Accused

Chapter Four

-4-

-20 months ago-

I ran onto the bridge and charge down the steps on the other side. I can hear them behind me so I run faster. I know they are going to catch me so I turn and run under the bridge and onto the edge of the train tracks.

I can hear the feet above me and them running down the steps, I hold my breath, not moving a muscle in order to keep completely silent.

“Which way did she go?” One of the officers asked,

“She is probably going home so that way,”

They run off towards my house leaving me alone. I wait for another minute before stepping out from under the bridge and running in the other direction to the police.

I jogged into town. I got a few glances which I didn't understand until I realised I was in my uniform still. A red blazer and tartan skirt doesn’t blend in to the normal Wednesday morning town shoppers. I spot my bank at the bottom of the road but before that I take out my purse, finding a twenty inside.

I walk into the nearest clothes store and quickly look around. I need something black and something that won’t get me noticed. I immediately go for baggy jeans but I know that if they were really after me they would know that all I wear.

I grab a cheap pair of black skinny trousers, a black t-shirt and a black hoody. I went up to pay; the shop keeper gave me a weird look. “Aren’t ya supposed to in school or something?” she asked in her chavy accent. I sighed and shook my head.

“No, I have a free period.” I smiled at her, trying to see cool and relaxed. She just frowned at me but handed me my clothes.

I walked out of the shop looking around before walking out. I jogged to the public toilets. I stripped off my uniform and shoved my new black clothes on. I walked out clutching my uniform; I searched for the nearest bin and chucked them in there, feeling like that was one more goodbye to my normal life.

I clutched my rucksack and started to walk towards the bank. I knew for a fact that Eric and Carly had started a university fund for me when they adopted me. I kind of guessed that life and death was more important.

I strode into the bank holding my head high and looking confident. I walked up to the free cashier, “Hi I need to access my trust fund. My name is Olivia Johnson.” The cashier typed franticly the turned to me.

“You have a balance of nine thousands pounds, how much do you want?” I turned around; no one else was in the bank.

“All of it,” I whispered it slightly not wanting anyone to hear the kind of money I would be carrying.

“Sorry?” she asked out of shock I turned back at her, getting slightly frustrated.

“You heard me, all of it,” She nodded briskly and hurried herself because of the tone of my voice. She handed me a wodge of notes. I didn't even bother looking it; I just walked away, stuffing some in my bag, some in my purse, some in my pockets and some in my bra.

I walked out, unsure what I was going to do next. One hour had passed since I had run away from school. I looked at my watch. 2:30pm, everyone would be leaving school soon.

Could I risk seeing the girls one last time? I had no idea what to do. I was homeless; the police where already going to where I lived so I could never go back there again.

I decided that the best idea was to just stay low until darkness. I just wondered round town, and just stayed in the back streets.

I only had to wait until five for people to desert town and the sun to go down. Rain started to trickle and pulled my hood over my head, thanking my lucky stars I’d bought a jumper with a hood. I walked over to where a bicycle had been looked up; I took out the pin in my hair and tried to pick it.