Chapter 2

I dazedly open my eyes, it's morning and the fire went out a while ago because all that is left is charred rubble. I sit up slowly and check for any injuries. Except for maybe some cracked ribs I'm unharmed. It takes me a minute or two to remember everything.

I stand up, where is my father? Did he set the fire? Is he dead? What will happen to me? I'll probably have to go to a foster home, I don't want to go live with some strangers. Someone might be after me soon so I have to think fast.

I turn on my heels upon hearing sirens and run. I run until I'm too out of breath to move, which isn't very far. I collapse on a bench, maybe a foster home wouldn't be so bad. I have no shelter, food, fresh water, money and the police might be after me. I stand up and start walking, if I run it might attract attention.

I walk downtown getting many stares from people, well I was just in a fire. I quicken my pace, I need to get away from the public. There aren't exactly many places to hide in Mayville. After minutes of staggered walking I reach a deserted park. I sit down gently underneath a tree trying not to irritate my ribs more.

The shade feels good on my skin, even though it's March. I need to come up with a plan, I need somewhere to sleep and a source of food. My mind is too foggy to think straight because the only thing I can focus on is that the grass is green, maybe I hit my head. My stomach growls, snapping me out of my daze; I need to find something to eat.

My moment of weakness passes and I stand up. I have no money so buying supplies is out of the question. I can't risk going to my dad's restaurant because he might be there, this is my one chance to escape; to be free. If I can find a source of money then I'll be able to survive.

Finding a job will take too long, I need immediate results. I walk over to a pond and look at my reflection. My face is charred black and my once grey shirt has ashes covering the sides. I dunk my head in the water hoping that there are no burns. My face comes out normal which is a good sign.

The tightening feeling increases in my stomach so I gulp down some water hoping that it will suffice. I start walking back into town, I need food; the water didn't help much. I come across a corner store and the contents make my mouth water. I open the door and wince when a bell goes off above my head.

"Good afternoon, sir," the store clerk greets with a smile. Confused I look at the clock on the wall above the man, 3:15. How did no one notice my house on fire, even in the daylight no one realized that it was burnt to the ground. I nod at the man and look around the store. All of it is junk food, the only healthy things in the place is some rotten bananas and apples at the front desk.

I can't be picky but I can't survive on junk, then there's another problem; I have no money. I stand there for a couple of minutes drooling over the apples and the store clerk looks at me confused. I wonder how much they cost, not like it matters; but how much is an apple worth. For some people it's easy, there are places that have apple tree's everywhere. I haven't seen one in my life, there just isn't any in Mayville.

I walk up to the counter and look the man in the eye. He has dark circles under his eyes and looks very tired. He has a slouched position and stubble on his chin. The man is obviously having a hard day.

"Are you alright kid?" he says with concern. I feel bad for him, but then it hits me. I'm feeling sorry for him and he probably feels sorry for me, I must look in pretty bad shape. I can see it in his eyes that he knows that somethings wrong. What I do next is something I will never be able to explain. In a blink of an eye, I grab seven apples and run out the door.

"Stop! Stop that guy, he's a shoplifter," the man yells from behind. Shoplifter is something I never pictured my self being branded as, I need food though and this was basically the only way to get it. I hide behind a tree and peer at the store. An officer is talking to the flustered clerk. The man points to me and the officer snaps his head in my direction.

"Freeze, FBI!" the officer yells and starts to sprint after me. The agent has black hair that is starting to gray and dark brown eyes. He has an emotionless expression on his face, he is hard to read. My legs and lungs start to burn, I know that if I run much longer; I will collapse. I turn a sharp corner and hide behind a building, the shadows swallowing me up. It did the trick because the officer couldn't see me. He looked around franticly, swore under his breath and takes out his radio.

"He got away," the agent reports.

"Retreat Rhodes, there's nothing you can do; now get back to your station," the radio answers.

Agent Rhodes swears under his breath again and kicks a stone in my direction, I press against the wall so it doesn't hit me. The officer walks away, leaving me in darkness. I look down, I dropped an apple but I don't dare go back for it. I sit down in the corner, well-hidden and take a bite of my apple.