A whole 24 hours passed and I still didn't know what to do. During the previous night I snuck into my house to grab my other back pack stashed under my bed.
I hadn't unpacked from when I ran away for a few days after I'd set off fireworks at my old school, so it still had a couple changes of clothes, a flashlight, and some extra cash I'd forgotten about.
I grabbed my phone charger, another jacket, and a few energy bars from the kitchen. Who knows how long I'll have to be underground until I know what to do.
At first I thought about getting in touch with my 'friend' Noah, but I think I'll save that as a last resort. I don't need him to save my butt again and then have another huge debt to pay.
So what was I going to do? I still don't know. And I'm extremely frustrated. It didn't help that I got zero sleep last night. Turns out sleeping behind a dumpster in an alley way will result in having a family of raccoons attacking you in your sleep.
As the second night approached I found myself in line at a frozen yogurt shop that had just opened. When I'm stressed, I crave sugar. There was a crowd of people so I figured it'd be safe to quickly get a cup of frozen yogurt. I had my hood pulled over my head to give me some cover just as a precaution. It was a little chilly out, so it shouldn't look too weird.
Finally after 15 minutes I was able to get some frozen yogurt. I sat at the bench that was farthest away from the chaos so I'd have a better view to watch people. It was partially hidden by a bush which is also why I chose to sit there.
I savored each spoonful I ate while taking in my surroundings. My head looks to the left when a sleek and fancy sports car pulled into one of the parking spaces in front of the yogurt shop, the engine being so quiet that anyone who's backs were turned didn't even hear it. I wondered who was the owner of the nice looking vehicle and leaned over the table to get a better look without a bush in the way.
When I saw three familiar faces get out I almost choked on my yogurt. Crap! Adam, Bree, and Chase are here?! How did they find me?
Abandoning my dessert, I run and hide behind the bushes near me before I could be spotted. Ugh, I was so stupid to think it'd be safe to come out in the open for frozen yogurt. Why did I let my stomach make decisions for me?
After a minute I peer over the branches and leaves, expecting the Davenports to be scouring the area. But I saw that they were standing in line, talking and laughing with some other kids from school who were there.
My eyebrows knitted in confusion. For someone whose secret was exposed, they seemed to not be worried at all. Did they really come here to just have a good time?
After watching for a few minutes and nothing was happening, I was about to sneak away when they left the line with another person who I quickly identified as Marcus. I hadn't noticed he was there.
The four teens conversed, most likely about the car since they were standing around it and pointing.
It didn't occur to me that Leo was missing until he showed up, out of breath from the looks of it. Must have ran here. The question was why? Usually the step siblings are inseparable, but Adam, Bree, and Chase didn't look too happy to see their little brother. Neither did Marcus in fact.
It wasn't long before the four of them were arguing with each other.
My eyes narrowed as I watched Marcus slowly back away from the bickering siblings. I watched as he glanced back every few seconds while walking around and stopping at the driver's side door. I was left in suspense when he disappeared into the car for a couple minutes. I had a sudden feeling that something bad was about to happen and decided to creep closer to the car.
By the time the siblings finished yelling at each other Marcus had stepped out and I was able to eavesdrop on the conversation when he got their attention.
"Guys, Leo is right. I don't want to get you guys in trouble. Maybe you should go home. But at least grab some yogurt before you go. I'll watch the car." He offered at the end while leaning against the open car door. But Leo wasn't having it.
"No no no." Leo kept repeating this while going to move Marcus away from the car. "No, no, no, no, no, no, no. I see what you're doing. You're not gonna lay one slimy little finger on this car. Beat it, eyebrows!" With that Leo got into the driver's seat, his siblings rolling their eyes before heading back to the line that had gotten shorter.
They didn't see Leo start to panic and cry for help while trying to get his door to open but it somehow had a mind of it's own and wouldn't budge.
I had an inner battle with myself on what to do. It'd be selfish of me to not go and help him, but I couldn't risk being exposed.
But his life could be in danger. Then again, so is mine.
Before I could reach a decision the car's engine revved before it sped away, the tires screeching and leaving marks on the newly paved parking lot. I waved a hand in front of my face as the smell of burned rubber wafted my way.
When I heard someone chuckling I looked to see who it was. It was Marcus, who hadn't noticed I was a mere ten feet away. There wasn't a worried expression on his face as he watched the car drive away at an incredibly dangerous speed.
I guess Leo was right in saying that Marcus was evil.
