rae1112- (steps out from hiding spot and throws away decoy of self, which is covered in tomatoes) I may need more of these, cause if you thought LAST chapter was a cliffie...well, just read this one. (hint hint) lol. I think that the next chapter will have one also, though I'm not sure yet.

Mac3- Yes, it would be rather funny wouldn't it? I just had to add a bit of his character in there last chapter.

Thanks to the two people who sent reviews, though I still know I'm loved by the rest of you. lol. Reviews are really appreciated though, even if it's just a simple "I love it." or "I hate it." though it's nice to know exactly what you love or hate about it. There's no Nigel...or anyone else's POV in here, and there prolly won't be for awhile. Sit tight, he may return.

(huggles Nigel)

Oh, and happy holidays! (Whatever you celebrate!)

Back to the Basement

Chapter 3: Escape

- Jordan -

I walked quickly to my car, launching myself inside and throwing my coat haphazardly onto the passenger seat, covering my phone along with a lot of other junk sitting there. I turned the key, and the engine roared to life. Then I paused, leaning my forehead against the hand on the steering wheel, thinking once again about what I was going to do, what it would do to Nigel. It wasn't too late to ask him to come with me. Just one call and he'd be here; I was still sure he'd do it if I asked. Then I shook my head. I wasn't going to tear him away from Boston, not because of my problem with Woody.

Now came the question I'd been avoiding: where would I go?

I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes, thinking hard. The first place that came to mind was L.A. I actually laughed out loud. That was definitely out. In any case, I didn't want to go quite so far away. Not yet.

Then I though of someplace that I had always wished to visit, and yet had never gotten around to: Washington DC. I'd always wanted to see the monuments and memorials and such. Of all the cities in the country, it had one of the highest death-rates, so work wouldn't be a problem. It wasn't too far away either. I could drive there at least.

I searched the glove compartment for a map, eventually finding the appropriate one. I spread it out in front of me and began to search for the quickest route. After about five or so minutes of tracing my finger along certain roads and lines, and then another five minutes of trying to get the large map to fold back up again, I started my journey.

It was after several long hours of monotonous driving that I realized how tired I was. I stopped to get some gas, for my car and myself. I drove away sipping a cup of coffee. It was past three in the morning when I finally arrived at my destination, and I was exhausted. I found a cheap little motel and made my way quickly inside, collapsing onto the bed as soon as the door had closed. I didn't bother to change.

Tomorrow, I decided, I would go sightseeing, and then maybe start looking for a job and place to live. With that though in mind, I fell asleep.

I enjoyed myself the next day, managing to forget some of my homesickness in the adventure of doing something so new. I took my car to a nearby parking garage and then visited the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, and many other attractions. Though at each and every one, I couldn't help but feel a bit sad that Nigel wasn't here enjoying them with me. I slipped my hand into my sweatshirt pocket and wrapped my fingers around the small picture that I had stuck in there before I left. It was a photo taken of Nigel and I awhile ago. It helped me feel slightly closer to him, though it wasn't the same. Running had never before been this difficult, but that was before I had left someone like Nigel behind. It was afternoon when I couldn't take it any longer and decided to call him.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and turned it one, eyes widening at the number of messages people had left. There was one from Garret, simply asking where I was, and one from Dad telling me he was worried and that I should call him. Another from Lily told me that she was worried as well. Woody had called me six times, all of his messages sounding more annoyed than worried. Everyone pleaded for me to come home.

Nigel had called three times as well, saying how much he missed me, but also telling me to do what felt right. This surprised me, and yet touched me so much that I actually felt my eyes water. He didn't try and push me to come home as the others had done, but simply requested that I call him so he would know that I was alright. This was all in his first message; the other two were reminding me to call him and that he loved me. When I finished listening I quickly dialed his number. It only rang once.

"Hello?" came his breathless answer. I smiled at the sound of his voice.

"Hey Nige." I heard his intake of breath on the other end.

"Jordan," he said quietly. "Oh God, I've been so worried. Are you alright love?"

"Fine," I said. "I just haven't gotten around to checking my messages. Listen, I'm sorry for leaving, but-"

He cut me off. "Don't explain Jordan, it's alright. But I do miss you. More than I can say right now." He sounded like it, and I found myself feeling extremely guilty. Maybe this hadn't been such a good idea.

"I miss you too," I said. "A lot. But…I dunno, I just need some space right now. Who knows, I may come back." He sighed.

"I hope so," he said. "But you do what you need to do first. And be careful, wherever you are."

"I will," I said. "Don't worry about me."

"Now why would I ever have to worry about you, love?" he asked teasingly, and I could hear the smile in his voice. I smiled too.

"I love you," I said.

"I love you too Jordan." I hung up and sighed. Then, as I went to turn off my cell, it rang again.

"Hello?" I said.

"Jordan!" I heard Woody's voice reply. Dammit, I thought.

"I told you not to bug me," I said coldly.

"Jordan, where the hell are you?" he asked angrily. "Everyone's worried about you!"

"I'm not telling you where I am!" I replied angrily. "You're the reason I ran away in the first place!"

"What? Oh c'mon Jordan-"

"Don't 'c'mon Jordan' me! I'll come back if and when I'm good and ready, and certainly not until you get off my back!"

