"I can't stay for all that, Smith. I have to go. For my daughter." I explain quickly with a long gaze at Mae who's still not making much noise. She's just clutching at that same little doll quietly.

"But..."

"It's not safe anymore. I don't even have anyone to take care of us now, at all." I add in barely a whisper. I then go into my pocket and bring out the USB, shoving it into his palm. "This is all you'll ever need." I glance at the shop and then back to him. "Especially after today. But I can answer questions over the phone if I have to, please just help me to disappear."

Smith gives me a hesitant look again.

"Please." I plead, tears threatening to spill. A vulnerable state that I hate to be in but right now I really feel like I have no control over anything. Not even myself.

"Okay, okay." He places the USB in his pocket and zips it up. "Get in the car, I know a few people who can help you out."

I feel like collapsing again with all the relief making my limbs feel heavy but Smith holds on to my arm firmly. "Thank you," I mouth, not able to speak anymore.

One thing is for sure, the agent life is definitely not for me.

Not anymore.

As we drive away, I can't help but stare at that shop knowing there is no way I'll ever come back here again. There are officers streaming in there now as they realise there's something in there that's a big deal but before I know it we're going around the corner and I can't see any of it anymore.

For some reason even though I'm so relieved we're on our way to starting a fresh life, there's a lingering feeling that feels like a big regret weighing down on my shoulders. I can't stop seeing August's face from just before the head of D.A.R.E took that shot and I feel like it's something that will be forever imprinted in my mind.

"I'm hungry, mummy."

A small voice drags me out of my deep thoughts and when I look to Mae's little face, her bottom lip is wobbling. She's strapped into the car so I can't pull her into my lap even though I want to.

"That's okay, we can get food in a minute." I promise her with a little smile which makes her beam one back. "Could we grab some food?" I then ask Smith who's very focused, driving the car.

He nods once. "Sure, uh, also just to clarify, your car?"

"Oh." I go silent. I forgot about August's car that's practically written off now, just round that corner near the shop. As much as I just want to leave it all behind, it has important stuff in that I need for Mae and she's what I'm putting first now. "Forget the car but I need the luggage in it."

"Okay, we'll sort that for you." He replies dismissively but I'm shocked.

"Really?"

"Yeah, we'll just bring the stuff straight to you, wherever you are." He says, glancing at me in the rear mirror. "Oh, hey look! That looks like the perfect place to eat!" He suddenly exclaims, pointing at a restaurant we're about to pass.

Mae claps her hands and giggles. "We're just getting take out, right?" I ask, just to make sure.

"Of course." He then parks the car in an area of the car park with not too many cars and I notice another police car pull up beside us. They remain in the car but look like they're keeping an eye out for anything suspicious. I suddenly begin to feel a little less scared and on my own in all of this but the fact that I know this kind of safety won't last long keeps me a little anxious for the uncertain future. "Stay here, we'll be back in a second." Smith orders once he's remembered what we want to eat and then he heads into the shop for a little while.

I find myself then staring at Mae who's just quietly playing with her doll again. She senses that I'm watching her and looks up to me with a bright smile on her face.

"I love you, mummy." She gurgles, somehow knowing that that's the exact thing I need to hear right now. It reminds me that even though she may only be small, she's the one thing in my life that stops me being lonely. I know now that at least in the near future, even though sometimes it might feel like the opposite, I won't be alone.

I give her tummy a light tickle which makes her giggle. "I love you, too."