Now I for sure didn't know what to do. 'Hopefully, ' I thought when I saw Adam, Bree, and Chase make their way back, 'they'll figure something out.' I frowned to myself, "Wait, why do I care about what happens to any of them?'
"Uh, where's Leo?" Bree asked Marcus who shrugged.
"More importantly, where's the car?" Chase asked, pointing out the fact that the futuristic vehicle was missing.
"Even more importantly, where are the napkins?" I rolled my eyes. Leave it to Adam to be oblivious to the worry everyone else had.
"Leo probably went for a joyride." Marcus lied, acting like it was no big deal that his friends little brother wasn't in potential danger. "I'll just call my dad to pick us up. He's been dying to meet you guys." He pulled out his phone at the same time when someone's phone began ringing. It turned out to be Bree's and she looked at the screen and gasped.
"It's Leo!" She exclaimed before answering the call. "Leo, where are you? " She listened as Leo answered and her brothers waited anxiously to hear what was happening. Bree took the phone away from her ear and I guess ended the call.
"Guys, Leo's in trouble. We have to go help him. " She turned to Marcus, "Sorry, Marcus, we gotta go." Marcus began to panic which made me smirk. His plan was foiled.
"Wait, you can't go yet! We haven't taken a picture with the froyo-a-go-go dodo!" Adam took the bait and wasted a few precious seconds to snap a picture with Marcus and a weird person in a bad dodo bird costume. "Now we're good." Adam said and his siblings dragged him away, to worried to chastise their brother for being so oblivious to the danger Leo was in.
After watching them run off, Marcus growled in anger and threw his frozen yogurt in a cone onto the ground. Not a second later his own phone began to ring. For the first time, he looked scared when glancing at the caller ID.
"Hey Dad." Marcus said in a forced cheerful tone. "Yes, I programmed the car to drive to the bottom of the ocean like you told me. But..." he hesitated to continue, and whoever was on the other end must have said something to which he closed his eyes and sighed before answering. "The Davenport's are trying to save him." Marcus had to hold the phone away from his ear as his father went off on him. Once there was a break in the rant Marcus interrupted, just as upset as his father,"I'm sorry! I didn't think about taking the phone! I'll fix this I promise!"
Marcus listened for a moment and sighed in defeat. "Fine." His father said something else and Marcus sighed again. "No, I haven't found her yet."
Who is he talking about?
Curiosity getting the better of me, I stood halfway up and went a couple feet closer while still being hidden behind the bushes.
"She wasn't at her house, I checked during lunch break. I'd hoped she'd turn up tonight with the Davenport's but she didn't. She's just vanished." Remaining in a crouched position, I stuck a foot forward to take another step, "I know how important it is that we find her!" Lowering back to my knees, I don't notice the dead leaf in the spot where my right knee is about to rest, "I'll find her, I just need more-" When the crunching of the dead leaf filled the air his head snapped in my direction, somehow able to pinpoint where it came from. My palms began to sweat as I watched, frozen in fear, as his eyes searched the bushes. When they met mine his gaze hardened and it made my blood ran cold.
My instincts kicked in. I swiveled around and ran away from my compromised hiding spot.
I could hear his footsteps as he chased after me. But I knew I'd be able to outrun him. I've always been a fast runner and didn't get short of breath as easily as most would.
I was so focused on what was behind me that I didn't pay attention to where I was running and I ran into the busy road. The honking and screeching of tires brought my focus to my other surroundings and I narrowly avoided being hit by jumping and rolling on my side across the hood of the car. I heard the shouting of other drivers but ignored them and got to the other side of the road without being hit.
I was now running through a patch of forest, weaving in between trees and trying to get Marcus off my trail. But I couldn't shake him, and he wasn't getting tired as fast as I'd hoped.
When I braved a glance over my shoulder I was relieved to see that he was slowing down. Finally. I look to my front I narrowly avoided a collision with a tree and after regaining my composure let out a breathless chuckle at my victory.
Until something hits my back and suddenly I had no control of my body. I fell to the ground and black dots began to appear in my vision. I hear a faint groan, which might have been my own but I was losing consciousness quickly and couldn't be sure.
A pair of shoes appeared in the mess of black dots and I fought to keep my eyes open but it was becoming to difficult.
There was a chuckle that sounded far away, followed by someone speaking. "I got her." Finally my eyes couldn't stay open and I succumbed to the darkness.
I got this typed up in just a couple of hours. I already had sort of an idea in my head about what would happen in this chapter, all I had to do was get the right words typed up.