Runaway (ON HOLD)

(Melody) Just Run

Run, Melody, run, I thought to myself while I was running down street trying to get away from the policemen that were chasing me. I am wanted for robbing a bank. I spotted a fence about 60 feet away and decided to jump it. As I went to take the jump, one of the policemen grabbed my ankle and tried to pull me down. I tried to yank free but the grip was too strong. I ended up kicking him in the face so that he would release me, but hey, I was free. When I was over the fence I started to jog away, just in case he tried to get over the fence. When the town was no longer in view, and the cops weren't chasing me anymore, I slowed to a stop. I looked around trying to see if I recognised where I was, but I had no clue. I swung my backpack off my shoulder and placed it on the ground, I unzipped the muddy backpack and looked inside. I stole about $20,000. My mouth fell open. With this I could buy everything I needed, and more! I zipped it back up and started to walk again. I walked for what seemed like five hours, but was only really like two and a half.

I found myself walking into a dark forest, with a small stone path that looked like no one had been on it for quite some time. The air was freezing cold which made it hard to breathe. I only had a light short sleeve shirt on and a pair of very worn out jeans; my shoes were ripped and broken as well. I had goosebumps all over my body, but I kept walking anyway. I found a small clearing of green grass that was just a little bit off the trail. I was exhausted from all the running. So I decided to call it a day and camp out here for the night. My muscles were tense and sore, and it hurt to move. The cold didn't help, it just made me stiff. I sat down on the small patch of grass. I closed my eyes, and slowly, I drifted off into an uncomfortable sleep.

***

My eyes fluttered open. The sun was beating down through the trees and on to my face. The little bit of warmth from the sun felt good against the cold flesh of my face. I sat up, all the muscles in my body were sore and aching. I rubbed my eyes and stretched. I was taking in my surroundings. The forest last night was cold and unforgiving, but now it's warm and peaceful. I got up from the grass and brushed off the dirt from my clothing. I grabbed my backpack that was leaning against a tree and swung it over my shoulder then started walking on the mossy stone trail. My stomach growled; I just realized how hungry I was. I hadn't eaten for two days now, because I had no money for food. I guess now I was going to have to look for some berries or something like that if I want to live.

As I was walking down the trail, I heard something. I stopped walking and listened closely. I heard water running. There must be a river or something nearby. I followed the sound of the water until I came across a narrow river. It was big enough for me to swim in. The water must be freezing since it's just the end of winter. But I had to get clean somehow. I took off my worn out shoes and pulled my pants and shirt off. I slowly walked into the water. It sent sharp pains through my tense body. I washed my face, hair and body. I got out as soon as I could. Shaking, I put my clothes back on. I took a long refreshing drink before I left and filled my water bottle. Not too far away I spotted a blackberry bush. The berries didn't look ripe yet, but I was too hungry to care. It felt foreign to eat food. But I didn't stop. When there was no more berries on the bush, I continued my journey on the trail. Though my body protested, I knew I had to keep going. Soon I will be in Tanzer, another small town. I will stay there for a month or so and wait for the police to forget about me. Maybe then I will go back. But for now I am all they are interested in, and it would be to dangerous to go back right now. While I was walking I heard a twig snap. I froze. Was it someone who was chasing me? Was it a bear or cougar? My heart was racing and I was terrified. Just then, I saw two girls run through some trees. I wonder what they they were running from? They stopped running and looked behind them. I looked where they were looking. No one was there. I walked slowly and quietly towards them. I stepped on a twig and it snapped. The two girls looked in my direction. I was covered by trees so they couldn't see me.

"I-s is someone there?" the older one asked. I could tell they were scared, so I decided they weren't here for me. I walked up to them revealing myself. The younger one was standing close behind the older one. I was now about 10 feet away from them when I stopped.

"Who are you?" I asked them. They stood there still. Then finally the oldest one spoke.

"I'm Tara. This is my younger sister Asia." Her voice was shaky; I could tell she was scared. She had long brown hair and her face was covered in freckles, she wasn't very tall either, maybe 5'4, around my height.

"My name is Melody. Is there a reason you're running in the woods?" I asked them. I relaxed a bit, knowing they couldn't hurt me.

"Umm," Tara just said.

"Listen, I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to know who or what you're running from!" I said. Now they knew that I meant well, they started to relax.

"We got into some trouble with the police back in Kenna," Tara answered.

They came from Kenna!

"What kind of trouble did you get in?" I asked. I was now curious.

"Well, umm, we broke into a house." I looked at them shocked. They didn't look like the criminal kind. Tara quickly continued. They could see the interest on my face.

"We only did it because we were desperate for food. We were abandoned when we were young, and had no place to go, and there was no way we were going in a foster home - they would have separated us. So please don't report us! We had no choice!" she pleaded.

"Don't worry, I won't report you. I, um, well yesterday, I kind of robbed a bank. Kind of for the same reason you robbed a house," I confessed, waiting to see how they would react.

Tara looked at me with wide eyes.

"Hey can we stay with you?" Tara pleaded. "Like travel with you!" Asia was hugging onto Tara's leg tightly and she looked very frightened. Asia looked to be only about four or five years old. She was adorable; she had beautiful wavy orangey reddish hair.

"I guess, but only if you don't slow me down. I'm on my way to Tanzer to try and lay low for a while. If you want, you can come." They both smiled and nodded their heads. I guess it won't be too bad having them around. They could be my partners in crime.