Escape // Jacob Sartorius

"We Have to Move"

I hear the front door open from my spot in front of the TV. I jump up from the couch to see who opened the door. I try to be as quiet as possible in case something's wrong.

I look around the corner to see Braeden standing on the front porch, front door wide open. I shake my head angrily and make my way to the front door.

"Braeden! Where do you think you're going?" I call from the doorway, making him jump.

"First of all, don't do that. Second of all, I'm walking to Toby's house to play soccer with him. Third, you weren't my mom last time I checked," he replies sarcastically. I roll my eyes.

"Well, your actual mom said not to come outside by yourself. You know that."

"Whatever. You know he lives like three houses down, Ms. Drama Queen."

"Well, don't say I didn't warn you. I can't wait till you get in trouble with mom. Then you'll see."

"Can you shut up now?"

And with that, he dashed across the yard and starts walking down the street, bouncing his soccer ball. I roll my eyes and go back inside. I mean, I tried. There's nothing else I could've done. At least that little brat will get in trouble.

I shut and lock the front door and walk upstairs to my mom's bedroom. I see her sitting in the love seat, staring into space.

"Hey, Mom, I hate to tell you, but Braeden left to go to Toby's." I say timidly, not wanting to startle her.

"WHAT! WHY DIDN'T YOU STOP HIM?" she shouts, either panicked or angry.

"I tried, but he went anyways. I don't know..." I reply, getting nervous myself. She's either going to yell at me or kill Braeden, neither of which are particularly good.

She quickly picks up her phone and clicks on a number.

"Hi, Mrs. Tallmen, this is Amy Roberts. Sorry to bother you, but is Braeden over there? I know he was going over there to play with Toby," she says quickly, glaring at me.

I hear a muffled response from Mrs. Tallmen. Mom quickly replies, hangs up, drops the phone, and dashes down the stairs. I follow her as she grabs her car keys and runs out the door. I hop in the car with her without asking any questions as we begin driving around the neighborhood.

"Where are we going?" I finally ask. Mom sighs and grips the steering wheel tighter.

"He's not with Toby. If he left when you said he did, he would've been there already. Help me look for him."

We don't see him anywhere. We yell his name out the windows but nothing. Mom pulls back into our driveway. and we get out.

"I'm going to look at his friends' houses in the neighborhood. You go knock on our neighbors' doors to see if they saw him," she says, trying to stay calm.

"Mom, I'm scared, I don't want to be by myself."

"Okay, well, take my phone and call his friends' moms."

She reaches in her pocket, but I remind her that her phone is at home, still on the floor of her bedroom.

"Okay, never mind. I'll call the police, just to be safe."

I hand her my phone and she dials the number. I pace back and fourth in the driveway while she makes the call. What if my dad took him? What if I'm next? I sit down and lean against the house with my eyes closed. Mom sits down beside me, head in her hands.

"Mom, what if he's really gone? I was a jerk to him before he left," I say regretfully, tears forming in my eyes.

I feel Mom staring at me, even though my eyes remain shut.

"I don't know, sweetie. I really don't know," she replies quietly.

An officer arrives shortly, and Mom gestures for me to go on upstairs. I trudge silently up the stairs and into my room. Once inside, I plop down on my bed and begin to cry.

I keep telling myself how big of a jerk I am. I can't believe Braeden's gone, and I've been such a bitch to him my whole life. Maybe he's safe somewhere, but I just can't shake the feeling that something bad happened.

My mom opens the door and I wipe the tears away. She looks very stressed.

"I have something to tell you. We have to move tomorrow, so start packing."

"What?!? Mom, please no! What's going on?"

"We will talk later, get a move on," she says, emotionless. She walks out of my room, forgetting to close my door. I get up to close it and see some boxes of varying sizes sitting in the hall. I kick them into my room and slam the door. Too numb to even think, I pack all my clothes into my three suitcases and a duffle bag. I shove everything else from notebooks to the comforter on my bed, into the boxes. I feel like a robot, with no emotions whatsoever. Soon, all that's left in my room is pieces of furniture and my bare bed. My bookshelf and closet are completely empty. I dig through one of my bags to put on something comfortable. I put on a gray tanktops and light denim high waisted shorts. I slip on my white converse and my black RayBans. I shove my phone and iPad into my navy polkadot backpack. I grab as many suitcases as I can carry and go downstairs, trying to balance it all. I put them all downstairs and run up to get the boxes. I carry those downstairs, too. Mom walks in as I'm putting the last box down.

"Where's all your stuff?" I ask, confused.

"You're the only one leaving," she responds quietly.

"What, why? Where am I going?" I yell, the emotions finally coming out.

"Calm down. The cops are almost positive he has been kidnapped by your father. They are putting out an Amber Alert to find him. It's not safe for you anymore, Mere. I hate to do this to you. You'll be moving to Reston,
Virginia-"

"WHAT? That's too far, Mom! I thought maybe I was moving in with Lacy!" I shout. Lacy is my best friend, and she lives on the other side of town.

"It's not up for discussion. You are moving in my best friend from college and her family." she tells me.

"The one that you go on trips with all the time?"

She nods.

"What's their last name again?"

"Sartorius."

"Okay, but I don't like this at all."

That sounded familiar. Never mind, of course it's familiar. It's my mom's friend, she's mentioned her before.

"We leave tomorrow. Go get some sleep, sweetie. I love you so much," Mom finishes, wrapping her arms around me. I watch her as she dejectedly makes her way up the stairs.

I sit back and close my eyes. I'm going to miss Charlotte. I did only have one true friend- oh my gosh! Lacy!

I get out my phone and text her.

M- lacy I'm moving :( they think my dad kidnapped braeden

L- what omg I'm so sorry I'm going to miss you so much :((

M- I'm going to miss you too :( mom says it's not safe for me anymore

L- I thought your dad was in prison?

M- he got out & i guess he's still mad :(

L- omg this is so terrible where are you moving to

M- Reston, Virginia :(

L- idk where that is, but i gtg. when r u leaving? love you

M- tomorrow. ilyt

I sigh, overwhelmed, and turn off my phone. Tomorrow, I'll be in a brand new place with brand new people and living with a brand new family who I barely know. It's just too much.

The tears begin leaking out of my eyes as I stand up and make my way upstairs. I shut my bedroom door quietly so I don't wake up Mom and slide down the door, crying my eyes out.

There's only one question on my mind.

Why me?