Chapter 10

I feel guilty for not updating. I just haven't had time. I've been rehearsing for the musical I'm in, and I've had english projects, and science projects, and tests and quizzes out the wazoo. Also my best friend has an issue with me, and is constantly accusing me of doing stuff I didn't do, and on top of all that I'm student council president. Eighth grade really sucks. Sorry for not updating. Here is something for you. I've been working on this since I got home from rehearsal.

"Mom, why did we leave?" Ralph asked. Him and his mother were walking through the streets of Omaha, Nebraska. Paige held Ralph's hand as they walked swiftly down the street, with Paige looking over her shoulder every chance she got. She was scared for the safety of her and her son. She was almost ready to go to the police, begging for witness protection, at least for Ralph. He understood too much though, he would never go willingly.

Ralph didn't always understand his mother. He tried his best to learn from her, but he connected more with Walter than he ever had with his mother. Ralph thought this was wrong, and he felt terrible for it. He tried to at least act as if he were closer to his mother, but it was difficult for him. Walter understood him, his mother did not. The other members of the Scorpion team understood him more than his mother ever would.

Paige sighed as she looked at her son. She knew exactly what was going through his head right now, and she accepted it. She knew he connected with Walter and the others more than he connected with her, but she had learned to accept it.

"We're going to stay with grandma, right?" Ralph asked. Paige nodded.

"Yes, as long as we're not caught,"

At those words, Ralph instinctively looked over his shoulder. Fear immediately spread throughout his body. He turned back around quickly.

"We are being followed," he said. Paige began turning her head, but Ralph squeezed her hand tighter, "don't look,"

"How do you know someone's following us?"

"Toby's taught me a few things," it was true. Ralph had spent time with each of the geniuses; learning their specific craft. He took the most interest in what Toby did. It helped him emulate human emotion, but more importantly, it helped him learn about people. So he knew when people were following him.

"Yes, but how do you know,"

"He was tall, robust. Wearing a suit and sunglasses. He had his eyes glued on the back of your head, and there was a lump at his side, indicating he probably has a gun there,"

"You picked that all up with one short glance?" Paige asked. Ralph nodded.

"You might wanna call grandma," Ralph said. Paige nodded, and took out her phone. Just as she did, a car turned the corner, and Ralph recognized it immediately.

"Mom!" Ralph said, "there's grandma's car!"

Paige still called her mom, just to make sure. It was actually Paige's mother in the car. She opened the door, and got in just as their pursuer began shooting.

"GO!" Paige shouted as a bullet hit the passenger side window, breaking it. Her mother stepped on the gas, and they went speeding off.

"What have you two gotten yourself into?" she asked.

"You have no idea mom, no idea," Paige exhaled.

"It's a long story," Ralph said. Paige's mom laughed.

"It's great to see you kiddo," she smiled. Ralph smiled back into the rear-view mirror, "what do you need?"

"Food and a temporary shelter,"

"Are you avoiding another crazy guy?"

"No, actually a very nice one...and the same crazy one,"

"Like I said," Ralph piped up from the back seat, "it's a long story,"

"Walter," Happy said, looking up at him. A million possibilities of thing he could do ran through his head. His mind was moving faster than usual. This action took the place of fear. Walter didn't feel fear, well not directly at least. He mind started moving a mile a minute, and that was Walter's version of fear. Happy felt true fear, and that's what she was feeling right now. She grabbed Walter's hand, and felt his veins. It was a little thing Toby had taught her about Walter. When the veins in Walter's hands were puffy, and popped out of his skin, he was feeling some sort of anger, or scared. His veins were popping out of his skin.

He gave her a weird look, which she returned with a stern one. Walter turned back to the men facing them. He looked at the one next to him. He seemed to be the weakest, but he still had a gun. Walter turned towards the man, grabbed the barrel of the gun, twisted his thumb, and pried it out of his hands.

"Where'd you learn that?" Happy asked.

"Toby taught me," Walter said. Happy was surprised, but it only raised her opinion of the shrink.

"Now go," Walter said, "leave,"

"What makes makes you think we're going to leave because you have a gun?"

Walter turned, and shot the man that he had taken the gun from. He didn't see the entry point, so he didn't know how bad it was going to be.

"Well two can play that game," he said. He took a shot, and it hit Happy's forearm. She screamed in pain, and Walter took the gun in one hand, and shot that man in the head. He hit the one next to him in the stomach. He turned and faced away from Happy, pointing the gun at them. They all began dispersing, and going in different directions. He turned back, and Happy was gone.

Walter clenched his fists. He turned, and walked back into Toby's room. He slammed the door, and pounded his fists against the door. Then he screamed. He heard a sharp breath behind him. His scream had woken Toby up. Tears began streaming down Walter's face. He turned and faced Toby.

"Dude," Toby said softly, "what the," he sucked in a breath, "hell happened?"

"Happy was in here. We left, surrounded. They shot Happy..." Walter looked at Toby, who looked scared, "she's fine. Just the forearm, but they took her. And Paige and Ralph ran away, and Sylvester left, and Cabe is oversees, and Happy is missing, and it's just too much for me!"

"Calm...down," Toby said, "I don't know...if you've ever cried before...but screaming about your problems...isn't the answer,"

"You're right," Walter said, sitting down, "the water in my eyes is supposed to keep them from being cry. They're not for crying,"

"It's ok...to cry," Toby said, "screaming about it doesn't...help. And the fact that you can scream...makes me jealous,"

Walter laughed a little, "you're still Toby," Walter looked over at the shrink, to see he had closed his eyes again. Walter began crying just as a nurse walked in the room.

"Is he ok?" she asked, not looking at Walter, or the gun that was still in his hand.

"Yeah. Fine," Walter said, tucking the gun away, "just going through a rough time,"

"Do you need some support?" she asked. Walter was a bit surprised. He shook his head no. Him of all people should not need support. He pushed the nurse out of the room, and wiped the tears from his face. He walked out of the room. He was terrified to get the phone call he knew he was going to get. He didn't want to be there in person when he got it. He knew he could get it any time soon, so he left, and just walked the streets. He didn't care how dangerous it was. He wanted to let his mind wander. It was the only time he ever thought it to be meditative.

Sorry for not updating. I'm trying my best. 8th grade is super hard.