Run To You

Chapter 18 - On The Run

The next morning I woke up early to make a nice breakfast for Anna, since she'd been so nice to me, unfortunately, she'd woken up before me, I caught her in the kitchen about to put some toast in the toaster, "stop!" I said, she jumped and turned to me, "I'm making you breakfast" I told her, she smiled, "you don't have to do that" she told me, "I want to, now go sit down and relax!" I said, she giggled and sat on the couch, we chatted as I cooked pancakes and made tea, when breakfast was ready I sat down next to her on the couch, she turned on the TV as we ate, I looked up to see a photo of myself, Anna looked at me "...is that you?" She asked, I nodded and turned the volume up, "Have you seen this girl? Katie Parker was officially marked as a missing person in the early hours of this-morning, parents claim she has been missing since Wednesday afternoon, 16 years of age, please contact police if you know where she is" the news reporter said, Anna placed her pancakes on the table and grabbed her phone, "NO, please don't call the police Anna!" I said, "it's either I call the police or you let me take you home" she said, "I'll let you take me home" I replied, I gathered my things and opened the front door, "I've just got to change out of my pyjamas, I'll only be a second" she told me, I waited for a bit but this was the perfect opportunity to run, so that's what I did, I crept out the door and ran as fast as I could down the street, luckily a bus had just arrived at the bus stop, I made the bus and jumped on, as we drove past Anna's house I saw her staring in at me, I mouthed the word 'sorry'.

The bus arrived at a pretty looking town, it wasn't so far from the last town but it was too pretty to just drive by, so I got up and told the driver to stop.
I jumped off the bus and walked to the lake at the end of the Main Street, there was even a sheltered room over-looking the lake, at least I knew where I was going to sleep tonight.
I took a walk along the lake, it was a long walk but it was a nice day and it was the most relaxed and care-free I'd been in months, I found some rocks next to the water, and I sat there for hours, staring at the sky, soaking up the sun and being completely free of my thoughts.
On my way back to the shelter, I saw a note on the ground, I picked it up and it turned out to be 20 pounds, I was so excited, I ran as fast as I could to the take-away store and ordered a large hot chips, and a few bottles of water, I then made my way back to the shelter and watched the sunset.
A few hours later it was completely pitch black, yet I felt safe, this town seemed like the safest town I'd come across since I moved to England.
I shut my eyes and easily fell asleep.

I was woken up with the shock of loud sirens, I rubbed my eyes and looked around, I couldn't figure out what was going on, "that's her" a familiar voice said, I was suddenly grabbed from behind and pulled away, "GET OFF ME" I yelled as I struggled to get away, "calm down" the man said as he turned me around and held me still, there were 3 police cars, "we're here to help you" he told me, I then saw Anna appear from behind one of the cars, "how did you know where I was?" I asked her, "I followed you" she told me, I shook my head, "how could you do this?" I asked her, "I needed to help you, I'm sorry" she said as she backed away and got into her car, there was no point in trying to run from the police so I cooperated and got into their car, "why'd you run away?" The officer asked me, "I wanted a new start" I told him, "the streets are no place for a 16 year old girl" he said, "either is a town full of people who hate me" I replied. after an hour of silence I asked the officer if I could make a call, he handed me his phone, and I dialled Josh's number.
"Hello?" He answered, "hey Josh, you'll never guess where I am at the moment" I replied, "where are you?" He asked, "in a police car" I told him, "oh god, Katie, what did you do?" He asked, I laughed, "it's a long story, I'll tell you all about it when I get home, I just needed to talk to a friend before I have to face the wrath of my parents, and worse, Danny" I told him, "well I'm here for you" he said, I smiled to myself, "thanks Josh, I have to go, I'll talk to you when I get home, bye" I said and handed the phone back to the officer, "thanks" I said to him, he nodded his head.

I woke up the next morning in my own bed, I must've fallen asleep in the police car and carried upstairs, I tip-toed downstairs to see my parents sitting at the table with the police man, they couldn't see me so I listened from around the corner, "have you considered moving houses?" The officer asked my parents, "we can't afford it, it's not an option" my mother replied, "how about counselling?" He suggested, before my parents could say a word I walked around the corner, "I don't need counselling and we don't need to move houses, I'm fine" I assured them, "you're up!" My mother said as she ran over to me and hugged me, "we were so worried, everyone is so worried, have you spoken to Danny?" She said, "Danny?" I asked, "he is so worried, he came over asking where you were and left in tears when we told him you were missing" she told me, "I have to go see him" I said, my mother nodded and I left the house, I had no idea what I was going to say to Danny.