After the party I feel proud of myself. I normally would never do something like that with my friends. So far I love this journey and never ever want it to end. We drive the main road for about two hours. I read my book, Tyler listens to music, Harper and Marcus play tic-tac-toe, Brooke drives and Kali and Kev decided to go off by themselves. They said they don't want to risk their lives to get to the border but isn't that what you're doing anyway? I think they just wanted to be alone. we reach a rest stop. Marcus goes inside to buy some cigarettes with a fake ID, meanwhile, The rest of us sit at a table outside
"So why you trying to leave?" Tyler asks He doesn't turn his head when he speaks.
"My sister was killed at a bus stop when she was running away to come find me while I was out at the library, preparing to leave town, not knowing my sister was just beaten by my father and my mother sat in the other room, letting it happen" I say. Everyone's eyes widen.
"She sat at the bus stop waiting for it to arrive. she was kidnapped and found dead in a shed four miles away. I had already decided I wanted to leave before I went to the library. So I packed my things and said goodbye to my sister not knowing it'd be the last time speaking to her".
"Holy crap."
"I'm so sorry Owen."
"I have a brother, He refused to come with me" Tyler explained. If only I wasn't at the library that night, my sister might still have been here. That thought makes my insides churn. Tyler turns up the radio that sits on the table.
"last night, seven teenagers set fire to a party tent at a party hosted by Aarav Fitzgerald himself. Whoever these kids are, they will be found and taken care of."
I slowly turn around to see the rest of them.
"Shit." Our emotions are mirrored. My bladder starts to cry. I get up and waddle to the bathroom. The man behind the counter looks suspicious of me.
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after I use the toilet and wash my hands, I hear muffling shouting coming from outside. I peak out the door. My stomach aches in fear. I stand, my eyes wide, watching Marcus being hand cuffed.
"Alright where's your other friends" the cop says.
"They left I already told you that" Marcus reply's. He groans from the cop grabbing him and pulling him outside. The others are absent from the table, must've seen the cops coming and ran. How the fuck do I get out here. The store owner doesn't know I'm here. he was in the back when I came in. My brain throbs. I franticly spin circles around the room. I notice a window behind me. I gracefully climb out and I am greeted with an aggressive whisper.
"Owen!" the group are all hiding in a shed from the cops. I crawl inside.
"why did you leave Marcus?" I frown.
"We didn't wanna get arrested" says Harper.
"That doesn't matter" I say, "friends stick together no matter what".
I storm out of the shed and crouch beside a wall. I curve my head around to see Marcus tied to the bottom of a police van. If I don't act now Marcus will be sent to a camp. The cops search around the other side of the gas station. I grab a empty beer bottle and throw it towards the opposite side of the van. They rush to the sudden smash. I run faster than an ostrich to Marcus. Aggressively, I pull the ropes off Marcus's wrists.
"There you are!" shout the cops. My head jumps. I dash over to the cops. I freeze at the horror before me. Tyler is soaked in bruises and blood. The others have ditched Again! My anger burns. I stand with guilt as the cop pulls a gun to my head.
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Marcus, Tyler and I get dragged into the police van. This is my last moments of seeing the outdoors. Tyler sits in sulk. Seeing him suffer makes me hurt. Marcus sits in defeat. I wonder if I should have never of listened to those guys in the van. Never travel alone. My fate sinks in. I press my head against the back of the van.
"This is what happens when stupid teens like you get adventurous" lectures the cop. His words make my blood bubble. I clench my fists and gaze at the cop.
"Who are you to make us out to be the bad guys after you just beat and imprisoned three teens" Says Tyler. I can hear the eliminated soul in his voice.
"Don't you dare talk to me that way" shouts the cop. Tyler locks his eyes on the cop, his face unattended.
"You don't know the trouble teens go through in this country".
"Listen kid you have no right to talk about this country in that manor".
"You have no idea the battles we fight." Tyler says, "We cant just stay at home and have a coffee after being beaten by your parents. And when we leave the house to stay alive we get beaten by the cops and taken away from everyone you ever know". The cops head rattles with anger.
"LISTEN KID IF YOU DON'T SHUT THE HELL UP ILL BEAT YOU WITH MY OWN FI-". In that moment time froze. Glass rode the air around me. I was compressed in metal and leather. My head spun. The world around me tumbled for what seemed like forever. Everything was crushing and cracking. I felt my back crumble. Everything was numb. My legs threw themselves like sky divers. My heart jumped and my consciousness faded...
