Finding My Family **ON HOLD**

Ch 1: Broken Freedom

I made it. After fourteen years of planning I finally made it to the curb of the sidewalk outside my prison. My heart starts pounding in my chest so hard and I am not sure if it is just the adrenaline or the fear that my freedom will be short lived. "Mom!!" I hear my baby say from inside the house and that answered my question. I won't be free for very long.

I step off the sidewalk and start running down the driveway. It's raining, but I'm not afraid to slip in my bare feet. My nightgown clings to me as the rain drops soak the thin fabric. It's so dark, not just because it is night time, but because we are so isolated. Our driveway is so long I can barely see the gate at the end.

"Get back here!!" I hear the deep voice come from behind me along with a gunshot. I don't even yell for help. Our closest neighbor is two miles away. No one would be able to hear me; I was reminded of that every day for the past thirteen years. That no one would help... no one would believe me.

I push myself to run faster despite the throbbing headache and the pain shooting through my leg from when it was broken. One step at a time, I tell myself. I try to muster up hope, but the soft pattering of my footsteps is drowned out by the heavy thuds of the two sets of feet chasing after me. I push myself further when I hear his demand, "Grab her!!" My arms pump hard, my feet feel every piece of gravel dig deep in the soles of my feet, but I keep going because the gate is within my sights. How the hell I'm going to get over it without getting caught I don't know, but I need to be free-- I need to be on the other side of that gate.

"Shit!" I hear the deep voice say and I take a chance to look back. He slipped and his partner in crime isn't as fast as me. I take the opportunity to continue; finally reaching the gate I scramble up the rungs, slipping halfway and having to start again. At the top I look back and see them both coming towards me. They aren't running anymore and it makes me nervous. I freeze at the top, one leg hanging on the side of freedom, and I stare back at the two sets of eyes before me. One dark set I've always hated and the other green set I fear and at the same time can't help but love.

I have to be free, I can't stay here. I make my decision and slip my other leg over the gate and lower myself down slowly to freedom. I already know my fate despite accomplishing my goal. The rain has been pouring so hard I didn't even realize the water dripping down my face wasn't just raindrops, but tears. They fall even harder as I see the green eyed male lift his arm holding a gun and point it at me.

"No..." I whisper. I shake my head back and forth as the tears continue to pour out of me. How can he do this to me? Isn't there any love in him for me? After all these years together? I shake my head one last time and turn to run.

I only make it two steps when I hear the gunshot and feel the punch to my back. I collapse forward and only then does the immense pain start to travel through me. I hear the gate opening behind me at an agonizingly slow pace and I see the footsteps of the males draw closer.

As I lay here in my own pool of blood I only think about one thing: I hope my baby is okay without me.