Untold Truth

Chapter 21

The protesters who are with the Surge come running to us. They all have guns or some sort of weapon. Jacks dad lets him go to pull out his gun again. Jack looks to me expecting something but my dad doesn't let go. In fact his grip tightens.

Jack needs to get out of here. "Jack run! Now! I'll be fine go!" I yell. He looks at me then runs off stopping by the house to get Charlie. John Mars looks shocked but doesn't chase him, he just keeps his gun towards the Surge.

My dad pushes me towards the woods but I try to go the way Jack went. A sharp slap goes across my face and I bring my hand up to cradle it. I cringe my eyes shut, blocking out the tears.

"You better do what I tell you," says my dad.

I look him dead in the eyes for the first time in many years. He looks back at me as if to ask if I'm challenging him. A gun shot goes off, breaking our gazes. We run in the direction of my house while the Surge and Yuris fight, my dad behind me gun in hands, making it impossible to run the other way.

I hear people yelling and screaming as we run deeper into the woods. The occasional piercing scream or constant gun fire scared me. I don't stop though. I can feel my heart beat in my ears as my feet pound the soft terrain. I need Jack to be here. My dad jabs my back and I know that means I'm going ti slow. I speed it up and soon the noises start to fade. Once we can no longer hear anything but our breathing we slow to a walk.

"Well now you know everything I'm sure. Hanging out with that boy." Says my dad in an angry tone.

"Yes," I say. "And I won't be part of it!" I declare looking back into his eyes.

"To bad." My dad lunges at me and grabs my wrist and twist me around so I'm on my back. He pulls me behind him like this all the way to the house. When we get there he opens the door and throughs me in roughly. He comes in behind me and I try to run away but he yanks my hair. I scream in frustration.

"Why do you still want me!" I yell at him as he pushes me down the hall.

"Because you're my property. Now shut up." He opens a closet door and shoves me in. I turn around to stop him from shutting it but he's to fast. I hear him lock it from the outside. "I'll let you out once you agree to cooperate." He says through the door.

When I hear him walk away I try to open the door. It's no use. I slide on the ground and sit on my butt. With my head in my hands I recount todays events.

My dad killed 10 innocent people because they refused to join his evil league. Bobby and Donna we're killed. The Surge and the Yuris had a battle. And Jack told me he loved me. Jack... He's John Mars's son. Jack Mars.

My dad thinks of me as property. Nothing more then if someone was to take his money. You can't have your money just get up and walk away. Why didn't I run away earlier. What made Jack run away? How could my dad expect me to do as he says? To many unanswered questions. I find a blanket on a shelf and use it as a pillow. If I'm not getting out tonight I may as well go to sleep to pass the time.

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I'm at Jack's house and him and Charlie are sitting on the rock we were at. Jack sees me and smiles. "Hey Beautiful," he says.

I try to walk over to him but my feet seem to be stuck to the ground. I look around and see that I'm just out of reach from him. I try to move but I can't get my feet off the ground. I yell to Jack but nothing comes out of my mouth.

Jack looks at me sad that I won't come over. "You're just like your father."

I try to tell him I can't and that I'm trying to get to him but nothing comes out. Jack just shakes his head and walks away. "I'm disappointed." He says. I shout for him to help me, beg him but he doesn't here me.

"Karlie." Says my dad from behind me. I jump and suddenly I can move but Jack is out of sight. "It was for your own good." He hits me in the face and I wake up.

I look around. I'm in a closet. It was just a dream. Of course it was. Jack could be dead right now. I see a natural light coming from under the doorway so I figure it's morning. I hear footsteps approach and I stand up. The door opens and I see my dad staring down at me.

"Are you going to be good and stay in the house while I'm at work?" He asks. "Or do you need to go back in the closet?" He addresses me like I'm a child whose going to eat more candy. I stare at him stupidly.

I think about kicking him and running but I way out the pros and cons and I figure he'll get me either way. Especially with my history of letting him do what ever to me. "I'll be good." I decide to lie.

He smiles, "I thought so." He steps out of the doorway and lets me by. "I'll be at work now. If you leave," he pauses, "it won't be pretty."

I nod and turn away to go up to my room. He yanks me back by my shoulder and turns me to make me face him. "What do you say?" he asks through his teeth, digging his nails into my shoulder.

"Yes Dad." I say fighting the urge to break down crying. By now my shoulder must have so much damage to it.

"Okay then," he releases me, brushing my shoulders. "See you tonight." Then he leaves and walks out the door. I fall to the floor my back against the wall. I put my head in my hands. Why can't I stand up for myself? I'm so weak.

I get up and get ready for the day determined to find Jack after his confession of love. I love him too. I have for awhile now. I need to find him and see if he's alive. I need to tell him how I feel. I need HIM.

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I'm careful while wandering through the forest today. I have my bow set and I walk silently and slowly. I hear someone coming through the thicket if trees to my left, stomping not even bothering to be quiet. Almost like they want me to know they're there...

"Don't shoot." Says Darby Franch, my old English teacher. She doesn't say it like a request but a demand. I raise my bow at her ready to shoot anyway. She stops about 15 feet from me.

"What do you want?" I ask her. I know she's not just wandering for a hike in the woods, not after yesterday.

"I have a message," says Mrs. Franch. I raise my eyebrow to her as if to say go on. "It's from the Surge. They want to meet with you in two hours at your 'boyfriends' house by the little pond. They say you can bring him but no one else and no weapons. In return only myself and one other person will come to meet you and with no weapons. If you decline, we will be forced to take drastic actions." With that she turns and runs not giving me a chance to ask anything, or to think about anything. Smart.

One thing is clear. I'm meeting the Surge in two hours with Jack and they mean business. The only problem is: Where's Jack?