Kids in the Dark

Chapter 28

Ryder's P.O.V

My mouth watered as Oliver set a plate of sauce soaked ribs down on the table in front of me.

"Dig in." He smiled and my arm shot out, piling 5 onto my plate. I held a 6th in my hand and brought it up to take a bite, shivering as a droplet of water ran down my bare back. I sank my teeth into the soft meat, the BBQ sauce coating my tongue with flavor.

"This is delicious." Marc grinned, running a hand through his hair, to push it out of his eyes. I nodded in agreement and glanced over at Theo who sat opposite me. He was toying with his food absentmindedly as he often did when he's thinking. I cleared my throat making him look up. I raised my eyebrows at him and with a sigh he picked a rib up and took a bite.

Satisfied that he was eating something I cut a bit of meat off the bone and held it out in my hand beneath the table. It instantly vanished as Tank snatched it off me. I laughed ruffling his damp fur.

"So, what are you guys planning on doing this evening?" Oliver asked

"Um," I said glancing at my watch. It was nearing ten "That swimming tired me out. I was planning on catching up on my sleep." I replied thinking back to the uneasy night's sleep in the car.

"That's cool. I have some last minute work to do before tomorrow, then I'll do the same." Oliver said snatching a handful of tomatoes from a bowl.

"Sounds good," Marc said, Theo nodded, keeping his mouth shut.

Dinner passed relatively quickly, little food being left over. It was a team effort to clean up and by 10:45 Marc Theo and I were all back in our room. I changed out of my swimming trunks and into a pair of baggy flannel trousers. I slipped under the warm covers as Marc's feet vanished over the side of the top bunk, the bed frame creaking slightly as he did. I had my sketchbook held in my hand, and as I lay back I slid a pencil out from the spine.

I cracked the spine open flicking past multiple family photos recreated in pencil, along with other various doodles that had filled the pages over the years, until I reached a new page. I placed the tip of led on the off white paper and began to sketch. My hand flew across the page, only stopping when Marc's head appeared over the edge of his bunk.

"What're you drawing?" He asked. I turned the book and held it up for him to see. "That's Tank right?" I nodded returning to my drawing. "Anyway, we should turn the lights out soon. It's half eleven, besides, Theo's already out." Marc said in a hushed voice. I glanced over at Theo, who had his back to us.

"Sure, I'll get it," I said placing my sketchbook beside the bed and getting to my feet. Marc shifted his position as I walked over to the switch that was over by the door. "Ready?" I asked positioning my hand ready to flick it.

"Yep," Marc answered, and I tapped the switch shutting off the light. I made my way back over to my bed, the only light was that which came from the moon beyond the window. I retook my spot on my bed and Tank, who had been waiting patiently on the floor, jumped up onto my chest.

I ran my fingers through his thick fur thinking to myself. It was hard to believe that we had been on the run for almost 3 weeks. I began to wonder what would have happened if we'd have never stolen the cars,

Well, I thought. You'd most likely be boring yourself at school, still taking shit from your Dad. You wouldn't be on the run. Adam and Jace wouldn't be in Jail. Raven wouldn't be separated from the rest of us, and Theo's wrists would still be intact.

Yeah, I thought back. But I wouldn't have met Marc or Tank. I chuckled and rolled over under Tank's weight. My thoughts were what carried me off to sleep into a dreamless void.  

Short chapter, sorry. I was rushing when I wrote this so it's probably not brilliant. Next chapter will be up soon. Thanks and keep reading.