Chapter 1

I feel someone shaking me awake. My heart rate quickly picks up. My eyes fly open, and I look at my mom. "I'll get Leah."I say getting out of bed. She nods. I grab a bag off the floor and put it on. I grab my runners, and throw them on running to Leah's room. I walk in and see her innocent face. So young and innocent things like this shouldn't happen to her or Seth. I walk over, and pick her up adjusting her so her head will be on my shoulder.

I walk as fast as I can downstairs. I walk out to the car, and strap Leah into her booster seat. I Check on Seth to make sure he's strapped in. It's a cold out. I grab a long blanket from the back, and put to on them both. My mom comes out with the food. I get in the car, and we start to drive. This is a routine. It start two years ago when I was 13.

Leah, and Seth don't remember our dad, but I do. When they ask about him, and where he is I tell them I don't know. When they ask about the marks I have I tell them I don't remember where I got them. I don't want them knowing the truth. I don't want them to lose their childhood like I did.

I can hear Seth complaining when he wakes up, on how he need to leaves his friends behind. If only he knew what I needed to leave behind. I pull off the necklace looking at it one last time, and I throw it out the window. I look in the rear view mirror and see him there behind us. Oh shit its all I can think.

"mom speed up. The bend is our only chance. " I pull out the school papers shoving them in the glove department, and check to make sure the spikes are there. Gripping the bag tightly I open the door, and jump landing on grass.

I get up quick, and place down the spikes silently thanking god that the roads are empty. I run to hide laying low behind some bushes. Hopefully with any luck they won't see me, but if they do I hope what I learned on the streets is enough. I hear the popping tires, and some doors opening.

My dads chilling voice yelling fix the tires they can't be far. I go still even scared to breath. My dad always scared me even when I was little. Now it's even more. I hear some one walking towards my hiding spot. Please no I think. Then I feel it the tug of my hair. "boss look who I found."Laurent says to my dad. I glare at him. I kick him hard in the knee making him let go of me. "you little bitch!" He screams. I walk back looking at everyone. There is 10 other people, and my father. I'm dead I think quietly. At least my mom and the twins are safe, but how is my mom going to do everything without me. I hope she'll find away. One comes charging at me, and I hit the cement hard just, to get out of his way. I stand back up. "where is your mother?" My dad asks "Africa."

I say in a snarky tone. He nods and I feel a hand knocking me down. I get back up, and someone grabs my arm pulling back. My mind races as my arm is in pain. That's when I get the flashback of being eleven and sitting by the grand oak with Mike and him telling me they all carry guns at all times. With my free arm and much protest from my other arm I manage to grab the gun from the guy who is holding me.

I shoot his foot, quickly shoot everyone else in the leg. I drop the gun, and run into the forest. I know their healing will kick in soon. I look back, and fall of the edge. Water is underneath and I go into a dive. I swim under knowing they would expect the water to kill me. My dad thinks I'm scared of water ever since I saw my friend Misty 'drown', but I was part of the swim team back at our third home. It taught me a lot. I swim as fast as I can, and as low under as possible.

Where I have scraps stings under the water. I feel my lungs ready to burst and swim up. I gasp in air, and take deep breaths. I see land, and I start swimming over that way. I come out on a beach full of people. I take off my shirt, and jeans. Luckily my underwear and bra look like a bikini, and I am wearing the cover my mom bought me to hide the bruises. It blends right in to my skin. I walk up to a boy with brown hair. "excuse me?"He looks over at me with the bluest of blue eyes. For a moment I lose my self. "yeah. "He flashes a smile."do you have a buck I can borrow."He reaches into his pocket, and tosses it to me. "thanks"I mumble as a blonde girl comes over to him. I walk off the beach, and towards the pay phone. I dial my moms number. "hello"She picks up on the second ring. "where?" "Pelican hill."I hear the phone click shut. The only Pelican hill is over in the next town.

I walk over to a little store. I dig in the bag for my twenty dollar bill. I grab onto them, and jog over to the store. I buy a top, and bottoms.

I get dried in the bathroom locking the door, and getting un dressed then redressed in the change room. I get a dollar change so I walk back onto the beach.

I find the brown haired boy. I find him over at a juice bar by the rocks on the beach. I put it down next to his drink because he seems to interested in the blonde girl or is it the view of her chest. I set the dollar down, and walk away. Soon I hear footsteps behind me. My heart races and I fear the worst. "hey! Hey wait up!"I turn around confused, and see the same boy. He stops in front of me. I look at him confused. "what is it?"I ask. He holds up the dollar. "I found my money I don't need it anymore."I say starting to turn. He catches my arm, and I flinch at his warmth. "Where you going. The party is just getting started"He looks at me confused. "I wasn't formally invited, and I have a prior commitment."

I pull away, and get onto the sidewalk. I look back, and see him there. I smile weakly.What would I give to be able to stay, and dance the day away. I think to myself as I start to run. I sprint to the highway, and start the walk on the emergency lanes. I let my thoughts wander on the what if. What if I was born into a normal family, and not have to run away. I picture myself as a cheerleader. I am pretty flexible. I'll date the jock, and go to all the parties.

