Stella's Story

Chapter 9 - Alec's POV

~ 5 Months Later ~

   I woke up to the sun shining through the abandoned house I've been living in for the past three days. Leaving behind my family for their safety was harder than I thought possible, especially Stella. She'll never forgive me, but this was something I just had to do. If I stayed I was putting them all at risk.

I got up from the couch that was left behind and grabbed the bag of my clothes and food that I managed to find a few houses ago. Skipping from house to house, without being seen by anyone, is starting to get exhausting. I've thought about going to the treehouse once or twice but have dismissed the idea, in fear they would find me. Then they would know about Stella's treehouse and might see her their one day, I couldn't have that. So skipping houses is what I'll have to do for now.

I look around the house to see if there is anything here that might be of some use to me in the long run. After finding some rope a water bottle and a hat, I look out the windows to see if anyone is around. There are a few people walking down the street minding their own business. I go towards the back of the house to check that way and see a house with lights on directly behind this one.

I've never noticed that before.

I go back to the front, pull that old hat back out and put it on over my head, hoping to cover some of my features. If I can just get at least 5 miles away from this house, without and disruptions, then I'll be alright to stay somewhere for the night. I make sure I have everything and open the front door, welcoming the fresh breeze and sun light for no more then a minute, then I start on my way.

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   I've been walking for a good five or six hours and will need to find a place to stay soon enough. No one is around anymore, I've gotten to the side of town where no one walks alone, especially at night. As I'm walking down the sidewalk I hear a truck approaching, I pull the hat down even further and and keep my head down, hoping they'll just pass by and leave me be.

   With luck on my side for once, I see the truck keep going, but not before seeing the driver and passengers of the truck. They're two boys and girl, one boy looks to be about the same age as the girl, where as the other boy looks to be about maybe two or three years older than them. I didn't get enough time to view their faces, so I didn't worry to much about it at the time.

I kept on walking down the street trying to find some place to stay for a few nights. I turned down a street and found a house with chipped paint and a few broken windows.

This will have to do for now.

I walked up to the house only to discover the door was locked, so I went around the back and found that door unlocked.

How strange.

   I walked in to find a hole through the ceiling, above the kitchen which led into a bedroom, a worn out couch which looked as though rats had chewed on it. Everything else was either broken or taken along with the owners when they left. I sat on the couch and hung my head down thinking about where to go from here.

   "Who are you and what are you doing in my home?" Said a hidden voice. It sounded female.

   I stood up and walked towards the sound of where the voice came from.

   "Take one more step and your dead meat." She warned.

   I stopped walking and held my hands up. "I don't want any trouble, I just need a place to stay for a few nights and then I'll be on my way." I explained to her.

   "I don't care, get out!" She yelled. I stayed put. "I'm giving you five seconds to leave. Five, four, three, two, one."

   "Listen lady I'm not leaving yet, I just need-" Something hit me in the back of the head hard enough to where I fell and started to see black dots. A pair of shoes were in front of my face and all I saw next, were the back of my eyelids.