The Runaway

Prologue

Sawyer

8 years old

I know when somebody new enters our home, I recognize new voices and I can recognize faces very easily.

So when a young boy around my age shows up with his parents across the street and then comes to dinner one night, I feel a bit nervous.

Especially when Papà never invites anyone over. I stand behind Mama, feeling kinda scared about the big man and the boy who's a lot taller than me. How is he so tall? That so unfair.

I look away with a sigh and look past my Mama and Papà towards the front door they left open. They never leave it open, and I've never been outside of it.

I slowly let go of Mama's leg and walk towards the door. There's the sun and the bright green grass and I even see the flowers that mama says she plants just right by the steps. A smile begins to light up on my face and when I've almost stepped through to the pretty outdoors, I'm picked up off the ground.

I reach towards the door, just to grab onto it because I just want to see outside and maybe touch it all. "Papà." I cry. "Please."

"No." He says firmly but softens when tears gather in my eyes. I don't want to cry, my big brothers always say crying is weak and if I cry, does that mean I'm weak?

"It's dangerous." He whispers and squeezes me a bit tighter. I place my head down on his shoulder, "promise me baby,"

I lift my head curiously and bring my fists up to try and rub the tears away. It feels like I'm just rubbing my eyes off instead.

"What." I whine.

"Promise me you won't go out there." He looks behind him at our guests who mamas managed to entertain for the time being. "It may look pretty but it's horrible and cruel. Please Sawyer."

I nod looking down at my hands, "okay Papa." A few more tears run down my face and I rub them away angrily. But as long as Papà is happy, I'm happy.

10 years old

"Just because I like reading doesn't mean I'm a nerd," I argue with my brother Linden.

He scoffs but goes back to setting up his Lego set, yeah and I'm the nerd.  I sigh and head out of the living room because I'm bored,  I always seem to be bored.

I slowly head up the stairs and towards my room but I'm so busy looking at the dumb floor I knock into someone and fall back onto my butt.  "Oh sorry."

I look up at the boy I've seen a few times around here.  I've stopped paying attention to people's voices and their faces, because there isn't a point anymore

He was the boy who came the first day I got to see outside. "It's okay." I sigh and stand up brushing off my butt. 

"Uhm I'm Ryder." He smiles softly.  I almost blush, I can't seem to stop myself because he's actually really cute.

"I'm Sawyer." I respond softly suddenly finding my shoes very interesting. "Do, do you work for my Papà?" I ask.  Maybe he'll actually tell me something.

"My dad does." He grins and grabs a pencil out of his pocket and starts mindlessly flipping it through his fingers, a little sloppily might I add.  "He's a "system operator"."

"Oh." I nod. 

"He said he's gonna train me." He grins again, openly excited. 

"That's really cool Ryder." I smile back, "I'm going to go to my room. But I'll see you again?" I ask hopeful.