Chp. 1
His name was Cooper Jackson and he was in pain. But he was used to pain; it was all he'd known in his four years on this planet. He hurt all over, but he kept moving. He'd run till he couldn't run anymore. But then he kept moving. Now though, he could hardly walk. Finally, he collapsed on the side of the road.
000
Alex sighed when she heard the familiar thump-thump of a flat tire trying to turn. She pulled over, got out and went to the trunk. From his place in the bushes, Cooper heard the car and watched to see who got out. The woman he saw looked familiar, but he didn't know from where. He was scared; what if his father sent her? He didn't want to go back to his father. Fear overtook him and he started crying. He couldn't help it.
000
Alex was just starting to loosen the last lug nut when she heard. Someone crying close by and trying to hide it. She looked around without being obvious. But just as she was about to search for the source of the sound, a hand raised from the bushes. A very small hand. Then a body and finally a voice.
"Please don't send me." The boy said. Alex looked at him, a mixture of horror and sympathy on her face. She moved to him, but he held up a hand and backed away.
"Stay away from me! You're just gonna take me back to him!" The child shouted, startling her.
As he was backing up and not looking where he was going, Cooper tripped and fell down. Alex seized her chance and grabbed him. He struggled and screamed.
"NO! LET ME GO! I WON'T GO BACK! I WON'T!" Cooper wheezed. His body was already weak and the added adrenaline wasn't helping.
Keeping a firm grip on the boy, Alex spoke gently and sat down on the pavement. "Hey, hey, it's all right. You're safe. I'm not going to send you anywhere you don't want to go. I just want to help you. Can I do that?" Alex asked.
Cooper was silent for a long time and Alex looked at him. He'd fallen asleep in her arms. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed 911.
000