Run

Chapter 2

I make it home a few hours later. I'm exhausted but I don't know how much time I have before they find my place. I have to pack and get the hell out of dodge.

I can't help but to think of the two men as I sift through my clothes. It's strange. I've never seen any social worker dress like they were dressed. They looked more like drifters than anything else. They're car also screamed unprofessional. Off duty cops I could believe but I doubt they would be the first people called to deal with a runaway. On duty, maybe, but definitely not off duty.

I take stock of my money. I have enough for a one way ticket but I'll have to find a job quick. I throw my backpack over my should and start heading down the street. It's late by the time I start my journey but it may be better this way.

I can walk all night and catch a ride from the first bus I see at daybreak.

I'm not even to the main road by the time I see headlights in the distance. I gulp before taking cover in the tall wheat grass. I lower my head, making sure to pull my hood down. I sneak a glance just as the car passes. It's the same black muscle car from this morning.

Damn.

I wait until the car reaches the house before taking off. I need to get as far away as possible. I finally turn onto the main road. I'm using up most of my energy in running but I can't stop when they're right on my tail.

The sound of an engine roaring warns me that they're close. I look over my shoulder only to see the car speeding toward me. I gasp and look around for any way to escape. I can see the car speed past me before it suddenly turns into my path.

I try to stop before running head on into the hood but I do anyway. I roll off and land with a thud. I don't have time to recover, I can already hear them getting out.

"Kieth! What the hell is wrong with you?!"

"Damn."

I start to panic.

"Hey, hey, no. We're not going to hurt you." The tall one raised his hands in surrender.

"Could've fooled me!" I grunt as I sit up against the grill of their car.

"Kieth got a little carried away," He sighed with embarrassment, "Kieth, apologize."

The driver let out a huff, "Sorry kid. Couldn't let you dodge us a second time."

I still don't let my guard down as I eye them suspiciously.

They share a look before kneeling down next to me.

"Kit?" The tall one asks gently.

I glare at him.

"My name's Wyatt and this is my brother Kieth. We're not here to hurt you," He insists.

"You hit me with your car," I grind out.

"Technically you hit my car with yourself," The driver points out.

Wyatt shoots him a look.

"Who are you guys and what do you want with me?" I ask directly.

They share another unsure look.

"Your mother was Julie Montgomery?" Wyatt says it more as a statement than a question but I still nod my head.

"And she died two years ago?" Kieth asks knowingly.

"Look if she owed you any money, I'm sorry to say but I don't have any," I frown, "You should find Chet Reynolds. He's her husband."

"No, we're not looking for you because of her," Wyatt shakes his head, "We're here because of your dad."

I'm confused for a moment, "What about him?"

"Do you know who he is?" Kieth asks.

"Not really," I admit as I think back to the man I met briefly as a child.

"His name was Richard James. Sergeant James," Kieth explains, "And he was our dad too."

I look at their faces for any sign of a lie, but they maintain their composure.

"You're joshing right now. . . right?" I finally ask.

"We've been looking for you ever since we found out you existed," Wyatt smiles.

"Why?" I frown.

They seem a bit taken aback by my reaction.

"I'm fine."

"Real fine," Kieth scoffs, "You're literally homeless."

"I had a home," I defend.

"You were squatting in an abandoned house," He corrects.

"I can manage on my own."

"We believe you," Wyatt cuts in before Kieth can make another sharp remark, "But we know it can be hard being on your own. We want to offer you a place to stay."

"Why?" I ask suspiciously.

"Because you're our sister," Wyatt says incredulously.

"Listen," Kieth says seriously, "You can't go back to that school. They know you lied and getting transcripts to transfer won't be easy. Just come with us. If you hate it, you can leave."

Wyatt's about to interrupt but Kieth continues.

"We'll even help you." He promises, "But you have to give us a chance first."

"How do I know you are who you say you are?" I ask, still unsure.

The look at each other before Wyatt reaches into his pocket. He hesitantly hands me a picture. I stare at it for a moment before realizing it's me. I'm standing next to a tall dark haired man. My dad. It was the last time I saw him. He'd taken me to a ball game. I sit staring at his features for a while before I speak again.

"Where is he? Why didn't he ever come back?"

They both sigh.

"He deployed back out a few weeks after he last visited you," Wyatt explains, "He was killed in action."

I look up in shock, "He was a soldier."

They both nod.

All these years I thought he'd forgotten about me. I reluctantly hold the picture back to Wyatt.

He shakes his head, "Keep it."