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The Follower

     She actually sprinted the rest of her way to the shelter. The boys needed to get out of there. This was before she realized she was being followed. She thought they had already been caught, so she saw no need for the caution. What she didn't know was that at the moment, the boys were actually performing a funeral service for her, which was the same s what they'd done for Philip. For them, caught meant the same as dead. Neither one made any allowance for a miraculous rescue.

Or at least, that's what they thought.

Ashton was having similar thoughts as she approached the alley. She prepared for the worst. Or what she thought was the worst. What she got was a whole bunch of street boys mourning their girl leader.

Ashton never thought she'd crash her own funeral.

It wasn't exactly a "hey guys, what's up?" kind of reunion. It might have been, if she hadn't let the necklace behind. But it was too late to change things, and what was done was done. What she needed to do was change what hadn't been done. She needed the boys to run and not look back. To forget about her and the life they had before.

With that cheery thought in mind, Ashton ran into the alley. Her single thought was to get them out of there.

That quickly changed.

All the boys were completely focused on the funeral. Even Alek and Crusty managed to sit still for the larger part of the funeral, she was told later.

Jacob squinted at her when she came into the alley. "Did they execute you or something? Why don't I see a halo? Where did they kill you from?" He blinked. "Did you hear everything I said during the funeral."

Ashton grinned. "Nice to see you too, Jacob." She hesitated, then locked him into a tight embrace. is eyes widened and he turned crimson. He awkwardly patted her on the back a couple times. Then she released him. "I'm so glad you guys are okay."

Liam looked up. "We were in danger?"

Ashton nodded. "We need to pack up and to get out."

This was met with absolute, stunned silence.

Ashton grew impatient. "Now! Please, guys! This could mean all of us ending up in jail or worse! I've gone through it once and don't want to do it again." This seemed to shock the boys into action. Alek kicked one of the supporting poles of the shelter down. Liam quietly cursed himself for helping build the shelter before. Jonas hid footprints. Luke picked up the loaf of bread. Jonas ran in circles, yelling what Ashton hoped were curses in German. Crusty took the dumpster cover and put it on a dumpster. The refrigerator was carried off by Jacob, Ashton, and Liam. Jacob silently prayed for another hug or even a kiss. Nothing came except for a short "good work" to everyone. He looked disappointed.

Then the follower came.

"Hands over your heads." The figure drew a gun. The business end was pointed at Jacob, since he looked like the leader. Jacob shrugged and put his hands over his head. The alley was silent as a tomb.

"All off you."

As if in shock, everyone stared.

The gun fired into the air. Everyone jumped.

"My boss told me to get you alive. That doesn't mean I can't give you a lesson. If I do, you'll wish you were dead."

Ashton's eyes narrowed. That was a challenge.