The sound of a car honking grabs my attention. I look back. I see a silver Volvo coming to a stop in the emergency lanes. I quicken my pace."Hey dollar girl!"I turn at the sound of the brown haired boys voice. He jogs up to me."where are you going?""to meet up with my mom.""let me take you." I shake my head no. "I can walk its not that far.""it's on a highway."He gives me a pointed look."I know where it is I can see that much.""come on don't be difficult."I sigh. It will get me closer quicker. It does feel like its going to rain. He smiles a heart melting smile. "fine I'll go with you, but I'm warning you I know self defense so don't try anything."He nods. We walk to the car. I wait for the door to unlock, and climb in. "where to?""Pelican hill."I hear the engine purr to life. He drives fast. Its a speed I'm familiar with.

I let myself flashback to the drives I took with my older half brother. I miss Emmett everyday, but I can't ever see him again. He would tell my dad, and I'll jeopardize my family's safety. I lean back, letting myself remember our last drive."Angie don't run to far." Emmett laughs running after me. He picks me up over his shoulder. I'm twelve, and his eighteen. He plops me down on the back seat off the car. "we our going for ice-cream, that's final." he started the car while I climb onto the front doing up my seat belt. The wind blows my hair everywhere as he speeds down the familiar roads to our ice-cream shop. I got vanilla, and he got strawberry. Then we just drove around town just for fun, or as he put it to see where the wind took us that day.

I blink back tears. The car does a sharp left turn. I look around searching for the cause. I see the Pelican hill sign come into view. "you can leave me here."I say pointing to the driveway of a dairy queen. He pulls into it."want an ice-cream before we part ways."He asks looking straight ahead. "no thanks. Thanks for the ride though."I get out of the car, and close the door. I walk off not looking back. I just need to forget about him.

I jog down to the place. My mom, and siblings are out front. Leah runs up to me."Bella mommy says that we are heading east this time. She says that she'll make more money, and we will be able to go to Disney land."

Her arms are getting tight on my waist, and I walk with her on my feet. Seth is sitting behind my mom, with his deck of cards. I mess up his hair as I sit down. My mom looks at me with tired eyes. I smile softly."did you find a place?"I ask rubbing my eye. She shakes her head no. "I got one."I say with a sigh. She gets up, and nods. We start to walk to the car, which we will ditch soon. We climb in, and start the drive."is it east?"I nod. "get onto the 27."

I say look at my phone, and dialing Rogers number. I hear the machine pick up, and I start going through the process of changing the numbers. It is a ten hour drive without stopping, but since we need to stop every two hours because of my siblings, it's actually a days drive. Lucky for us that they can sleep in the car. Soon they start up.

"mommy?""yes Leah?""I'm hungry."

I sigh, and tune out the conversation. I text Mike my new number. I look out the window at the water. I start to feel a sense of calmness, and belong as I watch the waves crash on to the shore. To be free like a bird. Is the only thought running through my head. My phone buzzes snapping me out of my peaceful state. I look down at the phone.

Hope this means you got out okay.

I smile down at the text. Mike is the only person I stay in contact with from back at my dads place. I trust him. He was proven not useable a few years back. So now he is useful to me because he is my snitch. He, he that's not the right word. We were really close back then, and he only wants what is best for me. He gives me a heads up a week before that way I can get everything ready.

Yeah. We did now we are going East. Near Madison beach.

I hit the send button. My mom looks over at me, and smiles weakly. I smile back at her even weaker. My phone buzzes, and look down.

Okay then I'll let u know if anything.

I don't bother answering, and put my phone in my bag. We pull into a Victoria 's parking lot. I get out not really paying attention. I walk to sit in a booth, and wait for them there. My mom writes down the order, and sends me. I sigh, and get up. I scribble down my order, and hand the cashier the note.

"I'm sorry Madame we are out of fruit Fruitopia."

The sound of a British accent breaks through my oblivious.

"hmm oh okay then Nestea is just fine."

I look up, and meet his clear blue eyes. I loose my train of thought for a moment as his eyes stare intensely back into my brown ones.

"Bella I want to go potty."

I shake my head, and look down at my brother.

"go tell mom."

He smiles and runs off. I watch him as he runs, and see my mom give him a candy bar when he sits down. I move to the side. Why would she do that.

I think to myself. I shrug it off, and ask for some salt as I get the food. I feel someone watching me as I walk away. A quick glance over my shoulder, and I see the cashier blushing. I guess he was the one staring.

We get into the car shortly afterwards, and start the drive. I pull my diary out of my suit case, deciding that I should write it. Maybe one day what is written in the pages of all my diaries can be used as proof to put my dad, and everyone else away

Dear diary We are on to another city I'm getting sick of moving. My mom is still too scared to go to the police. So I need to wait till I'm away at college in a few years. I think the car is being ditched at the next clearing. But with my fall into the water the matches are wet. So we can't set the car on fire.. I saw a boy today he is super cute. He's the Zafrinahier at a Victoria 's. A stupid crush not even worth anything.

I shut my dairy, and look out the window. Trees fly by seeming never changing. I wonder what it is like to live a predictable life. I bet it's relaxing.

I yawn feeling tired. I lean back in the seat. I turn up the radio when a familiar song comes on.

My mom pulls over. She gets out, and the twins follow. She grabs all the suit cases. They walk up the little hill, and then I get out.

I see a pink bright thing come flying towards me. I move out of the way, and a lighter lands right there. I pick it up, along with a twig.

I set the end of the twig on fire. I hold it in my left hand. I pull out the disposable cell I brought last week, and dial 911. I go through that process, and then throw the twig on the backseat of the car, along with that cell.

I run to the cover of trees. I walk up the small hill. My mom is on the curb I jump into the car, and we speed off to our new temporary home.