Out of Time

chapter 19 - escape

Forgiveness is a difficult decision to make. Whilst you might feel marginalised or victimised by the person, it is almost an involuntary choice on whether or not you overlook someone's previous actions. So, as Dean, someone who I've had nightmares about, a person that permanently scarred my innocence, sat in silence with me, my heart withdrew the resentment and excused our past.

Although, it seems as though the feeling isn't mutual.

I didn't expect Dean to have a conversation with me, let alone help me with my struggles. I nearly killed him, although I am surprised that he isn't holding a grudge.

Or at least a visible one.

I smile at the friendly security guard when I walk past him and out the door. He smiles back until he realises that I'm leaving early. I shut the entrance on the guard and sprint towards the fence that lines the school.

Huntington - named after the town it's built in - as I've noticed, is crushingly elitist. There's a clear hierarchy; rich and famous people obviously on the top, and everyone else trickles down to the bottom. I have somewhat broken that pattern as I have associated myself with those at the top without being one of them.

I glance behind me to see the man out of breath and speaking into his radio. He smirks at me as I reach the tall fence. It is giant, with pointy-ended poles running high into the air. I don't know if it's meant to keep us in or lock people out.

I grab the bars and haul myself up. Unfortunately, the poles had been arranged too tightly for me to squeeze through the middle. So, I have to go over the top of the wall. I hastily ascend it, and as I reach the top, I spin upside down to look at the flabbergasted guard.

I blow him a kiss before descending down the other side. As soon as my feet reach the floor, I book it. The wind blows my black hair into my smiling mouth. I skip my way to a random car in the parking lot and seeing as no one is in it, I decide to steal it.

It's a Ferrari, in it's signature red. It truly is a beauty. Unfortunately, the window obliterates into millions of pieces when I smash my way in. After making sure all the sharp glass fragments are brushed away, I climb through the open window.

I check the glove box for what I need to hotwire the car. Surprisingly, I find a knife and a gun.

Who's car have I stolen?

I pry open the access panels beside the steering wheel using the hunting knife. I then scratch off the rubber coating 2 of the red wires - which I hope run to the battery and the ignition. I twist them with my fingers, and the radio bursts into life.

I then take the final red wire and slice a piece of the insulation off. When I touch the end of the wire with the other 2, the engine starts. Smiling to myself, I grab a piece of red fabric from the glove box and tie it around tightly.

I hope this stays.

The reason I didn't call Larry to pick me up is that he reports back to Kieran. Plus, this is a little more fun.

The car purrs as I accelerate out of the car park. I pick a random direction to drive because I don't know any places. When I stop at the lights, I search for lookouts near me on maps, and I click the third one down.

I turn off the radio and simply listen to the Ferrari's engine. The smooth vibrations of the road are strangely therapeutic. I soon realise that the buildings have stopped, and I have reached a long, winding road.

Dense trees surround the pavement, and colourful birds peacefully fly above me. It reminded me of the Ashwood Estate, with rolling hills and beautiful landscapes. Fleeting nostalgic nausea shifts my serene solitude to annoyance.