The Division

48

I woke up to loud pounding on the door, my head throbbing as the sun's morning rays blinded me. "I swear I paid rent." I mumbled into the pillow, still half asleep, the sudden smell of cigars waking me up completely. Another loud knock was heard at the door and I groaned.

"Hello? Anyone in there? Open up! police!"

When I say my heart stopped-

I didn't even know what to do. My first instinct was to literally jump out the window.

I got up from the bed and grabbed my things leaving the covers messed up. Carefully, I lifted the window and, slowly made my way out onto the ledge,  glancing down at the ground, some feet below me.

It was a long fall so, I slipped a foot down onto another ledge below, holding on to a pipe connected to the building. Ignoring the rust, I held it tightly for support, using my 'parkour' skills to land on steady ground.

Tiny rocks on the pavement pierced my soles, causing little pain. I ignored the micro rocks and started running.

Running where?

I had no idea.

My brain was still booting, throbbing for absolutely no reason. Maybe because I'd been inhaling the smell of cigars on the pillow all night? Or maybe because the guilt from Tristan was still eating me like a hungry bear?

Maybe it was because I had just found out Arielle is the Scythe? Something I had still refused to come to terms with.

My thoughts made me bump into someone, sending me ass first to the floor. 

"Hey you!" It was the receptionist lady. "Officer! Officer!" She called, waving him over. I stood up, brushing myself off and, internally cringing at the scene unfolding in front of me. "She's here! I've got her!"

My heart said to run but, my brain forced me to cooperate.

The officer came and, drove me to the station, asking me so many questions I didn't even know how to answer. I was still shaken up from the night before so enquiries like, 'Why did you run away?' or 'Is someone hurting you at home?' flew right over my head.

After assuring the officer, he asked for my parent or guardian's number and, I reluctantly gave it to him.

Even though I didn't want to face my aunt's wrath, staying in the station for further questioning seemed like the worse option. I tried to remain inconspicuous playing as just another random kid at the station and, nothing more.

"Gwen! Gwen!" Aunt Cecilia's voice and clacking heels snapped me out of my self-deprecating thoughts and feelings. 

"We're in here!" The officer yelled. His words were followed by, Aunt Cecilia being escorted by another female officer into the room.

"Oh my goodness!" She ran to me, assessing me for any damage. I pulled the sleeves of my white shirt down but, she didn't notice. "I've been calling your phone all night! Where have you been! Why did you leave your mobile at home!? Why are you barefoot!? Oh thank you so much officer!" She looked at the chubby man standing behind her.

He smiled, "No problem. Just doing my job." He gave me a look and I stayed focused on the floor.

"Remember kid, you worry a lot of people when you just disappear like that." The officer said sternly. "You also make my job harder because instead of stopping a robbery, we're trying to find missing kids."

"I know. Sorry." I shrugged, my head still down.

"It's okay." He waved me off, taking my half-hearted apology. It may sound rude but, at that moment I couldn't care less. I had bigger fish to fry but, felt too sick to even spice the seafood.