Don't run because I'll find you

Chp.1-Origins

Chapter 1 

I walk very calmly and at pace. My body heat is rising with every step I take . Sweat falls down my back like an avalanche but it's worth it.  On the corner is my getaway from this hell. Once I reach  7-Eleven, I'm relieved to feel the air conditioner blow in my face. I breathe the cool air into my system as  I walk into the empty store.

Like always, I get a red slushy and a snickers. I tap the window so Maggie, whose name that I've learned several months ago, can give me a large cup. She nods with a smile and puts the cup in the basket and spins in my direction. 

I give her a friendly nod back and fill my cup up. I go back to the window and give her the money. "How was school", she says. I gesture with my hand moving it side to side to say that it was okay.

She smiles and then the door open letting the sunshine out. I cover my face quickly so it wouldn't reach me. I remove my hands and there is a guy who comes into the store.  I went to go get a honey bun for my sister because I'm so stingy with my food. When I get back to the counter the guy is already done. 

I look at him when he gets to the door but his navy blue cap covers his face.  He looks at me for a moment. Then he leaves. He looks vaguely familiar to me. I've seen him somewhere. "You, okay sweetie", Maggie says snapping me back to reality. "Yeah, I'm fine". A image comes across my mind.

Then the name pops in my head quickly. "Andy", I whisper. I feel so nostalgic now. It was 9 years ago, I was seven years old and at the time I usually play with my dolls. My brother Max and Andy was playing in the fort in the backyard. They were practically brothers. They did everything together. Until one day they stop talking to each other. Then he moved away. Now he's back in town.

As I pass the old abandoned elementary school, recollecting all these memories, Lily opens the door. "Walk faster, slow poke", she says.  I speed up and reach to the door. "Lily stop doing that before mom catches you". She blushes. "Okay I will but can you give me, my food now". I handed her the honey bun. She goes upstairs but clumsily slips. She stands back up and runs on the stairs.

I giggle and enter the kitchen. "You're in a good mood", My mom says suspiciously. "I'm always in a good mood", I smile. I walk into my bedroom and fully relieved. I listen too some music while doing my homework which isn't much thankfully. After doing my homework, I work on some ideas for my school's homecoming dance.

After a while, I sleep for a while. Then my mom calls me. I look at the time. 7:30 pm. I slowly  move my head up and then head down the kitchen. My sister in her tutu dress comes and sits down. Before we eat we pray for the food. After we're done we start to dig in. "You know you're going to your grandparents' house tomorrow", she says. I nod .  "Is she going to sleep in that thing", I asks. My mom looks at her. "If I try to take it off she'll make a fuss it's better off leaving her alone", she says. 

Minutes later, Lily pours spaghetti sauce on her dress. My mom grabs her gently and rubs her shirt. "Lily did you really have to pour spaghetti sauce on yourself", my mom says.  Lily giggles and so does my Mom. I want to tell my mom what happened today but I don't know her reaction would be like. She still is in a good mood.

"Mom, what happened to Andrew Macullan".  Her giggling suddenly stops. She has a sudden change of expression. "Why don't you go to your room and get ready for your bath, okay sweetie", she says.  Lily agrees and runs to her room. Hearing her soft, fake, mother-like voice worries me. "Can I see you in the living room", she says in a  monotone voice. I follow orders and go to the couch. She sits next to me and puts cookies on the table.

"Oh no, I'm not hungry", I say.

"They're not for you, they're for me", she says. "Why are you all of a sudden curious about this subject".

I shrug. "Just wondering".

"Well Andrew Macullan had a chaos family. His father use to rob banks, shops and houses. He even burned down the elementary school around the corner. From then on people didn't like him and I thought his son was a saint. Turns out he wasn't a saint at all. He was a troublemaker just like his father. He got into fights with other boys at school. He stole a lot of things from shops. He even fought with your own brother. His father went to jail and his mother died. Children services held him for a few months until he went to live with his uncle in Minnesota. 

I'm speechless about what she just said. Could this be true?

She looks at me seriously. "Look Quinn, these people are dangerous and I don't want that kind of trouble near you".

I see her glossy green eyes look at me. "Yeah, okay", I say 

"Okay, now get ready for bed so I can tuck you in,okay", she says.  I turn around and we both laugh.  

I go to my room.  I've never seen my mom so serious about this. I lay on my bed with my hands under my head. This is why he left. I feel so overwhelmed. This guy was so nice to me when I was little. He use to read me bedtime stories. He use to give me treats when I was young and now he's a troublemaker. I close my eyes because my heart still believes he's not the boy in the story.