Waking up from my nightmares was a routine now but as I shot up straight I realized there was a little extra weight on me. I looked down to see that Isaac was sprawled out next to me and in his sleep had grabbed my waist. I wriggled from his grip and looked outside. It was foggy and the sun was blocked by grey clouds that covered the sky. I guess it's going to rain today…oh shoot I don't have an umbrella. I opened my backpack and searched inside for some money, there wasn't a lot left and I really did need to keep some to by myself food. I looked over at Isaac and for a moment my mind contemplated stealing any money he had, but I quickly shook it off feeling disgusted with myself for even thinking the thought. As I stretched I also thought about waking Isaac up so we could travel together but I remembered how evil Eustace could be and I didn't want to get him involved. So I began to walk towards California, after walking for some time I heard the bells of a church ring and realized that it was only 5 in the morning. But I continued to walk, my eyes felt droopy from not getting enough sleep but I didn't want to have nightmares again and where would I sleep?

The wind picked up as I continued to walk and I shivered wishing I had brought another coat along with me. I walked until around 8 before sitting down and having a bite of the chocolate I bought. It melted in my mouth and I smiled at the sweet taste of it. Wow I like chocolate it's really sweet now I know why Eustace didn't want me to have it .Taking a few more bites I decided to save the rest for later and placed it back inside my backpack. More cars appeared on the road as time passed by and I was used to the appearance of them by my side. Which is why I didn't notice when and ratty looking pick up truck stopped beside me. "Get in the truck dog." The voice was cold and filled with hate I closed my eyes wishing it was another dream but as I turned my head around there he stood. Eustace sat in his truck glaring down at me, as I examined him closer I saw a shot gun sticking slightly out of the car. I gulped and looked around trying to see if I could call anyone for help but there was no one to be seen. Eustace spoke up again "Get. In. The. Car." I started to tear up as I walked into the passenger's seat and sat down quietly. He began to drive off and after a few minutes stopped at an abandoned grocery store parking lot. He turned towards me shot gun in hand "now you are going to get out of this truck walk behind this store and stand there while I shoot you."

I looked back at him and felt the terror fill inside me but then it turned into something else. I began to grow angry, angry at the way he treated me, how he treated Muriel, just furious. "Why should I?! Are you going to shoot me if I don't? so what you're going to shoot me anyway." I stared daggers at him and for a moment Eustace's face faltered he looked surprised at my actions. But his face soon returned back to a scowl, I was still very frightened and I was trying desperately to figure a way out of this situation.

Eustace spoke up again "Fine I'll kill you right here." He aimed the shot gun directly at my face and I could hear him click safety off ready to shoot.

"You can't shoot me in here. The police will find my body and go snooping around, they'll search this truck and find blood everywhere." I paused taking a look at his face "And you and I both know that you would never throw this truck away." He lowered his gun seeing the logic in my argument. We sat there for several minutes, Eustace looking at the floor and me looking at him. I would try to run but the only thing keeping me alive was the fact that I was in this truck.

Eustace suddenly smiled and they scared me to no end. He pulled out a small switch blade that was hidden in his jeans. "I can't shoot you in here but I can always cut you." I backed up as far away as I could from Eustace but his boney hand caught me. I thrashed against him trying to escape with no success, he eventually grabbed both my wrists and pinned them above my head. He lifted my sweater and slowly began to trace the knife across my skin. I hissed out in pain as I felt blood trickle down my stomach. Tears leaked down my cheeks as I started to kick against Eustace. "Get out of the car dog and I can end this torture for you!" I shook my head no, feeling him put more pressure onto the knife. I could feel the blood seeping into my jeans; I made the mistake of peeking my eyes open and looking at Eustace. His eyes held a sick hunger for the pain he caused and I saw there was no way to stop him. "Give up now dog! It will only get worse after this."

I began to sob furiously realizing this was the end. I was going to die. My head went limp as I spoke to Eustace "Ok, ok I'll get out of the truck…please just stop." Eustace smiled triumphantly as he grabbed his shot gun before letting go of my hands. Tears continued to run down my face as I slowly turned to the door. Eustace already stood there shotgun in hand and a sneer plastered on his face. He opened the door smiling as I walked out of the car. More tears graced my cheeks as I began to walk away from the car. This is it; this is how I'm going to die, by the hands of Eustace. I looked up towards the sky noticing the collection of storm clouds. I was washed over with some relief, maybe I would be able to see Muriel again, I could tell her of all the people I have met and the beautiful places I've seen. Looking forward again I noticed we were getting closer to the back of the abandoned super market. Closing my eyes and taking a long breath of air I began to accept this as my fate.

