SHEOL

7

I had made it into the secret hideout just in time, because right when I closed the hatch and locked it from the inside, the front door was flung clean off. I could hear dozens of footsteps and muffled phrases. "Miss Haas, come out! We know you're here!" The man from before shouted.

It wasn't like my mother to hide from people. She usually faced her enemies head-on. Actually, no. She had ran from the police for about twelve years and basically let them find her. She'd been a pesky mouse with the government as the tom cat.

"Disgusting." Another man said. "Boss, come here! Look at all of these jars. They're all full of tar and slime." A round of footsteps walked in the voices direction. "And just look at all of these used needles." The boss sighed. "Well, we know this is the trailer, alright. That bald guy with the weird tattoo wasn't lying."

Things seemed to die down for a bit, until an officer screamed "There she is!" Then, the pack swarmed to the far corner of the trailer, I think it was the kitchen. I couldn't hear them do this, but I assume that they all had their guns pointed towards her.

"Well boys, it looks like you caught me." A chill ran through my body when I heard her voice.

"Miss Haas, we don't want any trouble, but if you don't come with us willingly, we'll have no choice but to take you by force." The main man shouted.

"Now, now. Calm down boys. There's no need to be rough. Let's just talk for a minute. After all, we've got all night." I had forgotten. My mother was like a Pitcher Plant. She would lure you in with her sweetness, but then would devour you whole.

"Miss Haas, come with us now. There will be plenty of time to talk at the station." The leader proclaimed.

By now, I was a bit nervous, but I knew the underlying end. I knew why she went to the kitchen instead of anywhere else. The kitchen housed the gun. It hadn't ever been used in the 14 years that we'd had it, but it was still a weapon.

A loud gasp broke through the air. I knew it, I knew it, I knew it. I didn't have to see it to believe it, I knew I was right.

"Miss Haas!" The leader screamed. "Put the gun down!"

My mother cackled. "Oh, this little thing? Don't fear for your lives, I won't hurt you. You little piggies are just doing your jobs."

Note to self: Never call a police officer a 'pig'. It's offensive and won't make the situation any less stressful.

"I've been living in the middle of the Colorado Desert for almost thirteen years now," She continued, most likely waving the gun around to make everyone uneasy. "And I've been committing fraud that entire time, right under your little pink noses. I've been collecting the governments' money and using it on illegal drugs. This shouldn't be a surprise. I've been digging this hole ever since I came to America."

It was a bit cramped in the compartment, with my backpack and I. I was rather small for my age, so it wasn't too much of a struggle. It was almost relieving to hear my mother finally admit to her crimes, instead of hiding behind them. I was still uneasy about the whole thing, and I didn't want to think about how it was going to turn out.

"Miss Haas, please. We don't want to hurt you. We just want to take you back to the station for some questioning." The man said again, this time with a bit more force.

"You're not going to take me back there." My mother sighed. "I'll answer your questions right here."

"Boss, should we take her forcefully now?" The officer who found the jars and needles questioned.

"No, let her talk." His leader finally said. "Why won't you go with us?"

My mothers' voice was lower than her spirits. "You already know about the crimes I've committed. There wouldn't even be a trial. I'd be in the slammer for quite a long time without the only thing that keeps me alive."