Oxygen

Chapter 21 - The almost failed escape

We spent ten minutes on our feet trying to find the back exit from the house. Stupidly, I'd forgotten where it was, and that set us behind majorly. Alec could be right behind us, with who knows how many people.

I pull of my navy coloured hoodie and tie it around my waist. As I'm mixing between running and fast pace walking, I realize that wearing jeans was probably the worst possible idea. The past week I have been borrowing Natalie's clothes, which don't turn out to be all designer wear. I haven't seen her around all week, which seems strange. Isn't this her house?

We turn another corner, and Jordan stops ahead of me, panting. "I can't do this" he defeats, and stops against a creme coloured wall. "Yes you can" I ensure, and Charlie and Georgia slow down and walk back to us. "We're almost there Jordan, I'm sure of it. Come one". Reluctantly, Jordan stretches from his hunched over position, and starts a slow jog. We all go at his pace, leaving me just behind them in case of a problem.

At last, we reach a place I recognize in this ginormous palace. "Guys" I whisper, and they stop ahead of me. I look both ways down the hall, and head towards a single oak wood door. I turn the knob impatiently, and inside is my very unique bedroom. "This is where I've been staying" I show them through the crack of the door, and they gasp quietly in amazement.

"While we were in a cell, you were staying here?" Charlie shouts in a quiet whisper, and I nod, raising my index finger to my lips. "I know where to go from here, let's go".

I lead the three of them down two flights of stairs, round to the left, then the right, and down a long corridor. And just like that, we're in the back garden. "Thank god we're finally out" Jordan says happily, hailing to the sky. 

"We have to get out of the area first, then we can get a cab home, I have some money" I suggest. Everyone nods,and we start a slow walk to the gate. We enter the garden at the front of the house, only to find another trap.

In one long line stretching across the huge square lawn, is Alec, Martin, George, and Natalie, along with at least twenty  other family members. Their all dressed in jumpsuits, as if they have prepared for a fight. Oh god.

I notice that Emma is here. I hope she has taken the opportunity to run, or somehow get out of here to avoid the fight that is about to occur. No one deserves what she has been through, even if she is one of the Summer's.

The four of us stand in a square formation, protecting ourselves from all angles as the Summer's begin to circle us. With no control over the situation, the four of us just stand there. I look around, for something to use as a weapon, but there is nothing. Overhead I see a balcony with metal bars hanging from the fourth floor.

I speak slowly to Jordan, to avoid letting anyone else notice. I'm going to grab the metal bars from the balcony above us, and break them apart. Cover me. Jordan grabs my hand and squeezes to imply that he got the message, and took a risky step back towards me, closing the gap between us.

"My dog used to chase people on a bike a lot. It got so bad, finally I had to take his bike away" Jordan said loudly. Everyone stopped their low muttering, and Alec glared at him. "What?" one of the unknown family members asked.

"I'd like to buy a new boomerang please. Also, can you tell me how to throw the old one away?" I begin to laugh inside. This is his tactic? Weird. "Why did the physics teacher break up with the biology teacher? There was no chemistry. Why do the French like to eat snails so much? They can't stand fast food".

Some of the crowd start to talk among themselves. One large woman shouts in an angry tone, "Oi, I'm french, don't disrespect you mongrel!" I'm surprised no one has attacked him yet. Charlie and Georgia but in with a joke of their own. 

"Oh the weather is lovely today. Shall we go out for a quick jog?" Charlie asks Georgia, looking away from her and towards the woman. "Hahaha, I love the way you pronounce 'Shall we go out and have a cake'!". I can't help but laugh at this, and Jordan joins in, cackling as loud as his voice will let him.

The woman turns bright red, turning away and covering her rather over sized stomach. "Don't talk to my sister like that!" Alec yells. Oh dear, we've hit a nerve. At that, I cover myself from Alec's view, and look up to the balcony. I clench my fists at my sides, trying to generate the force to pull at least one of the bars away.

Quickly, one from the corner melts away from the framework, and falls into my hands. No one sees the really obvious flying object. Discreetly I pass it behind me to Georgia, the least powerful of us. If we are going to fight, may as well make it a good one, and I know she can fight.

After a minute I catch another one, and pass it across to Charlie. Finally, the last three on the balcony fall off, and with Jordan and Charlie cracking their jokes, no one seems to notice as they drop to the ground, and I pass one forward to Jordan, and hold two for myself.

Once the chatter dies down, I realize that Jordan is running out of jokes. Say something, I insist, to Jordan or Charlie, whoever is listening. I turn around and Charlie shakes his head, out of ideas. I move forward cautiously next to Jordan, holding the metal bar plus the spare in case I need it behind my back as he does. 

Throw it, I suggest, tapping the bar behind his back. I have a spare. Confidently, Jordan brings the bar from behind his back, ready to throw, and everyone goes silent.

"Where did you get that?" Martin demanded, anger appearing on his face. "So, you have two options" I start. "You can either let us leave now, or you can put up a fight. And I'm one hundred percent sure that you won't win".

"And why would you say that?" Martin says smartly, smirking to his son. Alec laughs, and agrees, "You couldn't win against us! There are at least twenty of us, and only four of you!". Everyone laughs, including the four of us. What they don't know can't hurt them.

"Oh, but there are so many more than that!" I yell at the top of my voice, and slowly, the circle turn around to face the road. Down the street come five large black vans, roaring with energy. They park outside the house, and jump from the open windows like evil monkeys. 

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Hey Everyone!

I don't usually leave comments at the end of the chapters, but I think I'll start doing that. I'd love to know what you guys think about the story so far. I'd also like to thank you all for almost 100 reads! I know this isn't much to most writers, but for me since this is my first story I'm so amazed and I really appreciate it!

Question of the day: What do you think will happen in the fight coming up? Will the Summer's defeat the Kingsley's, or vice versa? I'd love to know what you think, so please leave a comment, vote and let me know how you want the story to continue.

Also if there are any changes you would make to this story, what would they be. Again, please vote and comment on this story, it would be really great to know that you enjoy what I'm writing.

Thanks everyone! Love you all!

Alice (ThePapaerbackStories)