"Keep moving dog." I heard Eustace command behind me, the barrel of his gun sticking into my back as initiative. Suddenly the crisp silent air was disturbed by a loud boom of a gunshot. I readied myself for the pain but felt none. And with all my focus on the fact that I wasn't dead yet I hadn't noticed the sounds of an impending struggle behind me. Turning I noticed that Isaac was now on Eustace's back clawing at him, desperately trying to get the gun out of his hands. Once my brain had caught up with the current situation I gripped the shotgun in Eustace's hands tugging at it as hard as I could. Eustace noticed me attempting to get his gun away and-in an effort to stop me-hit me in the stomach with the end of the gun. I fell to the hard concrete gasping for air, realizing Eustace had knocked the wind out of me. Several times I tried to stand and help Isaac but my body was still trying to regulate my breath. I heard the struggle behind me and felt utterly guilty for letting Isaac get into this mess.

Boom. There was another shot from the gun. I stayed on the ground trembling and slowly sobbing. I didn't want to know who won the battle. But I heard footsteps approaching me, a wisp of cold air passed by as the victor kneeled down beside me. "Hey are you ok?" I could feel a hand gently touch my shoulder and at the sound of Isaac's words I began to cry more. Suddenly my emotions got the better of me and I quickly turned around to embrace Isaac, crying softly into his shoulder. "Hey don't cry" he patted my back, unsure of what to say or do "It's ok you're fine now. He can't hurt you ok?" Glancing behind Isaac's shoulder I saw Eustace lying on the ground but there was no blood. "He struggled a lot and shot a couple of bullets but neither of us got hit. I managed to take his gun away and hit his head pretty hard with it. He should be knocked out for a couple of hours." I stayed in Isaac's arms for awhile trying to calm myself down while Isaac continued to rub my back in a soothing manner.

"Thank you" I managed to choke out between sobs.

"No problem" he smiled down at me "Anytime." As I calmed down I began to stand and cautiously walked over to Eustace. Glancing down at his motionless body to make certain he was passed out. Sure enough he was there, still breathing but with a rather large bruise covering his left temple. Isaac walked up behind me "We have to call the cops."

I wiped around to face him "No we can't."

"Are you serious?" he scoffed at my statement "This guy just tried to kill you?! And you don't want to tell the cops. Why the hell not?"

"Because I still have to deliver this letter to Muriel's sister and id we get the cops involved I know exactly what will happen. Eustace will pull pretend to be completely innocent and oblivious to the fact that he just tried to kill me. They will agree with him and since he is now my legal guardian I will be put in his custody. Even if they did believe us I would never be allowed to see my aunt and you would be sent back to your parents." I stood facing Isaac my face still stained with tears, he looked shocked. I collapsed onto the ground "What's the point anyway? Might as well kill myself and get it over with."

There was silence between us, I could hear the sound of thunder in the distance but Isaac said nothing. "Courage I…just…god why would you ever think that?!" I was surprised by his harsh tone towards me "I know you have probably gone through a whole lot of shit in your life but god…killing yourself? What about Muriel? How do you think she would feel about that?" Isaac looked furious and I began to take in what he just said. Muriel wouldn't be very proud of me right now. I got this name due to the fact that I do have courage and here I am contemplating taking my life.

"Isaac you're right. I'm sorry for even thinking about that I just am tired. Tired of running and worrying and just all this." I motioned my hand over to where Eustace laid "I'm just really tired I'm sorry."

Isaac knelt down next to me, holding onto my shoulder and giving me a weak smile. "I know, you don't have to apologize we all get tired of well life and sometimes we just want a way out. But you have to keep moving forward because it does get better." I smiled back up at him as he slowly stood, holding out his hand to help me stand as well. "And I'm sorry I got a little angry. I just, never had a friend like you before Courage, and I don't want to see you go." I smiled up at him and he smiled back. We both stood up and looked over at Eustace who was still passed out. "We better go before he wakes up" Isaac turned to me and I nodded in agreement.

[Authors note: sorry again for the lateness I'm in school again and you know blah blah blah. Anyway this story will probably go on for about two more chapters or so and I will try my best to put up a new chapter in the next week or so. Thank you everyone who is still reading this and reviewing and all it really helps me to start a new chapter. You readers are the greatest! Have a wonderful day, I'll update soon bye!]