Hunter The Runaway

Chapter 5 | Hunter

As soon as I had heard the news, I didn't even wait to get a ride there. I bolted out of the school compound without a word. I didn't care if I got a detention. I was leaving school anyway. Ethan and Evelyn had looked up at me in question but didn't say a word, they were still mumbling amongst themselves. Ryan kept his head down. For a minute I thought to ask them what was wrong, but my feet were running before my mind knew I was.

The hospital was only a block away, I should have been able to get there and back before the period was over. I ran out onto the sidewalk, my feet pounding on the pavement. I crossed the road on the pedestrian crossing, the red car missing me by a mere few inches. The driver honked at me ignored them and kept going past the bakery. I was tempted to stop for my all time favourite cinnamon rolls but I had to stay on track.

As I ran past the bus stop I saw a taxi. I was in too much of a hurry to wonder why a taxi was at a bus stop, so I hopped in without a word. Luckily, the taxi driver didn't even ask why I was out of school.

"Where ya heading?"

"Hospital. And hurry, please," I replied anxiously.

Silently, he sped off. I hoped we wouldn't get pulled over for crossing the speed limit or something, but I doubted it. Good thing I didn't have motion sickness, because the sharp turns that he made at this speed...

I pulled out my phone and texted Dan.

> Dan!! Is she okay? What happened?

He didn't reply.

> Dan?

> Daniel?

I began to seriously worry. What could he happening right now? She couldn't possibly - no, Hunter, stop thinking of the worst possible situations.

"Step on it," I told the driver, and I bit my cheek.
"Child, I'm doing enough of a favor for you, kay? Me - I don't want to get arrested!" He exclaimed.

I lowered my eyebrows. "Fine."

The car screeched to a stop in the hospital parking lot. I jumped straight out.

"Ay! Where's my money!" The driver yelled.

"Oh," I fumbled in my pockets. "Here,"I dropped a dollar, a mint wrapper and an earring back into his hand and scurried inside before he could catch me. Mr. Taxi Driver Who Doesn't Want To Get Arrested drove away faster than he came. I guessed he was pretty angry.

I approached the receptionist, all anxious again.

"Hi Miss, um, ma'am, uh," I stuttered and took a deep breath. "Can I please see Jennifer?... Jennifer Chance?"

She glanced down lazily at her desk at something I couldn't see. She glanced up again. She glanced down. Up again. She lazily picked up a phone.

"Hello, yes, ah, what's your name?" She raised her eyebrows to me.

"Hunter -"

"Oh, you. They've been looking for you." She sucked her teeth and puckered her mouth in distaste. Slowly, the receptionist - I glanced at her name tag - Julia, rose from her and strutted up the stairs, not looking back to see if I would follow. I hurried behind her as her high heels clicked on the stairs.

Once we had reached the top of the staircase, Julia directed me to Jennifer's room. She knocked for me, and her dad opened the door, first looking up at Julia then looking down at me.

"Come on in," he said, with a worried look on his face.

Nervously, I pushed the door open a little wider, afraid of what I was about to see. Julia noisily tried to peek inside, but Mr. Chance shut the door in her face. I squinted a little from the bright light coming from the window. Finally, my eyesight adjusted and I saw her.