Just a short little taster!


"Astra?" Tracy asked from outside my door.
I crammed the bursting backpack into my wardrobe and quickly shut the door.
"Yes?" I called, my voice full of terribly-feigned innocence.
"What are you doing?" She demanded.
"Nothing!" I promised, quickly grabbing one of Toby's comics I found under the bed, then throwing myself on the bed.
Nothing except planning to run away.
"I'm coming in!" She warns me, and seconds later, she's standing there, staring at me with a suspicious expression on her face.
"Since when do you read comics?" She demands.
"Since now," I told her, putting the comic down "So, what do you want to talk about?"
Her eyes narrowed, and she crossed her arms "You're going to run away, aren't you?"
Damn it. Am I really that obvious?
"Tracy, I'm offended," I tell her, placing my hand to my heart "I'm not like that anymore, I've changed,"
Her thick eyebrows go up, and I try not to laugh at the pathetic expression.
"Astra, you can always talk to me, you know that,"
Sure, and get my private thoughts posted in one of her retarded articles.
"I know that, Tracy, but I'm fine, honestly,"
She sits opposite me on the bed, the bed groaning under her weight. I try not to laugh, but I'm not very successful.
"Guess I should lay off the chocolate!" She forces a laugh, then sobers up, and asks "So, what's on your mind?"
"Nothing," I shrug half-heartedly.
"Are you missing Liam?" She asks "He's been gone for a week now,"
"I think Frank's a lot worse off than I am. If you want a little chat with him, he's along the corridor," I tell her, trying to squirm out of the conversation. I don't want to think about Liam. It feels like he's abandoned me for a brother he'd only known for two days. Sure, I'd do the same as he did, but it hurts me anyway. I'd prefer to forget he exists, but I know I can't do that.
"Astra, you're hurting. You can talk to me, I won't tell anyone," She tells me, putting on the usual 'I'm pretending to care' care-worker act.
But I'm saved by Gina screaming from downstairs "KIDS! DINNER!"

X X X X X

Unfortunately, I'm sitting opposite Elektra. She's taken Liam's seat at the table.
"So, have you had a little cry in your bedroom because your boyfriend's left you?" She asks, stabbing a chicken nugget on her plate.
"Last time I checked, you were dating him, Elektra," I tell her bitterly, trying to bite into the barely-edible charred chicken nuggets, made by Tracy.
"Oh, have you been keeping tabs on that?" She asks, leaning in threateningly.
"Girls, break it up," Mike warns us, his glare focused on me. Damn it, they all hate me here.
"I'm going to go and eat in my room," I tell the table, picking up my plate.
"No, you eat down here, with the rest of us," Mike tells me.
"I'd rather starve!" I tell him, throwing the plate to the floor and storming out of the room.

X X X X X

I stand at the back door of Elmtree, and close my eyes, imagining my first night here at Elmtree, when I had tried to run away, but Liam had caught me, and led me back inside. My fingers hold onto the blade in my pocket, a new source of comfort. As long as I have my knife, I'll be fine.
I secure the backpack to my back, and then set off, closing the door behind me. The security light goes out immediately.
I am left in the darkness, the only thing I can make out is the outline of the trees.
I walk towards them, every so often warily glancing around if I hear a suspicious sound.
When I reach the trees, I find myself looking for residents lurking nearby, ready to drag me back inside. But nobody is here. Nobody is going to stop me this time.
I glance back at the care home where I have been for the past few weeks.
I wonder how they will react to the news of my disappearance. Maybe they'll burn my file and pretend I never existed, that they haven't a clue who I am. It'll be incredibly difficult, but they'd be able to do it.
I wonder how my aunt will react. But maybe she won't be told, maybe she will never know. I don't care, either way.
I don't plan to return...

I disappear into the darkness, with only one word on my mind.
London.

I have to get to London.


Thanks to MidnightIndigoMist, kingfisher blue, leigh-anne-richard-wisker123, Loveisonlythestart, and Cookie05 for reviewing!

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