Lone Runner (On HOLD)

Chapter 4

I ran out of the hospital, but I couldn’t go home. I turn my phone off and use a pay-phone to call home.

“Hello?” Jay answers the phone.

I take a deep-breath, “Jay-Jay? Where’s mommy? Are you okay?”

“Linda, please come home. Last night Victor hit mommy. He didn’t let me go to school today,” he sounded like he was trying hard not to cry.

My little Jay is only 7, he shouldn’t be going through all this crap. And this bastard put his hands on my mom. I tried hard not to sound furious, “Jay please give the phone to mommy. I’ll be home at some point just not now.”

A deep heavy breathing was on the other line now, “And why can’t you come home right now?” It was Victor.

“Victor, let me talk to my mom. I need to let her know where I am.” I know he’ll bother my mom about where I am, he knows that I know more than I should.

“Fine… but you’re in huge trouble,” he sounded suspicious, like something was going to happen to me.

“Linda? Honey where are you? I’ve been worried so much about you. You didn’t come home last night and then I heard about that shooting at Gabe’s house,” my mom wouldn’t shut-up. I had to come up with with some lie to keep her from asking questions about where I am.

“Mom… I’m fine. Gabe’s dad was shot twice and Gabe was shot once. I was under the bed the whole time, I shot and stabbed the other guy… Mom, I won’t be home for a while. But I will call you every night,” it was hard to do this, knowing what I know and letting go of home, my mom and my brother. The only thing on my mind was the I was doing everything for Lydia.

I heard a glass fall and shatter on the other end, “Why? Linda… what’s going on?”

“Nothing mom, I just need to help a friend in need. I have to do this. I promise mom, nothing stupid. I’ll call tomorrow night,” the truth could hurt her and I wasn’t going to do that.  

She was about to say something but Victor yelled, “Hang it up!” And the other line went silent.