Chapter 1
There was nothing else left to do but run. Living on the streets of Malton was as hard as the reputation it had and more, the rules were simple. Survive. If you lived here you ran the risk of encountering thugs, hoods, murderers, robbers and more. People may say these kinds of things happen all over, but here, it's different. These crooks take no mercy and almost never get caught. This is the kind of place people run from, hide from and don't dare cross its path. I however was lucky enough to live here, and grow up here with my dad and younger sister Ellie. My name is Cassidy Rose Johnson. And I, was unstoppable.
As I picked up the pace I ran down various streets. A man with a small hand pistol followed close behind. All I heard was his voice yelling "Thief! Thief! Stop her! ", and the wind in my ears. I had stolen a small knitted doll from his corner store which happened to be important to me. I dashed into an ally, hopped the fence and sat holding my breath behind a dumpster. The mad ran right past me. I stood up and walked about 2 miles back home. Ellie should be getting home from school soon anyway. I had always waited at the corner of our sub where I'd walk her the rest of the way home ever since we were little and I had never missed a day.
I was 17 but had graduated high school early because of my intelligence, which surprisingly, came easy to me. It was unusual for people of my kind to be smart, but I guess I was lucky. I felt a hug around my waist to see the top of Ellie's head and her 2 long braids down her back. She and I preferred keeping our hair long. Once we got home I made her a snack and she did her homework. I walked out to go see if we got any mail when I was pulled from behind and pinned to the ground." Noah! "I screamed and pushed him off. "Yes Cassie?" "What the hell are you doing!!" "Well I just wanted to say hi" I looked at him in annoyance and stood up. Noah and I were like brother and sister. We've been hanging out since we were young and have been through a lot together. He only had a mom who didn't give a damn about him; but he was 19 now, and a legal adult. Meanwhile I had the same situation but with me it was just my dad. My dad threw my mom out when Ellie was just 2 and I was 13. A half of a necklace I wore around my neck every day was my only connection with my Mom, with the other half belonging to her. My dad wasn't a good father by any means. I would never dare leave Ellie alone with him. I could handle myself though. Noah is greeted with a bear like hug from Ellie. We sat and did her home work for about an hour till we heard the familiar sound of a drunken man stumbling up the wooden porch. He swings open the front door half falling in. I quickly rush Ellie to her room with Noah. Here we go again. I stare at my dad in disgust and disbelief although it was something I should be used to by now, "Drunk - again!"
"If you haven't noticed we have a 6 year old girl in this house who needs a parent and all she has is me because you ain't ever sober enough to pay any attention to her!" Unfortunately, this was the norm in our house. He looks at me with a blank, almost confused expression on his face," now young lady listen to me". He sounds too wasted to pronounce his words or even speak properly. "I am the adult around here; I ain't needing any lectures from you". I look at him in anger, completely furious by now. I'm done with his drunken ass I thought. He stumbles towards me and gets right to my face. I can smell the liquor on his breath, "I am the boss" he says in a demanding voice that pulled the trigger on my last nerve. I look him in the eye and gather my courage, "you are a drunken lousy excuse for a father, I am 18 in a week and I will take Ellie with me and leave!" he looks at me in confusion, then anger. He lifts his hand and slaps me one good. I fall to the ground and catch myself on one hand. I scatter to get up and I ran upstairs. "Ellie! Noah! Come with me now!" I demand. Noah picked up Ellie and ran after me, we charged down the stairs ready to face my dad, but instead found him half passed out on the couch. We decided to just keep going.
We went to Noah's house, hot-wired his mom's car and drove to my grandmas. It would be a while before Noah's Mom notices it missing. I was awakened by the sound of Noah's voice and gentle shakes. A warm hug from my grandma was my greeting. Ellie ran in and spoke to grandma," Daddy is being mean again! "I know sweetie" my grandma spoke in her soft voice that so much resembled my mothers. "Cassidy? Can I see you in the bedroom for one minute darling?" I walked into the guest bedroom with my grandma and shut the door behind me. My grandma looked at me with a serious face," what do you plan on doing now? He will find you here; I'm surprised he hasn't come already". "I'm going to find her, my mother" I say. By the look on my grandma's face she could tell I meant what I said. She looks at the bed spread and sighs, "how do you expect to do that". I hold out my necklace "this will help me". She looks at me and nods once, symbolizing that she knew what I meant.
I went back out to Ellie and went into my pocket. I pulled out the knitted doll from earlier, "here" I handed the doll to Ellie and looked at her saucer chestnut brown eyes, which were the spitting image of my mothers. Holding tears back as I watched her press the doll to her chest, "she will keep you safe" I said, my voice choking with every word that ran off my tongue. She nods and closes her eyes as a tear slips out from under her eye lid, "hey, don't cry, I'll be okay I promise, I'll be back". I kissed her forehead and stood up, "stay strong Ellie, no matter what, stay strong". I looked at my grandma as she handed me some money. "I can't take that!" I said quietly. "Consider it a gift" she said as she held back tears.
I glanced at Ellie hugging Noah, took one last look at the 2 people who I loved the most as we drove out the driveway in my grandmas car. Noah broke the silence, "where do we go now"? I look at him, knowing he has figured out that I'm finally ready to act on my dreams. "We will find her, that I know, but as of now we have to go back to my house, there is something I need". After a long, quiet ride, we drive closer to my house. Close enough to see the flashing police lights. We park about a block away and sneak up on foot. Noah and I listen to the conversation between the cop and my dad. He is showing them old school pictures of Ellie and me. "He is accusing you of stealing money from him and talking about the disappearance of your mother" Noah says in an astonished voice. I was more angry then shocked. "Come on, we are going through my bedroom window, I have to get something". Noah boosted me up and I climbed in. I rush over to my dresser and pull out 400 dollars and a picture. I jump out the window, making a huge thunk and bringing one of the policemen to look out the window, as we hid just beneath it.
We took a chance and dashed for the car. We were off," that was too close"! Noah muttered. I looked out the window and up to the sky. I took out the money from my grandma and unfolded it. A small note fell out on my lap. As I unfolded it I began to read it." 5571 Summerville Dr". What did that mean? Noah snatched it from me," oh geez, that's all the way across town"! "It was in the money from my grandma" I said nervously. I glanced at him, "well I guess that is our first stop". Noah looked worried," what about the cops they will be on our tail soon, how do we shake them"? I was just as nervous." we just have to be careful". Noah and I have been running from the cops all our lives, we could handle whatever team of misfits my dad recruited to hunt us like animals.
Determination was my fuel, it was time.
