Run

Chapter 1: Charlie's POV

I crawled deeper into the alley, afraid.

Afraid of what might happen next.

Afraid of what secrets could be lurking in the dark.

My father finally went too far; He tried to make me sleep with him.

I took my little sister and ran.

She's gone now.

They found her.

They killed her right in front of me.

It's cold out here.

I'm lonely.

I'm sitting in an alley, trying to find warmth in a blanket that was

as thin as paper.

It's pitch black outside, it must be two or three in the morning.

I don't get much sleep anymore.

"Can we get some Nandos?" An Irish boy said.

They were walking in front of the alley that I was hiding in.

I heard them coming closer, an I crawled behind a dumpster,

clutching the thin blanket close to my chest.

"Okay, Tony. But you're paying." Another boy said.

I'm hungry.

I haven't eaten in a week.

But I'm fat so that's a good thing I guess.

"Victorrrrr! Can you tie my shoe?" Another boy asked.

I don't have any shoes.

I was on my hands and knees behind a dumpster, hiding.

I've been doing a lot of hiding lately.

Something moved near my hands, an animal.

Probably just a mouse.

"Mike! No I will not tie your shoe, you lazy bum!" Another boy exclaimed.

"HISSSS!"

Eyes glared out at me from under the dumpster. A raccoon.

I let out a tiny yelp but quickly covered my mouth with my hand.

"Did you guys here that?" One of them asked.

No. You didn't hear anything. Just keep walking.

"Yeah.. It came from down there." The Irish one, who asked for Nandos, said.

I heard footsteps coming closer and closer.

"What's that?" The one with the deep voice asked.

What?

Oh my god.

My left foot is visible from where they're standing.

I quickly slid it closer to me.

"It just moved."

"Let's go see what it was."

No. No. Please god no.

The sound of their footsteps got louder and louder.

Four boys stepped out in front of where I was standing.

Their jaws dropped.

"Oh my god." The one with curly hair said.

"Are you okay?" The one with the birthmark on his neck asked.