Deck of Cards

Day 39- Hannah

Four of diamonds- working in the field for 0hrs

Hannah's POV

Insanity was slowly taking me over, I couldn't think straight. My head was a whirring engine that was close to overheating from the constant strain. I couldn't stand being in that house anymore, having to live with the flower scented perfumes swarming round the air like dust clouds, blinding my vision.

My father hadn't tried to talk to me and my mother had given up after numerous attempts; I was hostile and cold, something they blamed on the game. What they didn't realise was that they made me the way I was, they made me the outcast. Socialising wasn't on my agenda and I ignored the constant buzz of my phone on my dresser, not caring that my 'old' friends were now only getting in touch. The only person I wanted to talk to was Ava.

Somehow Ava had crept into my black heart and befriended it unknowingly; all the hatred I had before was just suppressed emotions. I never saw myself as someone who could have friends that were girls, that could get along with the same gender. I was too boisterous, rowdy, manly and yet Ava had managed to go past my radar unnoticed.

We had texted a lot since we departed and for once I had something good to stay for, without mum and dad I couldn't pay for my phone bill! She reminded me of some kind of idol, I wanted to be like her. Not in a creepy obsessed way though, just in a friendly way. There was something so likable about her despite her intimidating facade.

ava: heya

me: wassup

ava: don't say that idiot, also the answer to your question is the sky

I smiled at her response, she could make me feel better no matter how bad I felt.

me: I can't do this anymore

ava: what

me: stay with my folks

ava: come on, Hannah at least you have somewhere to stay.

I felt guilty, it was true; I had been neglecting how lucky I was to have a stable place to live even if it was driving me insane. Ava and Jen were still in temporary accommodation with no hope of leaving anytime soon.

me: avs their driving me up the wall

ava: at least you have parents that care for u

me: they don't care about me but about their image

ava: give them a chance

me: no

I closed my phone and groaned up to the ceiling; of course Ava would try and convince me to do the right thing. It was just so impossible to look past what had happened. How they had let me just leave, how they never came looking for me. Any good parent would have gone after their kid.

Closing my eyes I tried to think of a solution to my growing issue; I couldn't live there anymore but I had nowhere else to go.

"Just like Ava and Jen," I almost shouted to the empty room whilst having a eureka moment. Jen and Ava had nowhere to go and they had been giving temporary accommodation where they were safe. They had everything they needed. It all made sense and I began joining the imaginary dots.

I would run away.

Running around the room, I grabbed a back pack which I had lying around and began to thrust clothes and other things into my bag until it was bursting at the seams. It was only five minutes into packing when I stopped and questioned myself. Was I just being crazy? I had no way to get to London except walk and there was no saying that I would get there safely. They hadn't caught all of the workers, some had escaped. A terrifying prospect.

I hadn't been out alone, I wasn't allowed to. Constantly being escorted around by my bodyguard of a mum. Shaking my head I unpacked all of my clothes and tried to think of another idea.

"I'll just ask for it," I said in a cheery voice, maybe the scent of detergent had got to my head.

Taking a few deep breaths I went down the stairs to join my parents in the kitchen, both in deep conversation with one another.

"Hiya," I said loudly which startled both of them. It was only then that I saw the redness of my father's eyes and the tears that fell down my mother's cheeks.

"What's wrong?" I asked, my smile and mood dropping by the second.

"He's escaped," my mother whispered.

"Who?" I asked in a confused voice, looking around for some kind of clue.

"Mr Ontoniores," my father said in a voice filled with hate, nothing like his usual calm voice.

"Who?" I asked, the name did vaguely register in my brain but I couldn't pin down where it was from.

"The guy you stole you," my father shouted, throwing his hands up in rage. I couldn't tell if the anger was directed at him or the situation.

"The police are coming to take you into witness protection, they'll be here in a second. I'll come up with you to pack a bag," my mother said while wearily standing up.

"I can do it myself," I said, vaguely aware of the churning feeling in my stomach that came with his name.

"Don't you get it, he could be in your cupboard! We need to protect you until the police come," my mother said pushing me up the stairs as my father followed. In a daze like state, we packed a small suitcase as my mother cried and my father dried his eyes on a tissue.

The doorbell rang followed by a shout from the police to confirm it was them; he shouted some code word which they had discussed over the phone. My mother clutched me to her chest and I couldn't help the lump in my throat growing.

"We'll be staying somewhere close by,we've already packed and our taxi should be here soon. We love you Hannah," my father choked out before hugging my mum.

"Love you too, " I mumbled as the police officer took me to the car and made sure I was comfortable. I couldn't help the niggling feeling at the back of my head, we could be captured any minute and taken away again. The police hadn't done the best job of finding us in the first place, I didn't know how well they would do at protecting us.

As we drove through the night and the signs for London slowly appeared, I let my eyelids drop. I had got what I wanted but not in the way I planned.