"You know I can trace this call," he said, ignoring me again. "I can find out where you are."

"Go ahead, but I doubt you'd actually find me anyways," I said. "Or maybe you could just stop being an idiot and leave me alone like I asked you to do in the first place!" I hung up and quickly turned my phone off. I had been seriously thinking of driving back almost right away, until he called and reminded me why I was here in the first place. I sighed and shook my head as if hoping to clear it. Then I stood to call a cab and continue my tour.

My feet hurt at the end of the day as I made my way from where a taxi had dropped me off into the parking garage. The sun was setting quickly and splashes of pink and purple could be seen wherever sky was visible beyond the open garage walls. I passed car after car as I made my way to the elevator. I found as I approached however that it wasn't working. I sighed and pushed my way through a door that would lead me onto the staircases, dragging my aching feet up to the seventh floor. The sky was darker by the time I emerged, and the garage lights had turned on. I shivered in a cold breeze as I passed along the nearest car. It was as I reached the main aisle way and was about to turn to walk upwards that I saw him.

A man was standing across from me. He was dirty, with short black hair and a single earring in his right ear. He wore faded jeans and a worn jacked. He also carried a small shovel, and I knew this could mean nothing good. He was walking slowly towards me, shovel raised, his eyes fixed on mine.

"What do you want?" I asked with as much authority as I could.

"Your money," he said gruffly. Great, I thought. I was being mugged. Quickly I pulled off my purse and tossed it in his direction. "Thanks," he said, but kept coming, his eyes never leaving mine.

"What else do you want?" I asked, my heart beating faster as he got nearer.

"I don't like leaving witnesses," he said. So now I was being mugged and murdered. I was backing up now, and didn't bother to look over my shoulder as I began to pass a car. I knew there was nowhere to run, that I would soon be backed into a wall and then it would be over. I couldn't think of a way to talk myself out of this one. I was trapped. I wondered how the others would take it when my body was found; how Nigel would take it. My eyes began to water as I though of him. I had already left him behind in Boston, and now I would leave him behind for good. I regretted my decision to run more strongly than ever before. If only I had known that I would never see him again. At least the last thing he had heard from me was that I love him…

My back suddenly hit solid stone. I was out of time. But I wouldn't go without a fight. I watched, prepared for the worst as he slowly closed in on me. Then, a few feet away, he raised the shovel, preparing to swing. I tensed, ready. He suddenly brought it swishing through the air, strait at my head. I ducked and swerved just in time; it hit the wall behind me with a clang that echoed eerily though the silent parking garage. I ran, sprinting along the wall, all hint of tiredness forgotten. I maneuvered around car fronts as he ran easily along in the wide open space behind them, only a few feet behind me. Yet I was fast running out of options, the corner of the room was drawing ever closer, and there was nowhere to go from there, and in any case, I couldn't run forever. I was simply buying time now.

Yet I realized that my luck may run out sooner, before I even reached the corner. Though most of the cars were parked with at least a foot or so between the nose and the wall, one was parked so close that there was no way I could squeeze by. Even worse was that it was a truck, too high for me to easily jump on and slide across. Even if I tried, it would take too much time.

Think Cavanaugh…

Then I got an idea. I continued sprinting towards the oncoming truck, preparing myself as it drew nearer. Then, as I reached a car parked so close next to it that I could jump from one to the other, that's exactly what I did. I quickly leaped onto the grungy hood of the white Honda and jumped, landing on all fours on the shiny red front of the truck. I promptly slid across the smooth surface and landed on the other side. I took off as soon as my feat hit the floor, trying to gain the distance lost between him and me. I smiled slightly, the way Nigel would if he could have seen the almost Matrix-like move I had performed a few seconds ago. Then again, there were security cameras, so he might be able to after all. I could only hope that he'd be proud of my effort.

My heard was pounding madly as I finally reached the corner and spun round, watching as he came closer, more slowly than before, and yet still far too quickly. I tensed again as he swung the shovel upwards; dodged as it flew towards my head. I tried to duck sideways and take off again, but he flew out an arm to prevent my escape. I struggled as he pushed me back against the wall; he was a lot stronger than I was. Then I watched, horrified, as his right arm raised the shovel, his left still pinning me to the stone.

I wasn't struggling anymore, simply watching. As he swung the shovel for a third time, I lay my head back against the cool stone wall and closed my eyes, bracing myself. A split second later I felt it collide painfully with the side of my head. I gave a cry and fell sideways, landing hard. Now it hit me again in the side, but I didn't cry out. I could feel my consciousness slipping away. Everything was blurry, but I could see the red. It was as I closed my eyes again and felt yet another hit to my side with the shovel that I heard it.

"Jordan! Jordan!"

Someone was calling my name. I couldn't recognize the voice in my current state, but it sounded more than scared; it was terrified, panicked. I wanted to call out, to tell the voice where I was; for whomever it was to find me, to help me.

"Put the shovel down! Put it down! Jordan!" The voice continued shouting, yelling, though I could no longer understand what it was saying. Then it stopped, I heard a gunshot, and all went black.

(Hides from rae1112 and calls from hiding spot: Review please!)