Chapter 35

Hi everyone! Here's chapter 35, hope you guys like it. I rewrote this chapter about five times before I felt it was acceptable. Though, I still feel that its not my best work. Well, please review and tell me what you think. Thanks again for all your support and hope you guys like it!

DICLAIMER: I do not own VA.

RPOV: (Rose)

I don't know how much time passed, it could have been minutes, hours, that I spend running. Running for my life. I ran as fast as my body was capable of, pushing it to its limit and then some.

You can do this, I chanted to myself.

You are strong enough.

I ran until I could no more. I leaned against a tree and closed my eyes, trying to catch my breath and regain at least some of my strength. I knew my body was holding me down, but I wasn't about to give up yet, not when I'd gotten this far, not when I was given a second chance.

I looked up, past the tree branches and the giant leaves and could see that the pitch dark sky from before was slowly changing to a light purple, dissolving the stars the night brought with it. Seeing the sky filled me with hope and strength, soon the sun would come up and I would have a few hours of safety. But, I knew it wouldn't last forever, as soon as the sun went down, the hunt would begin again.

As the sun rose higher and higher up in the sky, the dark forest turned into a green wonderland. As I looked at my surroundings, at the plants and trees, it was then when I realized that I had no idea where in the world I was. That I was lost inside a forest. In that moment, I kicked myself for not taking the road instead. I tried to calm down and not panic and thought back to everything I had been taught back at the Academy, how I wished I'd been a girl scout kid.

Mostly everything I could remember that could get me out of this situation involved either a compass or a map, and seeing that I had neither of those things, I had only one option. Before I'd ran into the forest, I saw the road right next to it, and my only hope now was to find that road. With one last sigh, I turned and started walking, hoping for the best.

I walked, checking my surroundings as I went and listened out for any noises that would be unusual inside the depths of a forest, but, all I heard was the chirping of birds and the singing of crickets and other unknown insects. As I continued on, I knew, I felt, that sooner or later my body would reach its limits. My head was throbbed in pain, making it hard to see in the bright light of the sun. My muscles ached and protested with each step I took. The slashes Tasha had given me had luckily stopped bleeding. But, all the blood I had lost was affecting me, making me dizzy and weak, but I willed myself to go on.

I thought about my family and friends. About the people I cared about and the pain I would make them suffer if I gave up now and died in this forest. How would I feel if it were one of them in my place? If they'd disappeared forever without a trace, everything left in the unknown… I didn't want them to go through all that because of me, not if there was something I could do about it. I had to keep going, at least so I could see them one last time.

I continued on, ignoring the exhaustion and pain I felt, even stopped a few times when the dizziness threatened to crumble me to my knees. After I don't know how much time, finally, I heard something that filled me with determination. The area around me slowly started to be emptier than before and the sounds only got louder. With anticipation I started running, even falling a few times, ripping my already ripped jeans and leaving them filthy with dirt, but I could care less, all I cared about was to get to that road that was ahead of me.

Finally, after pushing aside many tree branches, I got there. I almost cried with happiness, never before had I been so happy to see an extension of grey concrete. I looked up at the sky, using it as a clock, and guessed it was around three in the afternoon. My time was running out. I looked up and down the road the two-sided road, watching out for cars and seeing none. Not wanting to waste anymore time, I started walking, again. A few minutes later I heard the rumble of a car behind me and immediately, I turned around and started screaming and waving for them to stop. Only to be ignored completely.

This happen four times before anyone stopped to help me. Every single one of them just looked at me once and left without a second glance. I even stood in the middle of the road with my arms extended, risking getting hit, only to be called a bitch. At last, the fifth turn was my lucky hit.

The sun was low, hours had passed since I found my way out of the forest and I knew that if this car didn't stop I would be done for.

"Please! Please, stop! Stop!" I screamed at the top of my lungs and saw the truck continue on like nothing. In that moment, desperation filled me, I closed my eyes, trying to keep the tears of frustration in. The sudden honk made my eyes snap and my head went up, my eyes landed on the open door of the truck.

Without any further thinking, I used the last of my strength and ran towards the truck.

"Thank you. Thank you, so much." I said to the driver as I got in the truck.

"No problem, girl. Where you heading to?" he asked me.

"I don't really know," I said, "I'm kind of lost."

"Oh, honey, what's a pretty girl like you doing around these parts?" he asked and I could tell he had a southern accent. He seemed like he was in his late fifties or early sixties. His head and beard where covered with patches of white and grey hair and from his accent I could tell that he probably wasn't from around here. I realized I hadn't answered his question and quickly came up with something.

