Run

Chapter 5

"Okay come back here." The man says as he runs and leads me to the employee room. He shuts and locks the door behind us. "Your name wouldn't happen to be Chelsea Manarico, would it?" He asks eyeing me. "Yes.... How do you know that?" I wonder out loud. "My name is Corey. Corey Leigh. I work here, clearly, and your friend- I think her name was Jessica, came in to ask if I had seen you. She's really worried, ya know." Just then, my heart breaks. Jessa. Even though we had a blowout, she still cares about me. Still loves me. I begin to cry and I ask if he would call 911. After I explain to him what happened, he does. "They police should be on their way." He says. "Can I call Jessa?" I ask. "Sure. Let me give you some space. I'll be right outside the door if you need me. The door to the store is locked and I'll be keeping an eye on it." Corey replies. "Thanks" I say quietly. I dial Jessa's number and pray to god she picks up.

****

After the cops arrive, I tell them that Esperanza is still missing. They send out a search party to find her. I doubt they will. They ask to give a written statement, which looks a little like this:

Name: Chelsea Gabrielle Manarico
Address: N/A
Incident: Chased and threatened by abusive mother. Mother has not yet been found but has been identified as Esperanza Guadalupe Rodriguez. Has some relation with Santos Gonzales. Has a history of drug and child abuse. Child does not wish to see mother.

***

A few minutes after the cops arrived and I gave my statement, Jessa, Kate, and Anthony showed up. Jessa just hugged me for a while and apologized and Kate did the same thing. I apologized to Jessa too and Kate invited me to stay with them until I can get back on my feet again. I don't know that I ever will unless Esperanza is found. And even then, it'll be so hard. "Thank you for your time, officer Sutton. I think you may have saved my life." I said, Fighting back tears. "Don't thank me, Chelsea. It must have took a lot of courage to do what you did tonight. Thank you. You saved your own life. Here's my card if you have any issues." He said. I shook my head and left with Kate and Jessa.

***
"Chelsea. Time to wake up. Time for school." Said Kate. I open my eyes and groggily say "just 5 more minutes." Kate replies by saying "oh no missy. It's been two weeks since the incident and since you went back to Doctor Tsao. He cleared you to go back to school because your eye sight came back. You have to go back sometime, now." So I get up and turn my curling iron on. Today feels different. I feel like something is going to happen. Although they never found Esperanza, I have a restraining order against her so she shouldn't be coming near me anytime soon. I don't know, maybe it's just me thinking too much into it. Maybe this unsettling feeling is really nothing. But what if it's something?

***

After the many greetings and hugs, it's time to go home. I couldn't really focus on much in school today because I was just thinking about how I was going to Paris this summer with Kate and Jessa. Having to stay late for drama club really threw off my night. "Thanks for staying late for practice" said Mr. Howard. "It's only 7. I'll be home by 7:45." I reply. "You're walking? I can drive you if you don't think you'll feel safe." He offered. "I'll be fine. Thanks." I reply as I leave the school. I put my headphones in as I walk home. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a car behind me. I don't think anything of it. I being to walk faster, just because this is bringing back bad memories. The car drives faster. I don't want to see what kind of car it is, because if I see that it's a old beat up brown car, then I'll panic. I turn the corner, and so does the car. I turn again, and so does the car. Now i know whoever this is is following me. And I bet you it's Esperanza.

****

I immediately dial 911 and say that I am being followed and that I would lead the car to Evans street. Just then, the car speeds up and blocks me from crossing. Out comes Esperanza. With a gun. Pointed right at my head. "Esperanza. What are you doing?" I whisper. "I just want you dead." She whispers back. I wince at this statement. "But why? I thought you loved me and wanted me back." I reply. "I did love you. And I still do. But you make it so hard to live my life. Now you have the cops looking for me? That's not how a daughter is supposed to treat her mother." She says with a smirk. "Well a mother isn't supposed to abuse her daughter." I fire right back. "Easy there, chica. Let's not forget who has the gun." Esperanza says, wrapping her finger around the trigger and slowly pushing. "I love you, Chelsea, I really do. But I love myself and my drugs more." She says coldly, pulling the trigger a bit more. Just then, right when she's about to shoot, officer sutton comes behind her and tackles her. A shot rings out into the night and I duck. Another officer comes behind me and helps me up. Esperanza is put in hand cuffs and taken away. But just before she does, she said "you have no idea what you've just done."