Kids in the Dark

Chapter 4

Ryder's P.O.V

"Alright. I'm like 59% sure that there is a tunnel off that way that will take us up the top." Theo blabbed on as I replied to a text from Raven

where are you we've been waiting for ages

We're on our way give us 20 minutes I replied before shutting off my phone and shoving it my pocket. "Hey Theo, we need to go," I said getting to my feet. Theo ran over to me and flung me over his shoulders like a sack of potatoes.

"I think you're right. Away we go." He laughed spinning around making my head spin too.

"Theo put me down." I laughed with him banging my fists against my big brother's back as he began to walk down a small side cave, into the darkness. I eventually gave up trying to get Theo to put me down and just let him carry me through the tunnel. Only when the cave began to slope upwards did he put me down. My head spun as its blood flow normalized and I steadied myself by clutching the cave wall. "I'm good now," I said somewhat to myself as the cave opened up into a small forest from which we could see the beams of flashlights and 5 shadowy figures. I picked up the pace and jogged over to them, sliding slightly in the slick mud.

"Okay Adam," Theo called from behind me. "Talk to me, baby." It took me a while to register what Theo had just said. Did he really just call Adam 'baby'?

"We're good to go, That is if Raven has the cash?" Adam looked across at Raven, who nodded and I felt a small smile creep across my face.

"How soon can we get it done?" I asked.

"Haven't you heard?" Jace asked looking slightly shocked.

"Heard what?" Theo joined in fixing Jace with a meaningful stare. Jace glanced around the others but didn't answer.

"Heard what Jace?" I asked heatedly, losing my temper.

"Well, um," Jace started holding the back of his head. I raised my eyebrows indicating for him to go on. "There's like a statewide search for you guys. The cops have set up roadblocks everywhere, there's no way in hell this is going down tonight." Every one of his words seemed forced out of his mouth as if he was telling us our dog was dead, not that our plan had to be delayed.

"That's fine, we just sit it out for a week or so and hope that the cops don't find these beauties." Theo glanced behind him, practically drooling over the cars. The others all seemed to agree, but I had something else on my mind.

"Hey, what happened after we left school?" I asked drawing the attention away from the cars. There was a pause of silence before Adam chose to reply.

"We all got called to the office just before lunch, and Mr. Willis locked us in a room while he spoke with the cops, then they hauled us all down to the station. We basically just got out of that place. You know what it's like. Same old, same old." The others all nodded before Raven jumped in, her smooth voice contracting sharply with Adam's rough one.

"They asked us loads of questions about you and where you might be, but we told them we didn't know, which isn't technically lying. They also asked about last night, so we all claimed we were staying at Jace's for a sleepover as his parents are away making the alibi almost foolproof." She smiled slinging an arm over my shoulder in a sisterly fashion.

"When you say almost-?" Theo questioned leaving the question unfinished, folding his arms in front of his chest.

"Well, um," Jace started, filling my stomach with an uneasy feeling. "Come on, you guys know the cops will do anything to prove you're guilty. Parker hates you guys."

"Parker was there?" Theo asked his shoulders tensing. All three nodded in unison. If Parker was there that meant she must the lead officer in this whole thing, this thought did not comfort me at all. I was lost in my worrying thoughts that I almost didn't notice when Raven voiced a question.

"Why does Parker hate you two so much anyway?" I felt Theo grow even tenser beside me so I put my hand on his arm trying to reassure his. Anything that brought us remotely close to the topic of our home life was an uneasy one for him. Although his tough exterior would tell you otherwise Theo was probably the more sensitive of the two of us.

"Ryder don't." He muttered looking down at the muddy ground. I gave his arm a squeeze but answered all the same; a guilty feeling crept its way into my stomach as the words fell from my mouth.

"She's been bitter ever since our mom, you know. They were close and I guess after what happened Parker kind of saw us as her responsibility. Ever since we 'went off the rails' she's been at our throats." This was about as much explanation as I could give on the matter, not fully understanding it myself. The others seemed to have been shocked into silence for they didn't make a sound as my story finished. I was about to break the silence that had fallen between us when I felt an elbow dig into my chest. Looking up I caught sight of Theo giving me the 'we need to go' look. I could tell the topic of conversation was not one he was keen. I nodded up at him, sighed and took a step back away from the group.

"We're gonna have to go. Don't follow if you know what's good for you." Theo said sternly walking backward as he did so. With muttered goodbye's we all parted. I turned my back on the 3 flashlight holders and followed my brother back towards the place from which we'd come.

Shorter chapter this time round but to make up for it the next one will be from Theo's point of view. Hopefully, you enjoy the change of pace. Keep reading and enjoying -Flo