Runaway

Chapter 4

I'm such an idiot. Why did I leave the only person I knew? Why did I lose the only person I could find?

Thoughts like this swirled in my brain until it felt like a sandstorm had taken control of my head. Guilt burying its self deep inside me. I left him. I can't believe I left him behind.

Suddenly I stumbled over something on the ground and fell flat on my face. Did I mention that I'm ridiculously clumsy? Well, I am. But this time it wasn't my fault that I tripped up. It was the thing that attacked me.

I immediately backed up into a tree. The hard trunk slamming into my spine. A dog. It was a dog, and it had a collar on with a shiny gold name tag saying 'Property of sector 1'
Dread flooded through my body from my head to my finger tips all the way too my toes.This dog, it's trained to kill.

My instincts took over and made my feet move one after the other. Left. Right. Left. Right. I took off through the Forrest deeper and deeper. Faints barks could be heard behind me but I don't stop. I travel until my legs give way and I tumble straight down the side of a hill. A hill? Oh no. Oh no. Oh no no no. The only hills in this Forrest are technically slopes leading down to the centre. The CentreCity to be precise.

Several angry faces look down at me. Their eyes penetrating my every move it felt like some sort of X- Ray even though humans find this impossible. Unless... never mind. I push the thought away. Not the time to be dreaming up schemes.

I feel a rough hand on my shoulder drag me to my feet. I stumble which isn't a good sign, and fall against my 'attacker.' His hands lift me over his shoulder, which surprised me. He obviously knew I wasn't going to come easily. Wait, how did he know that? I cock my head to the side to confirm my ever-growing suspicions. I was right. It's the man I punched in the jaw before, and stood right next to them was the other attacker. Theo's attacker.
"Where is he?" I croak, directing my hardened gaze at him. It just occurred to me how long it's been since I used my voice. 2 days? 3 days? I've lost track of time in the Forrest to be honest. Then he replies.
"You'll soon find out, my dear" He says the last two words with a sickly sweetness. I've never hated someone as much as I do now. I lash out. This time at him, just missing his stomach and his rib cage because of the man holding me down.
"Take her away lads. I'll deal with her later." Hatred bubbles up inside me as Theo's attacker spits out the last two words.
"Hey don't waste your breath I can take her on my own" the man behind my says, almost shyly. Not waiting for an answer, he grips tighter to my arms and steers me away.

As soon as we're out of the courtyard the man shoves me down a corridor and through a door hidden behind an old potted plant. I try to scream and retaliate but he places a warm hand over my mouth. I Bite and taste blood.
"What are you, some sort of vampire?" He whispers almost jokingly in my ear.
I roll my eyes and keep walking. My instincts say it's safe. So it's safe.

He finally lets go of me but slams me into a chair as if to prove he's stronger. As if. He starts talking immediately, with a soothing voice. Well it would be soothing if i wasn't here.
"My name is Trigg. Don't call me anything else." He stops supposedly, for my name but as soon as I start talking me, he begins again.
"I work in sector 1 and no, we are not meant to be in this room right now.So don't tell anybody." Another break and he continues.
"I hate it here, they use us. They use me. That is why we're here. Starting now I'm rescuing you. Don't tell anybody. Or I will decide against my decision."
Finally I get time to speak. But I don't want to reveal too much to a stranger.
"But why? Why me? You don't even know me?" I reply annoyed that he thinks were suddenly connected in someway.
"YOU don't know ME, You mean."
"What?"
He clears his throat.
"Your name is Laura, you lived on a farm for most of your life. You were best friends with Theo. You were locked up in a mental asylum, with him. For allegedly killing your parents in a car crash even though you weren't driving and you were 9. Now your here to rescue Theo and your parents because you believe they are all kept here in the prison. You are right."
I realise at that moment that my mouth was hanging open on its own accord. I shut it quickly, embarrassed. My parents are here. I knew it. A smug look crosses my face but I keep it well hidden .
"How do you know me? Have you been stalking me my whole life? You creep." My anger has been bubbling inside me for these people who stole my parents and Theo away from me, so I just let it out on Trigg. Or whatever his name is.
"How do you know all that when I haven't told anyone?"
"It's a long story about MY life and I don't fancie dishing personal details. Thank you very much."
"Well you already know all mine so why not?" I'm screaming at him now my throat dry from no food or water for the past few days.
"Fine." He whispers "But Maybe when you know me better." And for some reason I want to know him better. I don't know why.