cabinet against the door, wedging the door handle.
I open the window all the way and look outside. I know this building like the back of my hand. The flat roof below will allow us to climb out safely. I hop out, holding Hope’s hand tightly. My legs are so weak but my adrenaline takes over, and I somehow find the strength.
I know we have to get out. I know we have to survive. This is our chance, our only chance.
I see the drain pipe running down the side of the house and pull on it, testing its strength. I kneel down and whisper to Hope, “Get on my back and hold on tight, okay?”
She nods, swallowing hard.
She mounts my back and I grab on as tightly as I can to the drain pipe. We shimmy down the wall, falling as we get closer to the ground.
I check to make sure that Hope isn’t hurt from the fall. “I’m sorry, Hope. Are you okay?” I ask breathlessly.
“I’m okay,” she replies, brushing herself off.
I grab her hand. “Come on, we’ve got to go. We need to run into the woodland rather than the road. I know for a fact they’ll send cars out soon and the only way we will get away is if we remain unseen.”
“Are we going in the woods, Kennedy?”
I nod
“But it’s so dark!”
“It’s the only way, Hope!” I exclaim.
Cole
We’re collected from Joey’s early this morning. Too fucking early, but I know I have to do this.
I didn’t bother telling mom where I was going. She would only freak and try to talk me out of it.
I’m on the back of Chuck’s huge Harley Davidson and Pete is on with Archer.
These guys don’t mess about. They are all carrying guns and it scares the fuck out of me.
I’m not quite sure what I’ve got myself into.
We’ve been riding for hours and make a couple of stops along the way. With dusk settling in, it’s getting difficult to make out everything, but I’m beginning recognize some of our surroundings. It can’t be much further from here until we arrive at where we were run off the road. When I see the tire marks on the grass, I tap Chuck’s arm and we pull over to decide where to go next.
The other three motorcycles follow suit and we jump off, removing our helmets.
“Where should we go from here?” I ask not really knowing what our next move would be.
“Okay, so this road continues for a few more miles and then forks off. One direction will take us in the woods.” Chuck pauses, thinking for a moment. “Come to think of it, isn’t there some sort of community that lives down there?” Chuck turns, asking one of the other guys.
“Yeah, I remember checking it out when we were looking for Sara. Weird fucking place if you ask me.”
“Worth a try,” I say enthusiastically.
“Then let’s go,” he orders.
We jump back on, replacing our helmets. In that moment, I realize that even out of good intentions, this bike trip is a stupid idea. Kennedy could be anywhere. Arizona is huge, the world is gigantic, and she would be anywhere on it. I shake my head as we set back off, holding on tightly as the bikes rev and roar back into motion.
Kennedy
We keep walking. The road is just within sight, but we are camouflaged by the dense woodland encompassing the roadside. I haven’t heard any traffic the whole time we’ve been walking. Maybe they don’t realize we are gone yet if Master is still locked up.
“I’m tired. I need to stop,” cries Hope.
“I know, sweetie, but we have to keep going. We don’t want them to catch up with us. The more we walk, the more chance we have of getting away safely.”
She throws me a sad smile.
It is so dark. The cloudy, late evening night isn’t providing us with much light.
“It will be worth it, I swear.” I give her a genuine smile, trying to ease her fear.
I hear the noise of an approaching vehicle. I tug on Hope’s hand, pulling her down to a kneeling position. I listen carefully and recognize the noise as a motorcycle approaching. My heart starts to beat frantically. I quickly decide
I open the window all the way and look outside. I know this building like the back of my hand. The flat roof below will allow us to climb out safely. I hop out, holding Hope’s hand tightly. My legs are so weak but my adrenaline takes over, and I somehow find the strength.
I know we have to get out. I know we have to survive. This is our chance, our only chance.
I see the drain pipe running down the side of the house and pull on it, testing its strength. I kneel down and whisper to Hope, “Get on my back and hold on tight, okay?”
She nods, swallowing hard.
She mounts my back and I grab on as tightly as I can to the drain pipe. We shimmy down the wall, falling as we get closer to the ground.
I check to make sure that Hope isn’t hurt from the fall. “I’m sorry, Hope. Are you okay?” I ask breathlessly.
“I’m okay,” she replies, brushing herself off.
I grab her hand. “Come on, we’ve got to go. We need to run into the woodland rather than the road. I know for a fact they’ll send cars out soon and the only way we will get away is if we remain unseen.”
“Are we going in the woods, Kennedy?”
I nod
“But it’s so dark!”
“It’s the only way, Hope!” I exclaim.
Cole
We’re collected from Joey’s early this morning. Too fucking early, but I know I have to do this.
I didn’t bother telling mom where I was going. She would only freak and try to talk me out of it.
I’m on the back of Chuck’s huge Harley Davidson and Pete is on with Archer.
These guys don’t mess about. They are all carrying guns and it scares the fuck out of me.
I’m not quite sure what I’ve got myself into.
We’ve been riding for hours and make a couple of stops along the way. With dusk settling in, it’s getting difficult to make out everything, but I’m beginning recognize some of our surroundings. It can’t be much further from here until we arrive at where we were run off the road. When I see the tire marks on the grass, I tap Chuck’s arm and we pull over to decide where to go next.
The other three motorcycles follow suit and we jump off, removing our helmets.
“Where should we go from here?” I ask not really knowing what our next move would be.
“Okay, so this road continues for a few more miles and then forks off. One direction will take us in the woods.” Chuck pauses, thinking for a moment. “Come to think of it, isn’t there some sort of community that lives down there?” Chuck turns, asking one of the other guys.
“Yeah, I remember checking it out when we were looking for Sara. Weird fucking place if you ask me.”
“Worth a try,” I say enthusiastically.
“Then let’s go,” he orders.
We jump back on, replacing our helmets. In that moment, I realize that even out of good intentions, this bike trip is a stupid idea. Kennedy could be anywhere. Arizona is huge, the world is gigantic, and she would be anywhere on it. I shake my head as we set back off, holding on tightly as the bikes rev and roar back into motion.
Kennedy
We keep walking. The road is just within sight, but we are camouflaged by the dense woodland encompassing the roadside. I haven’t heard any traffic the whole time we’ve been walking. Maybe they don’t realize we are gone yet if Master is still locked up.
“I’m tired. I need to stop,” cries Hope.
“I know, sweetie, but we have to keep going. We don’t want them to catch up with us. The more we walk, the more chance we have of getting away safely.”
She throws me a sad smile.
It is so dark. The cloudy, late evening night isn’t providing us with much light.
“It will be worth it, I swear.” I give her a genuine smile, trying to ease her fear.
I hear the noise of an approaching vehicle. I tug on Hope’s hand, pulling her down to a kneeling position. I listen carefully and recognize the noise as a motorcycle approaching. My heart starts to beat frantically. I quickly decide
Similar Books
