Untold Truth

Chapter 25

I jolt my eyes open. I'm lying in the woods. I can't believe I've killed before. I've hurt someone in away that can't be forgiven. I just had a glimpse at a stolen memory. How many more are there? What else has my dad taken from me? I sit up and get my bearings.

"Crap." I say out loud rubbing my head. How long was I passed out? An hour? 30 minutes? Is the Surge already giving Jack to his dad? I look around. It doesn't feel like it's been long. I get up and waste no time running. I know exactly where the map is. And I know how to get to it. I start off towards where my dad's office is. I make a stop at where I keep my bow and arrows. There's no way I'm not taking these.

After what feels like forever I make it to a road. I see his office across the road. I sprint towards it.

I hear a horn honk before I realize anything else. Then I feel the impact. I fly away from the car that hit me and land on my back, wind knocked out of me. I can't breathe. I gasp for air, but nothing comes to me. I try to sit up but I can't. I roll onto my side and hold my stomach. People are watching me, seeing if I'll get up. I try to breathe again but, no air comes to me. Everything is so quiet. Everything but the ringing in my ears.

I gasp desperately still wanting air. I curl onto my other side and place my hand on my chest. I take in a deep breath and the air manages to reach my lungs. Before I can collect my thoughts I start to cough. I hear faint screams and yelling, people arguing about my hit. 'He hit her.' 'No it was her fault.' 'Shut up and call the hospital!' I look up and see Mr. Stringer get out of the car that just hit me. I bet he hit me on purpose.

I get to my feet almost falling over. I do not want to be caught by him. He reaches towards me in a friendly way with a smile, but I know better. I can't trust him. He will ask to many questions.

I take off running. Although running is a strong word for this situation.  It's more like jogging diagonally. I push myself harder. My ribs burn and now that I think of it, it's very likely I broke some of them.

Instead of going into the office I go down an alley way. I don't want to give away my mission. I turn down two more small streets and stop for a break. I fall to the ground and rest my head against the wall of some building. I take in a deep breath hoping to feel better. Everything hurts. I try to wrap my arms around my stomach but it feels wet. I look at them and notice that my hands are bleeding from the fall. And after the run my rib hurts beyond reason.

I hear someone approaching and their footsteps sound heavy. I know it has to be Mr. Stringer but I can't run. Suddenly a hand grabs my mouth and yanks me up and backwards, through a door in the wall I was leaning on. In front of me a the door shuts, leaving me in darkness. Part of me is happy to be out of the alley away from Mr. Stringer. The other part is yelling at me that I may have been safer with him. My heart pounds but instead of struggling I keep calm in hope that the person will let go.

"I'm not with the Surge or Yuris and I won't hurt you. But the man outside will. Don't scream okay?" As she whispers I nod. Either way I'd rather be with this girl then Mr. stinger. The girl takes her hand off my mouth and turns me to her. She is an average height African American girl. She looks my age but I've never seen her before. She is very pretty and has green eyes. Her mint halter top and white shorts show off her shape and I can tell she's curvy. Her curly hair is black and drapes down her back.

"Who are you?" I ask. She just puts her finger to her lips. I know I should be quiet but it's hard. I take in her appearance once more and notice several things. 1) she's not like the cute pretty but the badass pretty. 2) she's wearing no shoes. And 3) she has a huge scare on her arm. It stretches from her elbow to her wrist. I try to turn my eyes away before she can notice my stare.

It is completely quiet outside so she speaks, "I'm Zumie."

"I'm..."

She cuts me off with a stare. "Of course you know who I am..." I trail off.

"Karlie... Yeah I know and so does everyone else." She says it kind of like she's accusing me of something. "Look kid, what the hell are you doing here? Are you stupid or something?"

Her sass makes me want to hit her. Am I stupid? Damn. Other then that she seems sincere, but lately I've learned not to trust anyone. "Why would I tell you?" I ask. "And why do you care?"

"Because you're boyfriend Jack does." She throughs back at me. Literally like she knew that'd make me listen. How does she know Jack? I didn't know Jack knew anyone, to be honest.

"You know Jack?" I ask defensively suddenly hurt he never mentioned how he knew this gorgeous girl.

"Cool it man. We've been friends since we were born. We both had messed up dads. Although when he ran away I wasn't very happy..." She trails off.

"Okay well who are you?" Friend or foe? is what I mean.

"I'm Hank Klarks daughter. I'm Zumie Klark." She says. Foe. Definitely foe.

"No. No way. They said that most of the Yuris's kids were killed. I thought only me and Jack lived." That's what Jack told me. He said they were all killed.

She laughs. She actually laughs! As if any of this is funny. "Well honey listen, their were 4. You and Jack obviously. Then me, and my boyfriend, Dylan Ambros. We were all that were left. All of our fathers but yours chose to keep us hidden from the rest of the Yuris and the surge. After a while they tried to make us to join them. By force. Mental and physical." I glance at her scar which she puts a protective arm over and caresses it. "Jack and Dylan ran away, while I stayed. They needed all 4 of us for some deal. None of us new what the deal was, until today. I know now." She finishes. I look around the room and spot a clock. It's only 5. I have a time limit. But this is important.

"And it is?" I ask, deciding she's on my side.

She opens her mouth. "The..." She stops, her eyes widening.

"Zumie, what is it?" I ask perplexed by her behavior.

"Shh!" She commands. She points to her ear then up. I listen. I hear foot steps. Very faint. How did she hear those?

Zumie motions for me to follow her and I have no choice but to. She opens a door I saw when she first pulled me in. It opens up to a staircase that looks very steep and dark. She starts down it fast, almost running, and I hesitate. I don't know this girl. Why should I trust her?

The footsteps over head get louder and now I really have no choice. She turns around and looks at me. She motions for me to hurry up. I head down and shut the door, following her into the darkness.