Behind The Sea: The Lost and Wanted (never gonna be rewritten.)

5. Runner

Chapter Five

I had been walking for fifteen minutes, and my cheeks were flushed from the cold. I seriously regretted not wearing a jacket. I heard footsteps behind me, but when I turned to check it out, nobody was there. Could he turn invisible too?!

"No, I'm just a good hider." I heard Alexander say bashfully. I growled under my breath, and pretended like I was alone.

"Stopping here was a mistake, you were right." He said. I rolled my eyes, and kept walking. I was so cold I was sure my teeth would start chattering.

And with my luck, I felt a drop of water land on my arm.

With as much time it took to look up, it was pouring rain.

"SERIOUSLY!" I yelled at the sky. I ran to the nearest building, which happened to be a convenience store.

Since I was near starving to death, I decided to go in, where it was warm, and buy some chips or something of the sort.

I ignored the wet footsteps behind me, grabbing a bag of chips.

I stepped up to the cash register, and placed my item up quickly, digging in my pocket for some cash.

"Aha!" I said in excitement when I found some.

I looked back up at the man, who was smiling down at me oddly. I smiled back warily.

"That'll be one oh seven, sweetheart." He spoke huskily. I cleared my throat as I put the correct amount on the counter. He opened the cash register, watching me the whole time.

I grabbed my items, and walked out there as fast as my long legs could carry me.

"Creepy people." I muttered under my breath as I fought the rain to get under the shelter, to the gas pumps.

"My car is right down the road, Valeri. I don't want you getting sick." A male voice called.

"Shut up." I said, crossing my arms, turned completely away from him.

"Stop acting like a child and just look at me. You have no idea what I'm going through!" He began raising his voice.

I turned sharply to him, my eyes widening.

"No idea what you're going through? You, Alexander, have no idea what I'm going through! You almost killed an innocent man because he didn't like you!" I yelled, my arms flaring around like an octopus.

"Would you just listen to me?!" He finally yelled.

"No." I said, raising my chin, testing him.

"Valeri." He growled. I laughed humorlessly.

"Screw you, Alexander." I said, walking into the rain, not caring if I got sick or not. I'm tired of everybody treating me like I'm so fragile.

I let my tears flow down my face as I continued walking, it's not like anybody could tell anyway.

After thirty minutes of walking in the freezing rain, my teeth were chattering, my pants were sticking to my legs, and I was sure I lost Alexander a while back. At least the rain's lighting up.

Then thunder boomed. I groaned, but continued my way. Cars flew past me, and my bottom lip quivered again as I realized I was alone, in Nevada, with no idea where I'm headed.

Please God, don't let a chainsaw guy come from the dark, scary woods beside me. Am I even in Vegas anymore?

I shook my head, my wet hair sticking to my forehead, and ignoring the ache in my feet.

I sneezed, and groaned. I am going to get sick. I'm gonna die on the side of the road alone in the rain. I hate you, Alexander.

And that's when I saw headlights creep up on me in a busy road. My breath quickened with my pace as I heard the gravel crush from under the car slowly, right behind me. I closed my eyes tightly, praying for my life.

My mother's still missing! I whined to myself, trying to ignore the car. Why didn't I wear I jacket?!

"Need a ride, sweet cheeks?" I heard a mock-southern accent call. Of course! OF COURSE!

"Leave. Me. Alone!" I doubt he heard me over the rain.

"I didn't want to do this." He sounded like he was smirking. I heard the car accelerate, and I sighed a sigh of relief.

Until he swerved the car around to be right in front of me, blocking my path.

I immediately turned around, not caring about hearing his door open and some heavy footsteps behind me.

It got kinda difficult to ignore when he threw me over his shoulder.

"ALEXANDER!" I yelled.

"What?" He asked nonchalantly.

"Put me down!" I said, seething.

"Why? I like the view." He said, no doubt smirking.

"Well I don't!" Lies.

"Did you forget I could read your mind?" He chuckled, I saw a car tire. I blushed immediately, pretending I didn't hear him.

He opened the door, and I was thrown inside. I crossed my arms, and decided not to talk to him.

But what if he chokes me out like that poor innocent man?

"Valeri, I lost control." He said quietly as the car rolled.

"You think?" I muttered.

"I'm sorry, and I've already apologized to the man for acting rudely, and he surprisingly doesn't think anything of the choking." He smiled at me.

"Nope." I said simply.

"Valeri." He whined.

"Nope." I said again.

"We shouldn't have come to Vegas, you were right." He sounded defeated. I smirked, victorious!

"I really am sorry." He sounded on the verge of tears. I turned to him sharply.

"Why are you crying, wimp?" I said, my eyebrows furrowed together. He took a sharp inhale of breath.

"Everybody has baggage, Valeri. Especially me." He randomly said.

"What are you talking about?" I asked him like he was stupid.

"You'll find out soon enough Valeri." He added something under his breath I couldn't decipher.

I rolled my eyes at him, still shaking from the cold.

We pulled up to a stoplight, and he reached into the back seat, pulling out a thick blanket. I beamed at it like it was my only salvation. He handed it over to me, and I snatched it greedily.

He also cranked the heat on, and with the toastiness of it, I soon fell asleep

The last words I heard before I fell asleep were, "I will try my best to protect you from them, Val. I swear it on my own life. Not again."

A/N: This chapter was slow and short, sorry :S Next one will be longer! :D