A/N: Sorry if this chapter seems a little rushed, but I'm trying to make up for not writing much. Hope you like it anyway. -A

Chapter 12: Consequences

I was in deep shit. My reflection in a storefront window only confirmed this. The glass shards really did a number on my face and arms. There was no hiding this.

But I could lie about it. I thought quickly. What would I say? Mugged? No. Too much police involvement. An accident? That could work. The trick would be making it look convincing.

First, it would have to be somewhere without cameras or witnesses. I would have to be sure the injuries matched the accident. And I would have to act the part. I started walking around, mind reeling.

As I walked, I realized it had been well past an hour and quickly called the others. They all got away and were safe. By the time I'd called them all, I found myself in a park at the top of a large hill. As I stared down at the jagged rocks jutting up from the patchy grass an idea hit me.

"Oh, that could work."

~OoO~

Twenty minutes later, I was down at the bottom of the hill, my clothes covered in dirt, my hair tangled in leaves, and any glass from my cuts burried. Putting on my 'scared and hurt' act, I dialed my dad's number.

"Hello?" he said groggily after three rings.

"Daddy," I said with a sniffle. This sobered him up.

"Chris?" He waited but I didn't say anything. "Where are you?"

"I couldn't sleep so I went for a walk. It was dark... I tripped and... and... and..."

"It's okay," he said soothingly. "Just tell me where you are."

"I don't know!" I wailed.

"It's okay," he repeated. "Stay where you are. I'll find you." After a few more soothing words, he hung up.

I felt really bad. He had to be worried sick. I felt slimy, lying to him like this. Here I was, faking an accident to cover up for a crime. After I'd promised I wouldn't be like he used to be, I was forced to eat my words and break that promise.

I'd been trying to tell myself I was doing it for them. And I was. But all I would have had to do was go alone tonight and get myself caught. Mr. Deerling had completely abandoned the last girl who got caught. She'd told about him and he either didn't know or didn't care. I would have been that simple.

But Dad was right. Crime is an addiction. As much as I hated admitting it to myself, I'd liked what we'd done. It was exciting, an adrinaline rush. And I knew I was already hooked.

The thought brought tears to my eyes. They stung as they fell, but I didn't wipe them away. I just sat in silence and cried. Finally, I wasn't sure how long, I heard my name called.

"Down here," I yelled, my voice cracking. Flashlights trained on me and I saw Dad and Peter running toward me. They helped me up and Dad wrapped me in a hug.

"It's alright," he said. "Everything will be alright." No, it thought. Everything won't be alright. I sure know how to call it. You know what they say; things have to get worse before they got better. And, boy, did they get worse.