Many thanks to my beta VladdieChica .

Many thanks to Thecheeseluver12 for reviewing. Sadly, you won´t get to know what happened to Charlie in this chapter, but I hope you´ll enjoy nevertheless.

Many thanks to Secretkeeper for reviewing. As I told Thecheeseluver12, you need to wait some time until you know what happened, but I hope, you like the next chapters.

Many thanks to Islanda. Hey, it´s great that you always review! Yes, Mike isn´t doing well at school, and for a long time, no one noticed. We will see what happens to Charlie.

And many thanks to dolphinsstarmidfield23. It´s good to hear that you like my story.

Chapter 37: Staying (Nigel)

They rushed out of the house like the devil was chasing them.

We four, Mark, Kyle, Mike and me, could only look at each other, confused and scared.

There´s something wrong with Charlie.

Whatever was wrong with him, it couldn´t be anything good. My heart beat twice as fast as normal. I could feel the tears coming, but I didn't let them fall. Instead, I put my shoes on and ran.

You remember what I told you about running? That it makes you free? It really does, it frees you from everything, especially bad thoughts.

I ran the long way, not the short one. I suddenly stood at the edge of the neighbourhood which Dad forbid us to enter because It would be our death, literally if we weren´t so lucky. I had no idea what literally meant, but it didn't sound any good.

I stared at the alley in front of me. It seemed darker than the other streets. I took a deep breath, but I didn't budge. I just stood there for a long while. Then I shrugged and ran into the alley.

My heart was racing and I tried to ignore everything around me. The old man here, the strange young fellow over there. And then, suddenly, I had left the area and was back on the roads I knew. Nothing had happened. I turned around and watched the alley.

I stayed there for a long time. Then I left.

I did not want to run home, because when I thought of home I felt sick and suddenly I really wanted to puke. But I tried my best not to.

I just ran and suddenly, I realized I didn't know where I was. I was lost. I was a ten year old boy lost in a huge city.

First I wanted to cry, but then I became angry. Why did my parents not care where I went when I was running? Why did they let me go?

Why did Dad not drive me to the stadium so I had to run there? Why did Mum not tell me "don´t run too far" give me a hug, and keep track of how long I was gone? I really wanted a hug now. She should tell me that everything was okay and that we would walk home together, but she wasn´t here and it made me sad. And it made me angry. And it made me feel something I really couldn't describe.

I took a deep breath and ran home.

When I entered the house, I recognized Kim and Jessica sitting on the couches in the living room as far away from the other one as possible - and Kim was crying. I wanted to go, but Jessica gave me a pleading look. So I stayed.

The clock on the wall ticked and I got nervous. Tick, tock, tick, tock. Couldn´t stand it. Wanted to go.

Every now and then I thought about giving the still-sniffling Kim a hug, but I could never get the courage. Stupid, Nigel, I thought since when you need to be brave to hug your sister?

I remember Henry coming home, and then Nora. And I remember Dad calling. But that´s all. I don´t know what else happened. I just remember waking up in my own bed, wearing my pyjamas, and for a moment-just a split second- I thought that everything had just been a terrible, realistic nightmare.

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