Bobbie was absent. I took some comfort in that, because if there was any immediate danger, she would be around to warn me. At least, that’s how I hoped she worked. Or maybe she’d become tired of my strong head and abandoned me. Like she’d said, she wouldn’t force herself on me.

Either way, I missed her.

We reached the cars quickly. Three in total, linked by large rusted hooks. The sliding door on the one in front of us was open a couple feet.

“Go ahead,” I said, turning to Eli. “Up inside.” I offered my hand and helped the boy through the opening. With a final glance behind me, I hoisted myself up and in.

The inside of the car was nearly dark, but we could see well enough. The right side was empty; the left was strewn with stacked crates rotted by time. The ceiling was half rusted away, but the back half looked solid enough to stop rain. Best place I could see was the back right corner.

“Here,” I said, stepping toward it. The floor was covered in a layer of leaves—I wished I had something to offer the boy to lie on. Something to keep him warm if the night became too cold. Maybe a light to give him some comfort, though a light would draw attention. But all I had was my dress, and I needed that.

I hadn’t had any time to think through this plan at all. And I had no more plan. I only knew that if I hoped to help Eli, I couldn’t be caught myself.

He was checking out the dried leaves on the floor, seeing if they were free of snakes or something. Satisfied, he looked up at me.

“You’re leaving,” he said matter-of-factly. I was surprised by his calm.

“I need you to stay here tonight,” I said, studying him. “Do you know why I took you away from the basement?”

“You thought I was in danger.”

“Yes,” I said. “And I have to return before they know I left my room. But you’ll be safe here.”

It was a lie, because I didn’t actually know if he would be.

“Promise me you’ll stay inside this car tonight,” I said, hoping the urgency in my voice was clear. “I’ll be back as soon as I can in the morning. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“Promise me, Eli,” I repeated. “Stay in this car tonight.”

“I promise.”

I nodded. “I’m sorry I have to leave.”

His apparent lack of concern continued to surprise me. I should be relieved he wasn’t afraid, but it didn’t seem normal to be so unaffected. Maybe there really was something wrong with him? Again I was reminded how little I knew about this boy I had risked everything for. I wanted to ask him a hundred questions, but there wasn’t time now.

“I will be back,” I said.