Chapter 4
disclaimer- same as always i own nothing
When I awoke the next morning I was asleep on the couch with my jeans still on. My t-shirt was soaked in sweat, and my stomach was growling from lack of dinner the night before.
I glanced at the digital alarm clock and read 7:09. The shower across the hall was running, most likely Uncle Ray getting ready for another day of tiresome work on the farm.
I slowly peeled the thin blanket off my soaking wet back and crept out of the room, so I wouldn't wake the sleeping girl in the bed.
Downstairs I poured myself a glass of orange juice, and made myself a few pop-tarts. I ate in the den watching the regular early morning cartoons, that I usually missed because of school, and was only now realizing I wasn't really missing out on very much.
When I was finished eating I went back upstairs and got some fresh clothes to get changed into after my shower. Shannon was still asleep when I finished in the shower, so I grabbed my old comic book and headed downstairs.
Auntie Diane was in the kitchen making peanut butter cookies so I gave her a slight wave then took off for the back yard where the big open fields were.
I always loved coming out to the country during the summer. It was a big change from the busy freeways and over crowded malls. I liked to just lie out in the grass and read my favourite book, or watch the clouds pass over my head.
My mom thought I was crazy for wanting to spend my time out of town with no one to talk too, and she would frequently leave me here when she went on her many shopping sprees in Paris, or trips to Japan for 'business' when everyone knew, including me she was just going to party and drink, and live the single life for a few days.
When she'd get back form these trips she'd always tell me what a great time she had, and how she hated having to come back and be a mom.
Last time she went on one of her trips she came back with Mr. Rutherford. It wasn't until after their engagement was finalized that he even brought up that he had a daughter away at boarding school.
I remember being so excited about finally getting a family, and then maybe I wouldn't feel so alone anymore.
I snapped back into reality when I heard someone plop down next to me. I looked over and saw Shannon sitting there.
"What are you doing out here?" She asked curiously.
I shrugged. "Thinking." I replied sitting up a bit.
She nodded and picked up my comic book that was lying next to me un-touched. "What's this about?" she questioned flipping through the brightly coloured pictures.
I shrugged. "I don't know. I got it in Mexico. I think it's about a polar bear." I replied.
I'd had that comic book for almost two years and I took it everywhere with me. I had no idea what the words said but I liked to look at the pictures.
Whenever I flew I'd take that comic book with me, along with my battered copy of Watership Down. I always had to have something to read just in case we got delayed at an airport or got stuck somewhere. So far I hadn't had to use it.
"How much longer are we going to be here for?" Shannon asked crossing her legs, and picking at a scab on her knee.
"Four more days, and then we get to move into the new house with my mom and your dad." I replied, watching the blood drip down her leg.
"I want to go home today." She said to no one in particular. I had to look away because the blood was now covering her knee.
"Do you need to wash that?" I asked trying not to gag. Blood was the one thing that really made me queasy.
She looked up. "Wash what?" She asked, before looking down and seeing her leg. "Oh." She whispered before standing up and running up to the house.
I soon followed her up to the house. In the kitchen Shannon was sitting on the counter while Auntie Diane cleaned up her cut, and placed a bandage over her knee.
"Okay, you're all cleaned up, now why don't you get Boone to take you to the park down the road.
Shannon nodded and hopped down and approached me. "Let's go." She said taking my arm.
We walked in silence for a few minutes until Shannon yawned. "How far away is it?"
"Like another few minutes this way, and then behind the old school down there." I pointed off to the end of the road.
"Isn't there a shorter way?" She groaned dragging her feet.
"The only way that's faster is to cut through Old man Robson's field way back there." I pointed behind me.
She smiled. "Can we go back that way?"
I'd been taught to stay away from Earl's house the first summer I ever came here. He was an old man who never married or had kids, and he lived in a big house, with a huge yard, and liked to chase little kids.
I'd run into him once before at the corner store a few summers back and thought he was going to kill me.
"I don't think that's a good idea." I said looking behind me and shuttering.
Shannon rolled her eyes. "How bad can it be?"
"You don't want to know." I replied finally reaching the park and hopping on a swing.
Shannon sat down on the one next to me and slowly moved her legs back and forth to get the swing moving. "I want to go through the old mans yard." She announced, as she went higher and higher.
I shook my head and sighed. "Fine but we have to go quickly and we can't tell anyone." I said giving in.
If Auntie Diane or Uncle Ray found out we went in there we would both most likely be locked in the house for the rest of the week.
So when we got bored of the play equipment we headed back towards the house only to turn off into a small field and approached a tall fence. "Are you sure you want to go through here?" I asked timidly.
Shannon nodded and swung a loose board forward to crawl through. I followed behind gulping in a big breath, preparing for what was to come.
We walked close to the fence, and talked quietly. When the other side of the fence came closer I let out the bated breath I'd been holding and smiled.
"We made it." I whispered. Shannon nodded, and got to the edge of the fence.
"The swinging board is right… Oh no." I pushed on the board but it was nailed shut.
"Hey! Who's out there?" A croaky old voice called. "You damn kids get off my property." The voice bellowed.
We both looked at each other and began pushing on each board hoping to find a loose one.
"I'm gonna get my gun!" The old man called out.
We frantically pushed the boards. Running out of options, I decided I could hoist Shannon up over the fence on my shoulders and I'd find another way out.
"Get on my shoulders, and jump over." I ordered quickly.
Terrified she climbed up and hopped over the fence. I continued pushing the boards, only to run out of boards.
"Boone, what's taking so long?" Shannon moaned from the other side of the fence.
"I can't get out." I said my voice cracking slightly.
"My knee is bleeding again, it hurts, please hurry." She cried.
I took a deep breath and looked around. "You can run but you can't hide." The old mad cawed coming closer.
I took a quick glance around the tall grass and ran towards the house. A basement window was open and I slipped inside before Earl could catch me at the edge of the fence.
In the basement I quickly but quietly slipped around all the boxes and old furniture.
I found the stairs and slowly walked up them. I heard a voice on the other side of the wall talking into a phone.
"Yes officer I think some children are hiding in my house." I took another deep breath and slipped around the corner into the living room.
Footsteps were fast approaching. I threw myself into a closet and waited for it to pass. When I heard the basement stairs creaking I took a run for it and shot out the front door.
Around the side fence on the other side of his yard I found Shannon sitting in the grass, crying. Her knee had gotten scraped again and the blood was just pouring out.
I covered my mouth willing myself not to throw up and helped her up so she was leaning on my shoulder.
"Let's go home." I said, my heart still beating faster than it ever has.
Please R&R
