Shared Interest

23: Run Harper Run

The world whirred by as we went, the city towering over us. A thick tension had settled over the silent confines of the car. Sam was typing something on her phone, the drivers eyes focused on the road before us.

"So Sam, I've been patient but where the fuck are we going?" I questioned glaring at her

She smirked "Where it all started of course."

I squinted at her, my mind reeling for the answer to her subtle riddle.

I looked out the front window once more and saw West tower coming into view.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me." I mumbled out under my breath

She laughed dryly, "Seems appropriate doesn't it?"

"How do you even plan to get inside?" I challenged

She smirked, "Leave that to me sweetheart."

I grimaced "Keep the disgusting pet names to yourself."

"You might want to be nice to me, do you not recall how easily angered I can be?" She questioned with a glint in her eye

I bit my lip and turned to look out the window.

What have I gotten myself into?

We fell back into the same insufferable silence as before until we came to the gate of the parking garage. The booth was empty and the bar still broken leaving the space easily accessible.

"Man this place has really gone down hill." Sam said turning to me with a smirk, "Your girlfriend should really take better care of her assets."

She had casted the bait but I wasn't in the mood to bite. Maybe in her mind she had already won but she had made a rookie mistake not taking my phone. A rookie mistake Sam would never have normally made. The thought sent a primal chill through me as realization I may have fallen into her trap rather than saved the day settled in.

"So not taking my phone, was that on purpose?" I questioned loudly to ensure anyone listening on the line would hear clearly

She gave me a knowing look "Ah you're starting to get a real knack for this line of living."

"What line of living is that?" I questioned

She shrugged as the car came to a stop in a spot on the first floor.

"Phone." She stated holding out her hand

I smoothly pulled it from my pocket glancing down to see the call had ended at some point or another. There was however a text from Colton himself.

Colton: SAM TRICKED YOU I'M WITH PARKER!!!

I swiped the message clearing it from the screen before handing it to her. I felt myself growing queasy, my head spinning.

What have I done?

My focus had entirely shifted and I hadn't even noticed Sam and the driver had exited the vehicle until she opened my door for me.

"Funny running into you here." She teased

I rolled my eyes, climbing out and roughly shoulder checking her in the process.

She laughed a real genuine laugh for what felt like the first time. The sound was so unfamiliar, so real yet so artificial seeming.

"Follow me." She stated waving her hand as she started towards the entrance to the lobby

I let out a shaky breath and reluctantly shuffle my feet in the same general direction.

I looked to my left seeing that the booth, and more importantly the street, were only about ten yards away. I glanced once more at same who was still a good distance from the doorway, focused on her phone once again.

I sucked in a breath before turning and starting for the exit. I was careful not to make too much noise but was frustrated by the lack of ground I could cover in stealth mode. I peeked back and saw she was now only about ten feet from the door leaving me little time to cover a lot of ground. I took this as my sign to give it my full speed sprint. I took off, my feet hitting the pavement in a much too loud steady rhythm. Time was seemingly moving in slow motion as I reached the booth, my heart pounding out of my chest as I successfully rounded the corner and joined the crowded city street. I didn't slow, weaving through the city goes who gave me crazed looks.

I ran and ran until I found myself at the entrance to discovery park. I was in the south parking lot, a playground to my right catching my eye.

~ 16 Years Ago ~

I climbed up the slide, my white sneakers slipping against the red plastic surface.

Colton pointed at me and laughed from the top "Wow what a weakling, you can't even make it up the slide."

He threw his head back dying in that childish making fun of his only sister kind of way.

"You're such a jerk!" I exclaimed in a pitch that resembled a squeaky bicycle wheel "Just wait till I get up there!"

He wasn't even paying attention as I found my grip and footing. The process became much easier allowing me to make it to the top, my vision red as I tackled him, well, tried at least.

He tripped back a bit but didn't go down, his laughter only increasing. I stepped back, crossing my arms over my chest as I glared at him.

~ Present ~

I shook the memory from mind, trying to refocus on the majorly important task at hand: don't get found and killed.

I turned to the left and ran off down the trail, every muscle arguing against the idea. I blended in, seeming like a normal everyday runner. If anyone bothered to look closer they'd see the terror in my eyes but hey, it's for the best they don't. The last thing I need right now is attention of any kind. I need to lay low and figure out how the fuck to find Parker and Colton. I came upon the radar tower and spotted a thin section of woods behind it. I made a beeline, not stopping until the wood line hid me from the outside world. I sat down on a log, letting my head fall into my hands as I let out a ragged breath.

What do I do now and why do I keep running myself right into these situations?