The Escape

Part 1

I swing back and forth on the porch swing, feeling the warm summer breeze make a mess out of my long brunette hair. I watch as my mom and stepdad, Jason, pull out of the driveway. Once their out of view, I walk inside slamming the door behind me. I don't think it's too much to ask for Asher to stay with me for the weekend.

Asher and I have been best friends since I moved to Salisbury, Vermont in third grade. We've been inseparable since; our parents even let us have sleepovers together. Which is why I don't understand why my parents won't let him stay with me this weekend. Jason says we're "too old" and that we might "get too close." I just laugh in his face, I can't think of Asher of anything other than a brother.

But here I am for three days with no car, and only fifty dollars that's "for emergency only." I grab my phone as it vibrates in my hand, ignore it, and decide to watch movies in the family den. I grab as many blankets as I can, my mom likes to make our house an igloo when it gets warm outside. I find the tv remote, hit the power button, and go straight to my phone. As I scroll through my messages, a voice startles me.

"Breaking news: a convict from Framingham Prison in Massachusetts escaped just about an hour ago and is very dangerous to society." I look up at the flat screen mounted on the wall and immediately recognize the mugshot shown on the screen; Dad. "This convict is identified as Michael White, a man who is responsible for the murder of seventeen year old Charlie Stevens. If anyone has information of the whereabouts of White, call the Framingham Police Department immediately."

I stare at the picture of my biological father displayed on the screen. Michael was arrested shortly after my sixth birthday. That's when Jason came into the picture, he's been more of a father than Michael ever was. That son of a bitch deserves to rot in hell, and now he's escaped. I notice that my whole body is shaking but I don't know from what; anger or fear. All of a sudden my phone starts to ring, making me jump. I hesitantly pick it up and look at the caller ID: Asher. "Shay, are you alone? I'm watching the news right now." Asher's voice seems to calm me down a little. "Do you need me to come over?"

"I would love for you to come over," I say, "but my mom and Jason said no friends over this weekend. They're gone until Tuesday, and I'm stuck here." I start to think how much it's going to suck being here all alone.

"C'mon, wouldn't you think that they would make an exception for me? Plus, I'm sure they're not comfortable with you being by yourself." Asher has always had a charming side to him.

"I know Jason wouldn't be okay with you coming over. But, I don't think they even know about Michael yet. I don't want to tell them, they have a big conference this weekend and they shouldn't be worrying about me."

"I'm still going to come ove-" Asher tries to insist.

"No, Asher. I'll be fine. He doesn't even know where we live anymore." There's no way Michael could find us, right?