Previously: "Why do I have a feeling that this is going to turn out bad," he hung his head.
I shook my head at Dylan, slung my duffel bag over shoulders and walked through the alleyways. I spotted the apartment building.
"I'll meet you behind the school after I grabbed my stuff," I told him. Dylan nodded, then broke off in the other direction in a dead run. I waited until he disappeared around the corner to begin walking again. Everyday the city seemed to grow. I ran up to the elevator, then stopped. I didn't feel like running into another runner. I turned and pushed the heavy metal double doors to the stairs and marched up. I stopped as I reached the second floor. I looked up to the wall and back and forth between the open staircase with it's surrounding railing. I secured my bag around my shoulders, walked a few stepped back, and ran. I jumped, secured my feet and pushed off on the wall with my hands, twisted my body and launched myself off of the wall, flying through the air and latching on to the railing. I hung limply for a moment, then hoisted myself up and over the railing. Two floors in one jump.
It felt awesome.
I continued up the stairs and to the door to the apartment and jiggled the door open. I fumble in to see my mom and Fran sitting on the couch. Fran was in her pajamas and so was my mom. I glanced at the clock, it only read about quarter to nine. I thought Fran had a soccer game tonight. Her games went late into the night.
"Hey didn't you have a game tonight?" I asked her. Fran smiled.
"No I don't have another game for a while," She smirked.
"Well, then why couldn't you come to my competition? I won a blue ribbon. If you weren't doing anything, why didn't you come?" I asked. My chest seemed to compact and I found it hard to breath. My mom rolled her eyes and sighed.
"Honey, I am sorry that I could go to your cheerleading competition, it's complicated…" She started. Fran always teased that mom and dad loved her more, but now I was starting to believe it.
"No! First of all, I am not a cheerleader, I am a gymnist, second it's not complicated. You know what? Forget it. Forget it. I don't care," I laughed a bit. Then the smile dropped from my face and I marched to my room, slamming the door hard. The neighbors downstairs could probably hear it. I peeled off my clothes and changed into black fitting flexible jeans and a tight black shirt with long sleeves, clothes that are comfortable to move in, but I could hid in too. I dumped my stuff from my bag and rummaged through my dresser drawers. I grabbed my clothes that I could run in, shorts, loose pants, and a few of Fran's clothes. I ripped her favorite blouse in half, the folded it gently back in the drawer. I turned to my closet and packed in a few books and my other favorite things, my grandmothers necklace, shoes, and a few of Fran's expensive things, maybe I could sell those later. I was surprised that much stuff could fit in my bag. I then came across a box. I noticed it as Fran's diary. The one she kept everything in. I couldn't open the copper lock that surrounded the black leather binding, but I found a piece of paper sticking out of it. It looked like is was ripped from a corner of the page. It didn't reveal anything except two letters. I and C. I wondered what those were for a moment before shrugging it off.
I walked to my bed and stuffed a few pillows underneath the cover. I have had times when I could sleep for days without being interrupted, so I thought I would be safe with this for a few days. I grabbed two final things. My diary, and a laser pointer. I knew that you could not go on with life with out a laser pointer, it always seemed to get someone out of every kind of jam. Then I felt I was done here. I turned to open the window and jump out, but I stopped. The only time I recall that I knew that my parents, or at least my dad, liked me more than Fran. I set my bag down and walked out of my room. I glanced at the living room, my mom and Fran were completely engrossed in whatever they were watching on TV. I tiptoed to my parents room, a clean, ultra organized, pure white covered room. I crouched next to the bed and flipped over the white eyelet duvet cover and reached under the bed. I groped the soft carpeted floor until I found an embossed box. I brought it to my lap and opened it, revealing a glistening silver lined knife. I remember my dad telling me that the knife had been in his family for as long as the family has been in the police business, which has been a long time. He told me that someday, if I decided to join the police business, I would get it next. I loved it ever since. The handle was engraved with little picture describing a bloody hunt and the blade that had the words Last resort etched into the side.
I stole the knife and wrapped it in the holder, pocketed it in the deep pockets of my jeans, then pushed the box back to it's spot. I then fixed the bedspread to it's formal perfection. Looking back at the bedroom, I gently closed the door. I then faced down the hallway and saw that my mother and sister hadn't moved an inch.
"I'm going to bed," I told them. All I got was a nod from my mother. I exhaled and walked back into my room, locked the door and grabbed my running shoes. I slipped them on and tied them tight. I bet that tying shoes so tight that it basically cuts the circulation off from my feet, but for some reason, I loved the feeling, and I never got blisters. I pushed the window opened and started to step out. Before I closed the window, I looked at a family portrait that sat on Fran's nightstand. Mom and Dad were sitting in the back and Fran and I were kneeling in front. Dad was in his professional uniform and we were all in formal clothes. Mom and Dad both had one had on each of Fran's shoulders. I was alone in the picture.
For a moment, there was a doubt that I wouldn't be able to leave my family. But that doubt vanished with a breeze tingling my neck. I gently closed the window and turned to the darkened city. I took my phone out of my pocket and looked at it. I figured that my dad could poorly trace me with it, I could just get a new one later. My grip tightened and I retracted my arm and launched the cell phone, watching it fly through the air, the LCD screen glowed in the midst of the black night. As it fell, I could see it shrink, then eventually, shatter on the ground.
