Runaways: A Romeo & Juliet Story

Chapter 10

"But I need to know

Will you stay for all time

Forever and a day

Then I'll give my heart

'til the end of all time

Forever and a day"

- I Will Love You by Fisher

JULIET

I pray Romeo has some way of finding me because I can't tell how long I've been in this trunk. It feels like an eternity. There's a hole in the back seat going into the trunk so I can hear everything they're saying. But mostly they're screaming to songs on the radio and honking the horn obnoxiously and whistling at women on the street. Could we have picked a worse place to stop?

In school they don't teach us much about these other states. We know some stuff but everyone just assumes you'll never leave the Verona walls. It's safe and beautiful and equipped with everything a modern girl could want or need.

Here, the land seems desolate and dusty. Everyone seems like they need to drink more water.

At first all I can think is "am I going to die"?

Then I think, screw that. Screw these guys. These gross, sweaty, buffoons just grabbing whatever they want. Is this the real word? Men just have at it? No way. It can't be like this.

In Verona, I'm in a bubble but I guess my dad giving me to Paris is not that different to what this feels like. My dad once locked me in a closet not much larger than this trunk. It was a punishment for a crime I can't remember. Maybe I was never sure what I did wrong. He left me there for 6 hours. It was nighttime and I couldn't see a single thing. I didn't cry in there. I just sat all scrunched up on the floor. And waited. Then he opened the door and didn't say a thing. When I got to my room I cried all night. But I couldn't let him think he broke me, because he didn't. He has always been cruel.

But this time I'm not going down quietly. I feel so enraged. So mad that this world outside of Verona is so unsafe for a woman. Then I wonder, was Verona just safe for me? Could this happen to a less fortunate person there?

These morons didn't bother to tie me up so I've spent my time in the trunk looking for something to beat them with when I get out. I search for anything I can make a weapon of. There's a tire iron next to me I grip tightly.

We come to a stop. They park and everyone gets out. I can't see a thing except into that small crack through the seats. A tiny bit of light pokes through. I turn towards the trunk opening, the tire iron in my hand ready to attack.

Then nothing. No one opens the trunk. Time passes. I have no idea how much time. I know I'm glad I peed at that bar. I notice the light poking through starts to fade. The sun sets.

I can't get the trunk to open, there's no latch. I kick. I scream at one point. A dangerous move, but I feel I have to. Nothing. No one's around. Or no one cares.

I stay ready.

I hear cars go by on the road in front of me. Then I hear one coming to a stop.

I hear footsteps and Iago and his guys come out of the house and start talking to someone. Maybe someone from the car? I can't hear what they're saying at first. Then voices are raised.

"Hammer, I don't give a fuck what you think is a good or bad idea." Iago yells.

Who's Hammer? I wonder.

I can hear someone getting into the car I'm in.

"Tell your boyfriend over there that we'll give his girl back when we're done with her." Iago yells.

"No, kid don't" I hear someone yell, maybe that's Hammer? "Stay in the car. No! Romeo! Stop!"

Then I hear more of them yelling. I think there's a fight or something.

"Romeo! Get off him!" I hear Hammer say.

"We don't have that bitch. She's not here. Hammer, you know we don't want trouble from you." Iago yells.

Whoever's in the car with me turns the car radio on just as I scream "Romeo!!".

But I don't think anyone can hear me with the music blasting. They did that on purpose.

"Romeo!" I try again.

I can't believe he is right there. The music goes down and I can hear the car drive away.

The trunk opens and I'm startled but I remember I'm holding the tire iron and I start attacking them. My attack pushes them far back enough for me to jump out of the car. I scream like a banshee while I wave the tire iron at them. I whack Iago across the face and he hits the ground. The other guy comes at me and I go straight for his groin. He goes down in slow motion.

I look up and see Romeo and our car half way down the block now. With these guys both on the ground I see a chance to run to the end of the driveway and hopefully down the street. As I do, their friends from inside the house notice Iago and the other guys on the ground writhing in pain.

I look back at them panicked and then just start running as fast as I can down the road towards Romeo.

"Romeo!" I scream.

Am I being chased?