Flee

Chapter 4: I'm on the Run and Go

Even though I can't remember much of the tragic details from when my dad was struck by a drunk driver. 

I imagine this is what it felt like. 

I haven't been able to think about anything else all day. 

Jace Jace Jace.

I don't know anything about Jace. I know his name, that he hates this town, and that he is a teenager that hisses at the sun. 

That's it, but I want to know more. So much more. 

I want him to be okay so bad. I also want to visit him but I can't because

I have been walking up and down the same street for hours like a lost puppy. I have no idea where to go. I don't want to leave here without Jace which is stupid, but what can I say I'm stupid. 

 I am still surprised that Tim hasn't tracked me down and dragged me home by this point. It usually takes 2 hours and then I am back home. This is like a new record. 

I stop walking when I hear rustling in the bushes. I immediately start speed walking away from the bush. I freeze when I hear footsteps following me. 

Relax, Arden its probably your own footsteps you are hearing. Idiot. 

I continue walking and the footsteps continue, too. When I speed up, the footsteps speed up. When I stop so do the footsteps. Suddenly I begin running as fast as I can. Whoever is following me seems to have been able to run faster because I feel a hand clasp around my neck. 

Their fingers grip my neck so tightly that breathing becomes difficult. I try to wiggle free but their grasp tightens. 

"You thought I wouldn't find you here?" A voice says which I immediately recognize as Tim's.

 Tim begins to drag me towards his truck. He stuffs me into the back of it and quickly gets in the car and begins to drive.  

I don't understand how he found me so quickly.

What if he has been following me the whole time? Which I don't understand how that's possible because he was basically dead when I left the house. Who knows maybe he wasn't as dead as I thought. 

Then it hits me.  What if he was the one to hit Jace? Oh my god. 

Some boy that I barely know is injured at the hands of Tim. When he hurts me it's one thing but when it's someone else.  

 When we finally get home Tim drags me into the house and throws me into my room and he just leaves. Which surprises me because I was sure that I was in for it. 

I lay on the floor and think about the boy that I barely even know. What if he dies? I won't know if he does. 

I decide to text Gwen because she is really the only person I can talk to about this. 

Me: Hey I have to talk to you. Call me. 

A few minutes later my phone rings. 

"Hey girl what's going on?" Gwen chirps. 

"A lot," I tell her

"OOOOOH did that boy you like ask you out? What's his name again? Park?" Gwen shouts into my ear. 

"No," I reply. 

"Well then. Tell me!" 

"Okay well. I went downtown last night and met this person." I say.

"Male or female?" Gwen asks. 

"Male." I say. 

"Oh sweet! When is the wedding?" Gwen asks too excitedly.