"Oh, um, I came a few days ago to camp and I went for a hike and I got lost." I explained, hoping my story was credible.

"Well, seems you had a really rough time out there." he said and glanced over to look at me. I could only imagine what he thought when he say my bloodied dirty clothes.

"Oh, I, um, fell a few times and scratched myself with a few branches." I said and the look on his face told me he didn't exactly believe me, luckily he didn't ask any more questions related to my physical appearance.

"Well, aren't you glad you're out of there? Oh, how rude of myself. Richard Evans, at your service." he said and turned slightly in his seat, sticking his hand out.

"Rose Hathaway." I said, not seeing any danger in telling him my real name and shook his hand back.

"Well, Rose, were do you live?" he asked me.

"In Los Angeles."

"Oh, honey. I was hoping you said you lived close by here. I'm sorry, but I can only leave you close to town."

"That's okay. At least you stopped, not like the others." I said to him "Would you please tell me what's the name of the town?"

"It's called Visalia. It's a pretty little town, very nice people. I'm sure they'll help you there." he said, smile at me.

"Do you have a cell phone I can borrow?" I asked him, suddenly realizing I had to call my family.

"Sorry, honey," he said, giving me an apologetic smile, "But I'm an old fashion guy. Don't even know how to use those things." I cursed my bad luck and looked back at him.

"Its alright," I said, "I'm sure someone will let me borrow a phone in town."

The rest of the trip to town was quiet and each time I looked out the window, my heart would speed up as I saw the sun set lower and lower. I was grateful that at least that Richard has stopped and helped me get out of that lonely road even if he could only leave me close to Visalia. I couldn't wait to get there and call my family, to tell them that I was okay and that they could come and pick me up. But… I also knew that Tasha might still be out there. It was either her or Alex, either way, they both wanted me, I just didn't know who was worst.

"Well, here we are." Richard said, as he stopped in front of building at seemed like a warehouse.

"This is the closest to town I can leave you, it not to far though, just a couple of blocks. If you walk straight this street," he said, pointing to the street he was referring to, "You'll get there in ten minutes, fifteen tops."

"Alright. Thank you. Thank you so much for you help." I said to him once I was out of the truck.

"It was nothing," he said, smiling "It was my pleasure."

And with that, I stood there as I saw his truck drive away. Immediately, I started walking down the street he had singled out and once again, looked up at the sky. A feeling of doom and dread started to fill me as I saw that the sun was almost complete set. Never before had I felt so much panic with the coming of the night. Luckily, with the drive here I had gained a bit of strength, I just prayed it would be enough to get to town.

With each step I took, I saw the town lights brighter and brighter ahead of me and that made me feel better. Just the idea that soon I would be surrounded by people instead of trees and bushes made me feel much better. I once again, looked up at the sky, and this time was met with the dark sky I had been dreading all day.

Don't worry, you're almost close to town. Once you're there, things will be okay. You'll be able to go home, to the people that care about. That's all that matters.

Soon, I was so close that I could even read the neon signs of he storefront windows. Confidence filled me as I saw that I was only a few feet away from getting to my destination. Finally, after everything, I was there. The confidence I felt before where now replaced by relief and comfort. Even though the streets here weren't overbearing with people like in Los Angles, there were some people here and there, plus the people inside the opened stores. Immediately, I stared asking anyone I could see for a phone. The number one thing I had to do now was call Adrian and tell him where I was, but most people I asked just ignored me. They probably thought I was a homeless and didn't want anything to do with me. Finally, a woman stopped at my request.

"Excuse me, Miss. Can I please borrow your phone?" I asked her

"Sure, of course. Are you okay, dear?" she asked me, concern filled her eyes as she handed me her phone.

"Yes, I'm okay. Thank you." I responded back.

I dialed Adrian's number and prayed that he would answer.

"Hello?"

"Adrian! Its Rose -"

"Rose where are you? Are you okay?" he said, his voice urgent and full of worry.

"Look, I escaped from where Tasha had me. I'm in a town called Visalia. Adrian, send someone to get me. I don't-"

Suddenly, the phone I had in my hand was send flying to the ground and my mouth was covered by a hand. A cold chill ran up my spin as I felt someone breath right next to my ear.

"So, little blood whore, you thought it was going to be easy to escape from me? Well, think again, you'll never get rid of me. Not until you're rotting three feet underground."

In that moment I knew that it would take a miracle to get away from Tasha. A miracle that seemed so far away, so far out of my reach.

Thanks for reading and please REVIEW! I'll be posting again on Thursday and I promise that the really action will start then. I swear. Thanks again and please review!

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