Everyone Is A Criminal

Paranoia and Endings

BROOKLYN

By the time I reach my gate, my camera count is up to thirty-six. I decided to keep count just for the sake of it, although it's driving my paranoia insane. No wait, there is forty. I just saw some extra ones near the entrances to the bathrooms.

Security is everywhere, but so far, I've managed to get through just fine.

I'm slightly suspicious though. Me and Daniels flight leave in exactly forty minutes, and all news about us has halted. Maybe the Americans are embarrassed we pulled  consecutive prison breaks without getting caught, but all the recent news is focused on the Californian hurricane and a British five year old who was abducted from her house. It seems suspicious, like maybe they know that we're trying to make a break for it and are arriving at the airport right now to arrest us.

Would walking around be a bad idea? I mean, I'm already in. And I definitely can't wait here for forty minutes. Maybe I should walk around, have a look in some of the shops.

But what if a security guard or someone else recognizes me? To be fair, I'm already running that risk by just being here. There are so many people...maybe I should have a look at the airplanes. And wait, is that an officer on the tarmac? No, I think it's just an airport staff member. Or is it? No, definitely not the police.

Daniel hasn't turned up yet. If we're following Mikayla's schedule and nothing changed, he should have arrived about ten minutes ago, assuming the queue lines haven't dramatically changed and he was going at an average speed.

I have been here for twenty minutes already.

What if someone found him? I should text him, but what if the police get notified? Skylar mentioned that when you send texts on a new wifi network, the owners of that wifi can see your number and the texts...maybe I just shouldn't include his name? No, that's a stupid idea, they would connect my number to my SIM card, and-

My phone vibrates. How did that happen? Oh right- I turned on the wifi to play games on my phone. And for whatever reason didn't ever stop to think about SIM tracking.

I have a text from Daniel.

Has he been caught?

The McDonalds is amazing here. Forget Mikayla, please join me at the food court. I'M BEGGING YOU!

I shake my head. Trust me to be sitting here, worried about everything, while Danielis obsessing over the food court.

I get up, and go to meet him.

MIKAYLA

Me and Finn specifically agreed not to make contact with each other. I'm not sure if they know, but for the last twenty minutes I have been spying on Brook and Daniel at the food court as they bond over cheaply made burgers that cost them $20. Traitors.

Finn is sitting a few seats down from me, reading some book. He mentioned it in the car, Brook liked it as well. I think it's a crime novel.

Over the system, I can hear our boarding call. Me and Finn catch each others eye. I stand up, and as I walk past him, give him a thumbs up. I think its safe to say the American police have lost sight of us. According to our boarding passes, we're aisle neighbours anyway.

We walk down together, and get seated. To Europe we go!

SKYLAR

I rush to the baggage claim where I see my friends waiting for me. We hug, and they catch me up on their summers. Ellen went to New York with her dad for a week, Hazel went to the beach, and Naomi caught up with her younger sister.

''Hey, Sky! Did you travel around the States like you planned?'' Naomi asks. I nod and smile. ''Yep. I did a few but I also met a few friends in Arizonia, met up with some family friends in Utah. And I even went to Canada!''

Everyone nods. I get my bag, and we head to the campus, sign in, and all my old stuff is in the new dorm. I'm really looking forward to this semester. Especially now that my secret is safe again.

DYLAN

I fumble for the keys, and open the door to my apartment. Everything is covered in a thin layer of dust after my quick leave, but upon closer inspection, no pests have made their way in. That's good.

I was planning to get a dog from the shelter, but I'm glad I didn't. The pup would have died alone from starvation. Maybe I can go tomorrow.

I glance around. Everything is the same.

It's weird to see the traffic go by so smoothly down on the streets below. It's almost like I hit pause on the world. Margo from Next Door will still be going to her Scrabble nights. Geez...Did I remember to write a notice in the shop to say I would be gone before I left with Dan, Brook, and Skylar?

Oh yeah, I did. Good thing I don't take bookings, but it's definitely time to start business back up again.

I walk to the shop. It's twenty minutes away. I make a mental note to order a new Toyota as well, seeing as I'm going to be walking everywhere. But outside my shop, in the free park zone, is a white car, a scratch on the side, number plate 03DDXZ5.

Skylar left her car unlocked, I guess since sheknew she would be driving it into the garage. I get behind the wheel and takeit into the garage. Walking into my office, I flip the sign back to OPEN