Runaways

Chapter 6

Mary

"Do not let your shadow walk you. You are not a slave of the past." - Dodinsky

I don’t think I’ll ever make it through this hell-hole.

I really can’t stand it anymore. With their constant remarks about how I look, how I do stuff, I just can’t take it any longer. Constantly enduring through the mental pain they cause, I cry and cry, but my tears aren’t worth their insults.

I know that. But I can’t hold them back. I’m letting them win. I won’t let them do this to me any longer. That’s why I’m running away, along with my friends. My true and best friends. They won’t ever do anything to pick on me. I won’t be the weak one. I’m stronger than this.

Today, I’ll take a chance. Today, I won’t ever have to go through this anymore. I glance at my wrist watch. 4:47AM. Great timing I have. Grabbing my pack, I run outside to the chilly weather outside. I jog to Eagle Park, huffing, and the distance between my meeting point goes smaller and smaller by the second. Crossing the street, I take a glimpse at both sides of the road, just to check if anyone would be there. My watch beeps. It’s 4:50 already. I notice a silhouette waiting for me there. 

Elizabeth’s hair flows along the breeze, her wavy, brunette hair getting into her face. Her light, brown skin glows. I rush towards her and embrace her. Ugh, I’ll never find anyone like her. She’s amazing.

I look up to her, but now I see her clearly. Marks covering her arms and face, with everything in the book. Bruises, cuts, scabs, swollen and red marks. "What happened?" She turns away, rubs her arm for a moment. "It's nothing. I'm fine." I hug her tighter. 

My friends are incredible. They’re all dear, irreplaceable, and I won’t let anything or anyone hurt them. I pull away, and then shoot her a look saying, I’m ready to do this.

“Let’s go.” I simply say. There's no words left to be spoken.

We jog off into the darkness, footsteps matching up with each others. We reach the swing sets. I grab my knife and slit my wrist. The blissful warm feeling comes through my body. Blood runs down my arm, and I cut deeper. I can feel her gaze burning a hole at the scars on my arm. Blood droplets reach the white sand. I squeeze my skin and mark the metal with my crimson blood. This’ll be good enough.

“What am I missing?” I felt like a I forgot something in the process, lost in my thought of cutting myself. Elizabeth runs her fingers through my hair. “Righhht.” I pull a bit of my hair, and drop it. Grabbing a random piece of clothing, I place it near the blood spatter. “I’ll go get Oliver. Meet at the golf course right?” Elizabeth walks away, and I wave goodbye cheerfully.

I dash back to Oliver’s house, and I see him sitting there, his head on his hands. I skip to him, “Come on Oliver. It’s time.” He stands up, hands in his pockets, “I guess it’s time to leave all this shit behind us.” 

I glance at Oliver.

Giving him the motion to do what he needs to do. He cuts his palms, gritting his teeth. “Stop being such a wimp. I’ve cut myself repeatedly the past year. Look at these scars bro. It’s not painful.” He grimaces, “Shut up. I don’t cut myself for the high of it.” I give him a warning look, daring him to speak back talk to me. 

“Alright, let’s get some stuff done.”

We both walk down the street, both paranoid of someone spotting us. Flinching at the slightest noise, we stride over to the closest car next to us. Snickering cause of the it’s our neighbors (the Carter’s; the most nosy and uptight middle aged people), I punch the window for all its worth. It shatters. Then the worst thing that could happen, happens of course.

I freak out, panicking with each beep blaring through the neighborhood. Oliver calmly walks over to the car door, opens it, pulls some wires, and the car alarm stops abruptly. He turns to smirk at me.

We hop in, and I notice a few bucks laying in the cup holder. I snatch it, “We need all the money we can get.” He seizes some coins in the ash tray. Firing up the engine, he moves the gear stick, and we drive away. I know I know, a 13 year old driving a car, it’s crazy. But it’s Oliver. He would know how to drive properly. 

He does know to drive it, but he drives like a crazy mofo. Making the sharpest turns, as fast as we can, within 3 minutes we were at Eagle Park. We open the car doors, and everyone rushes in.

Elizabeth laughs, “What the hell Oliver?” Oliver says, “You should know me by now,” grabbing the wheel. “Everyone ready to go,” just as he lifts his foot to step on the gas. We nod.

I high five Allie from the shot gun, grinning a wide smile. Best friends for life. We're like glue we are. We've been the bestest of friends since well, forever. The earliest memory was 2nd grade; I beat up Allie's bully, and we both became friends afterwards. Good times.

“Best plan ever guys. I’m out this of this fucking place. They won't ever see me again,” I whisper looking out through my window. Everyone chatters quietly behind me, I'm sure they didn't hear me. Ugh. I’m out of this place, I won’t ever turn back. Not ever. My train of thoughts stop, as my eyes suddenly get heavy. I start blinking slowly, the houses fading to black. Taking deep breaths, as I finally fall asleep.