Finally, with out looking back I ran down the fire escape, then bolted in a dead set run to the school.
…
I felt like I was walking on air I was running so quietly. I had a thousand different emotions running through me. I had dreamt of running away from home, but then I had no where to go. Now, I had somewhere to go, and a purpose to keep going. I turned around the corner and slowed down as I approached the school grounds. I spotted Dylan leaning against the shadowed brick wall, and I stopped when he was approached by an older woman. She crossed her arms and scolded at Dylan. She looked familiar. She wore red clothes and she had intricate markings tracing her arm. Then I remembered. She was the runner from the elevator.
I kept to the shadowed wall and walked to Dylan.
"Ready," I said. He jumped around and he looked startled. The woman glared at me.
"What is this?" She sounded angry.
"This is Desiree. She wants to join too," Dylan told her. The woman sighed and shrugged. The moonlight shone on her face and now I got a good look at her. She had her blonde hair cropped short and held back with a red ribbon, but a few strands fell around her face.
"Well. I supposed that's okay. My name is Hera. I'll bring you to our place, but you need to keep up. I'll try to go slow," She told us. "Basically, we'll start by going up to the rooftops, then you can follow me."
I secured my bag around my shoulders as I saw Hera run off. I ran too, and Dylan followed close behind me. She jumped and climbed up pipes and stuff. She was heading to the roof and while she ran up the ladder and the fire escape, I took off to the right and spotted a pipe. I jumped and began to climb, reaching the roof at the same time as Hera. Dylan came up behind her and we all ran, jumping across the rooftops. It was so exhilarating.
We ran for a while, I was surprised that I didn't tire out. We reached an abandoned building at the edge of the city and on the roof, Hera opened a hatch on the floor and dropped in. I looked at Dylan, who nodded for me to go in. I looked down and dropped in, landing on a metal platform. I looked up and stepped foreword. Dylan landed beside me and I saw Hera rushing down the stairs. It was a small jump, so Dylan and I ducked underneath the railings and jumped down, landing on the metal floor. Hera nodded and opened a door, gesturing us to go in. It led back outside.
There was a hole in the ground, half covered by a manhole. Hera jumped in disappearing. Dylan went in too. I approached the hole and placed my palms on the edge and lowered myself in, falling a few feet before hitting the ground. I looked up and was amazed at what I saw. There were several computers and an archway leading to several corridors. A black couch was against the wall.
"Looks like we have one more," Hera said. I didn't know who she was talking too, but I figured it out when two people popped up from behind a computer monitor. Both were guys, one had his arm in a sling. His hair was shaved close to his head and his arm was covered in markings, but she could only see a bit in between the short sleeve of his shirt and the sling. The other wore his brown hair back and had an earpiece at his ear. Dylan smiled.
"Hey Uncle Merc," He said, shaking his good hand. "How's that arm doing?"
"Fine, I guess. I can take the sling off in a week," Merc replied. "Who's the girl?" he asked. A little smirk played at the corner of his mouth.
"Oh, this is Desiree Aadams, she's a friend," Dylan said, gesturing toward me. Something in Merc must of clicked. His eyes opened a bit more.
"Aadams, huh? As in…" He started.
"As in Lieutenant Aadams, yeah. You know you left a nice scar from when you shot him. Good shot too, a bit to the left and you could of paralyzed his left arm," I said. He laughed a bit.
"Anyway, this is Drake, he is in charge of handing out the jobs and a guider. You will both be put under Merc's wings, he'll be your guide," Hera told them. Something beeped and she reached at her ear. Then she nodded. "See ya later," she saluted and jogged to the hole and hoisted herself up.
Merc walked out from behind the computer and led Dylan and I down the corridor. He stopped at a door. I'm not sure why, but the entire place seemed to have a bluish glow.
"Here is you're room. I didn't know she was coming, but there is a bunk bed in there. We will start training tomorrow," He said, opening the door. I peered in, seeing a bunk bed, a large dresser and a few other miscellaneous things. Dylan nodded and as Merc walked away, I heard him say "I wish I had a bunk bed."
I walked into the room and Dylan was close behind. He kept the door opened a bit.
"Do you have a problem sharing a room?" I asked him. His brown eyes shifted back and forth. I laughed at his sudden insecurity.
"Well…" he started. I laughed a bit harder.
"It's alright. I see you as a brother, nothing more. If it was more, that would just be weird," I told him. There was a voice in my head chanting the same word over and over again.
LIAR!
"Well, in that case… I get the top bunk," He smiled, walking and leaning on the bed frame. I walked up to him and smiled too.
"In your dreams," I informed him. I placed my palm on his shoulder and pushed him, causing him to tumble backwards and fall on the floor. I tossed my bag up on the top bunk and pushed myself up onto the mattress. There was already a pillow and a few blankets. I pushed my bag to the foot of the mattress and layed my head on the pillow. I heard the rustle that Dylan made, getting ready for his sleep. I stared at the dots on the ceiling. When the lights went out and I couldn't see anymore. My eyelid grew heavy and before I slept, I thought of two things.
When would my parents realize I was missing, and what were they going to do about it?
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AN: Here is the chapter, I hope you enjoy.
I have no clue what Drake looks like. If anyone does, you can tell me. I have introduced another one of my OC's Hera. She will pop up now and again, so expect her to come again. I will get into more action with in the next few chapters so keep reading and keep reviewing please!
