Journey Home

Chapter Fourteen

Austin kisses me back, and I feel the corner of my mouth twitching up.

A cough comes from the door, and we break apart embarrassedly. "I'm sorry to interrupt," the doctor says, "but the boy really must be leaving."

Austin bites his lip and gives me a smile. "See you around, princess," he says, in a halfhearted attempt at the old joke.

I grab his arm, and I must look wild, because he looks both nervous, almost-frightened, and concerned. "What, Zo?" he asks gently.

Possible answers spin through my mind, but I settle on, "Don't go." Once it's out of my mouth, I realize how stupid and desperate it sounds.

"I've got to go, Zo," he returns quietly, taking my hand off his arm and walking out of the room without another word.

I consider screaming after him, but a better plan rushes into my mind.

Later, when there are no nurses around, I get out of bed. My leg cast is a little bit of a problem, but, fortunately, I've always been an expert at bouncing on one leg.

Also fortunately, I have a high pain tolerance.

I stare at the window. Can't crawl out of it.

Then I turn around and spot one of those rolly chairs. A very stupid idea pops into my head.

But I do it regardless of the fact that I will not be able to contradict people when they call me Queen of Dumb Ideas.

I hop onto the chair, gritting my teeth, and with my uninjured leg, push myself into the hall.

A nurse stares at me. So maybe there are some around. "Sorry!" I chirp, going around her. "Just got out!"

She just stares at me.

I get into the elevator and press the button for the ground floor.

It comes to a halt and the door open. I take a deep breath. Now what? You can't exactly rush past the desk, nurses, and the waiting room with a cast on your leg, sitting in a roll-y chair.

I break out, pushing as fast as I can go. "Sorry, I think the mental hospital wants me back!" I yell.

"Umm...get her!" yells one of the nurses.

Someone dives for my chair, but I push myself out of the way.

"You need further attendance, ma'am!" the man at the desk calls. "You can't check out yet!"

I feel my chair get grabbed and I halt. I throw myself out of the chair and break for the door.

No one from the waiting room is bothering to get up. In fact, some of them are cheering me on. Only one nurse is trying to get me, the other one having gone, muttering something about needing a cold beer. I make a mental note to complain to the hospital about that. Not now, of course. Now, I'm thankful.

I make it out the door, still hopping absurdly one on leg. I try the handle of a car, mentally telling myself, Wow, Zoey. You're a bigger idiot than I realized. Wheel a rolly chair out of the hospital, then run on a broken leg. Try the car doors in a public place. Jeez.

On the fifth car I try, the handle is unlocked. I jump in - as well as you can jump on a broken leg.

It's a tiny car, only two seats. Plus bright purple. There are chip bags and soda cans all over the floor on the passenger side.

Definitely my taste in cars.

I reach down and begin to hotwire it. The person who left it unlocked wasn't dumb enough to leave their keys in. Fortunately for them.

My fingers slip as I sweat nervously. I can feel my time ticking away and the pain in my leg.

A nurse runs out of the hospital.

I duck my head down even farther and work frantically.

Finally the car starts. I glance at the dashboard. Gas is low. Hopefully I can make it.

I drive onto the road, at some seventy miles an hour. Once I'm a good ways away, I slow down. No use in getting caught by the police. Though it might get me to the prison faster...

I drive toward the prison, worrying about how I'm going to get Austin out.

Bail money would be good, except I don't have any money.

That leaves breaking him out.

Who am I kidding? Hardened criminals are in there! They've certainly tried, and there's no way that I could think of anything they haven't.

A lightbulb suddenly goes off in my head.

"There's no other way," I tell myself firmly.

But what about your parents? If he won't listen to reason, then you'll get sent back to the orphanage!

I take a deep breath and turn the car around.

"Austin's worth more than that," I whisper to myself.