From The Ashes We Rise

Chp 16: On The Run

I stopped whatever I was doing and looked at the time: 11 pm. Not sure if dad was asleep or not so I opened the door to check. The lights were still on and I could hear the TV. He's still awake so the window was the only way I could get outta here.

I changed into my hoodie and ripped jeans and slipped on my black converse. I found my fingerless gloves and put them on as well. The Gerard funko pop I bought was already kept in my bag so I didn't have to worry about forgetting it. I packed in my electronic stuff like chargers and portable chargers. I put on a maroon beanie and took out a few more. I forgot to put them in and mentally kicked myself for doing that. I loved wearing beanies.

I shifted into a bat and flew to where my bag was hidden. I picked it up and snuck past the living room window to the front porch. I looked back at the house. My childhood, my past, my previous life, I was leaving them all forever. I wasn't gonna miss that house of nightmares. I made my way to Sammi's house to give her my last goodbye.

I arrived at her front yard. I placed my bag under a tree and walked to under her room balcony. She's asleep. I shifted into a bat and flew up, not realising her glass sliding door was closed. I crashed into it, causing her to stir. I shifted back and knocked on the door. Inside, she was frantic but I think she knew it was me. She opened the door to let me in.

"Ebony, what are you doing here?" she asked in confusion. Her hair was messy and she had a bit of drool coming out of her mouth.

"I'm...running away and I wanted to say goodbye," I sadly replied.

"But...why? I don't understa—"

"Look, life hasn't been treating me well and everything will crumble to pieces if I stay. I don't wanna suffer anymore and go another day of abuse and neglect. I wanna find a place where people will finally accept me and treat me like the human I still am."

She shook her head and chuckled. "So this is goodbye, huh?"

"Not quite. We'll still keep in touch online and I'll update you on whatever happens."

"Right."

"Oh yeah. I got something to remember me by," I added.

"What?"

"This."

I leaned down and let our lips touch. I cradled her head in my hands, my fingers running through her hair while she wrapped her arms around my shoulders. I felt tingly inside as our lips touched, like an electrical current coursing through my body. I felt Sammi's body shake a little as she started sobbing. I didn't know how long we were in that position but I released after a while. We stood there in an awkward silence before Sammi spoke.

"Wow...wasn't expecting that," she chuckled, her eyes still wet from tears.

I reached for the necklace I always hid from everyone. It had the shape of a bullet and I bought it from somewhere I couldn't remember. I unhooked it from my neck and placed it around hers.

"This necklace too. It really suits you," I commented while helping her put on the necklace.

"I brought you my bullets."

"You brought me your love," I completed her sentence. She really loved that album, and that surely will help her remember me.