Hey everyone! Guess what?! I'm back! After a very long time, I have decided to post a new chapter. I was encouraged to do this very much, so yeah. Sorry if this doesn't exactly line up with the other chapters because I might have forgotten some parts.

Ch.7

It has been about 2 days since I was moved to this room with Rena. I guess it's better than being alone, but I want out! Rena is huddled in the corner and I'm trying to brainstorm a way out. I wish Tony was here, he would know what to do..oh well, I'm sure I'll find something. I looked around the room, carpet, blank walls, window, WINDOW! There has to be a way to open it. I walk over to the window and look at the locks, they are cheap and plastic, I easily break them off. These kidnappers must be amateurs.

"Rena!" I whispered, "Look, I opened the window"

She stood up and shuffled over to me, her nose was all red, her eyes were irritated, and she looked miserable.

"Oh Rena..are you okay?" I said.

"It's just a cold Pepper, I'll be fine, believe me." She said, trying to sound confident.

I looked at the window, then back at Rena. I knew I had to try.

"I'm going to try to get out."

"No! You'll get caught, and we'll both be in trouble."

"Don't worry, I already have a plan"

I told her my ideas, she looked a little worried, but in the end she was for it.

"Good luck Pepper, goodbye, see you soon?"

"See you soon, Rena"

I slowly opened up the window, trying to be quiet. Rena was huddled back in the corner when I crawled out the window. I shuffled around the sides of the house, making sure I was out of the view of any windows above me. Shocked, I looked around, I knew this town. Tony and I had stopped her once before and held a press conference with our Iowa counterparts. I was about 5 hours from home. I quickly jumped into a neighbors bushes and looked at the dreaded street. This would be the hard part.

I waited in the bushes for about 5 minutes before I finally built up the nerve to run across the street. I didn't know how fast I could do it, I was still so weak. When the final car crossed the road, I ran for it. When I got across sprinted to the nearest gas station and searched the parking lot for change. I was so out of breath that it hurt. It took me about 5 minutes to come up with one dollar. I needed about three more dollars more for cold medicine. I walked into the gas station and went up to the counter.

"Can I help you mam?" a young man said. He didn't say anything, but I could tell he was confused about what I looked like.

I looked down at myself for the first time in a long time. My shirt was torn and stained and one leg of my pants was at least a foot shorter than the other. My hair was in hostile knots and coated in, I don't even know what to call it. I had also lost at least 10 pounds, I looked extremely revolting.

"Umm, yea. You look like a nice guy, can you spare 3 dollars? My frien..daughter is sick and I don't have any money to buy medicine." I pleaded

"I can't give you any money while I'm working, sorry let me take you out." He said, then winked at me.

"No! Please listen to me! Please! " He grabbed my arm and led me out the door.

"Listen, I know what it's like. I'll help you out, I had to put on a show in there for the cameras."

"I'm pretty sure you have no idea what my life is like, sorry, I didn't mean that."

"It's okay, my mom and I, we started out low, really low. And whenever a kind person helped us out, we were so, so thankful. I'll give you twenty dollars."

"Really? Thank you so much, you just saved my daughter!"

He handed me the bill.

"Make sure not to spend it here, we don't want anyone getting suspicious." He said.

"Where is the nearest grocery store? I need to get there fast." The sun was going down, they would check on Rena soon, and I had to be there.

"One block that way," he pointed south, "About 2 minutes if you run fast."

"Okay, thanks" I ran off.

I ran into the grocery store, careful to avoid any cameras. I grabbed the cheapest cough syrup and two protein bars. I rushed to the check-out with the shortest line and bought the items. I made sure to rip the wrappers off the bars and throw them in the garbage at the store. I ran, as fast I could in my current condition, back to the house and through the window.

"Pepper! They're coming, I can hear them upstairs" Rena whispered.

I tucked the rest of the money in my, well, bra. It was the best spot I could come up with. I gave Rena a cold medicine pill and hid the container under our sweatshirts. The two protein bars were hidden behind us as we settled down against the wall. Just in time, two men were in the midst of unlocking the door.

"Ladies, ladies, have we got news for you. Tomorrow someone new is coming, maybe she will be able to tell us something of importance. Ha, you guys are worth nothing, I don't know why the boss is keeping you around. Whatever, here's your food."

He threw two pieces of bread and 2 water bottles at us. Then he chuckled and left.

Rena and I quickly snarfed down the bread and water.

"Tell me what happened, did anyone see you?" Rena inquired.

" I don't think anyone saw me, well except for a guy"

I told her my story and she was so joyful to hear it. I handed her the protein bar from behind my back and we both ate one as we fell asleep.

I think this might be the longest chapter I've done, not very impressive, but I'm proud. Thank you so much for reading and I would love, love, LOVE to read any reviews you leave me. Have a great morning, afternoon, or evening wherever you are in the world.