Running from the past

Chapter 1

My alarm goes off, a slight vibrate. I didn't want it to be too loud otherwise it would wake up my parents, if I could ever call those devils my parents, and the whole idea of this set up at night was so that my parents won't find out or seem suspicious. I immediately dismiss it, even if it is a slight vibrate, the quieter, the better.

I tip-toe out of my utterly uncomfortable bed, silently grab my backpack which I had half packed yesterday, and quietly run to the kitchen downstairs.

I'm ready.

I try to keep as quiet as possible as I stuff some food in the front pocket of my backpack.

Two apples, two oranges, two huge packets of chips, a bottle of juice, two bottles of water, a container of six sandwiches which I had made last night and a two nut bars. This should supply me with food and water for the next few days, at least until I can earn some more money.

I turned around to head back to my room and found my little six year old sister staring at me at the staircases' fingertips. My eyebrows knitted together with pity as I stared at my sister in sadness. I'm so sorry, Em. This has to be done.

"What are you doing, Ava?" Her fragile little voice makes my fingers shake. I walk up to hug her, I embrace her little body in my arms tightly and I look back to her face. "Shh." I place my right index finger on my lips as my tired eyes stare into her sad-looking ones.

"I'm sorry, Emily." I apologise for nothing, she doesn't know what I'm talking about but I think she's thinking the same thing I am.

"I have to go," I whisper with my warm breath drifting on her little nose and her frail eyes go teary with dispair.

"Don't go." She whispers quietly, her voice sounds broken like she's about to cry. "Don't leave me with mom and dad." Her frown brings our haunting past shattering into little memories in my mind.

"I'm sorry, Em. I love you." I kissed her forehead, wiped away my tears, grabbed my backpack and began to tip-toe up the stairs.

Her little hands curl around my arm. "Wait," I look at her, "Take me with you." I shut my eyes and a tear fell down my cheek.

I stole sixty dollars from my father's wallet, since I couldn't find anymore. I also saved up another thirty dollars from finding money on the floor or what I have left of the money that Jen secretly gave me for Christmas last year.

As much as I want to take Emily, after a week, we would run out of money and food and we would both die unhappily, I don't want that for Emily. I want her to have a future, I want her to move out at eighteen and live a perfect live unlike I ever will. Emily's too young to suffer like I will, she's not strong enough.

"I can't, Em." She raises her eyebrows and tears fall down her scared eyes. "But I want to come with you."

"I don't have much time, I'm sorry, I can't take you. You'll be okay with mom and dad, okay? Do what they say and don't fall out of obedience. Love you." Before she could say another word, I tip-toed up the stairs and slipped into my room.

I quickly wiped away my tears, I was running out of time. It was 3:22am. I have to leave quickly.

I put in my iPhone on top of my clothes which I had packed yesterday. This backpack was pretty huge, I'm glad for that or I wouldn't be able to fit so much stuff in.

I put on my mustache hoodie, swung my backpack over my shoulder and tip-toed down the stairs finding Emily crying softly on a chair.

I walked up to her and cupped her cheeks. "You'll be alright, okay?" She nodded her head silently. I pecked her forehead. "Don't tell mommy and daddy, okay?" She nods, with tears still flooding her face. "Goodbye, I love you." I kissed her two wet cheeks and walked to the door.

I waved goodbye to her for the last time before leaving with a quiet shut of the door.

I looked up at the dark clouds and sky above me, it had been raining before.

Maybe mid-November was a bad time to leave, but I had to do it someday. And today was my someday.

I'll miss you, Emily.

I put on my hood, locked my hands in my hoodie pockets and began walking. As I breathed, cold smoke flew out of my lips. This was going to be a long night.