Heart of the Runaway

Chapter One

Chapter One

“This is Nancy Arnold with Fex News, we have just gotten a report on a missing 16 year old girl named Allison Prie. Ms. Prie was last seen wearing a black and white long sleeved sweater, and a pair of men’s black basketball shorts. We will now be showing a picture of her on screen. If you’ve seen her anywhere please contact your local police station. The parents of the teenager reported saying that her blue Choovy Equinrox was also missing. No reports on the license plate number, more details on the case soon. Onto the weather.” The television blared as I walked next to the TV section in Walmoot. I was stocking up on some portable food, like granola bars, and three water jugs when I realised I would need a portable charger for the new phone I had just bought. I didn’t want to be tracked as I was on my run from this old town I grew up in.

“Do you need any help ma’am?” A employee asked as I looked down with my hood up, I mentally reminded myself to grab hair dye on the way out.

“No ma’am I’m just getting a portable charger.” I replied. Now that I think about it I should get two so I can charge my phone with one, and then charge the charger with the other one. I can always stop at a fast food restaurant and charge the second one.

“Well alright, you be safe out there. Don’t need another girl missing.” She said pointing at the television that was showing my face once again.

“I will.” Walking away and into the aisle with different chargers and headphones I grabbed two of the cheapest portable chargers and walked to the front of the store to the self checkout, after grabbing two box of hair dye, in a bright bronze color.

I was walking the cart to the outside cart storage when I saw a familiar white pickup truck. It was my parents.

“Probably getting more booze.” I muttered to myself as I hung my head down and walked back to my car, hoping they didn’t notice it. I didn’t have a destination besides the fact of getting out of this state. I start the car and drive out of the parking lot, I had gotten the license plate number changed before I started my journey to make myself harder to find, hints to why I have the papers to my vehicle. I quit my two jobs a few days ago leaving with at least 1,560 dollars to my name, my parents never supporting me I had to buy everything myself, which I was absolutely fine with.

My family used to be very close, and loving. We did everything together, never leaving one another out of something, unless personal. One day my mother asked for a second child. I was 10 at the time and had a perfect record of straight A’s, and was trying my hardest to be the good child my parents dreamed of. Thinking that it wasn’t good enough I asked.

“Why do you need another baby Mommy?” looking straight into her eyes with confusion painted on my face.

“Don’t you want a baby sister or brother?” My mother replied with a question. “Besides another child in the house wouldn’t be that bad.”

A saddened look was plastered onto my face. “Am I not good enough?” I squeaked out tears forming in my eyes. My mother and I had an okay relationship, but my father despised who I was, I wasn’t perfect enough in his eyes, always telling me how I didn’t meet his standards.

“Of course not,” Father’s voice was heard from the living room, getting louder as he walked into the kitchen. “Besides new child would be wonderful, we can raise them to be absolutely perfect! I would finally have someone to be proud of!” he continued.

My father was a loving person, he just didn’t understand the point in parenting. Always thinking that a child is someone you can make into a miniature version of your perfect idea. While my mom was almost the same way, she at least showed affection towards me. So they tried and tried for another child,  and one day my mother was granted the gift of pregnancy once again. The look on her face when she told us was true happiness, and my father was so proud. I on the other hand felt hurt, as if I was abandoned and left to be road kill, but I showed happiness to be kind to them.

A few months later Mother went for an ultrasound while I stayed at home working on homework, when she came back I looked at her to find that same happiness from the first time. Except it was replaced with a dark depressed look of grief.

“What happened Mommy?” I asked worried about her when my Father walked in.

“This is all your fault! You monster, you cursed your mother to have a miscarriage of our perfect child!” My father yelled as his hand collided with my cheek, leaving a red hand print that was slowly turning purple. That was the beginning of the abuse. The beginning of all the drinking, and drugs. And all of the outrageous things that I had to do around the house, all while maintaining straight A’s in hopes that my family would love me and be happy again.

I got my first job when I was fourteen, working at a Plibex grocery store, stocking shelves. My second job was when I was fifteen, working at a small restaurant doing dishes, and sometimes working as host. I was under so much stress with school, family, and work that I couldn’t handle it anymore. So now at the age of sixteen with a car and some cash, I have ran off from home, leaving for a new state and hopefully finding some place to stay, but until then, this car is my home, and the road is my only friend