Run Away

Ch-6. Missing!

Ch-6: Missing!

My eyelids opened slowly. I looked up. I saw the bright blue sky and the puffy clouds. Suddenly, I sat up straight and looked around. Jake, Sam and Suzie were not in the truck with me. There was a crowd everywhere. The Sellers had put up their stalls and called out to the customers.

I stroked my hair. My hair was still untangled and smooth. So I didn't need to comb them. But I felt sick as I hadn't brushed my teeth for two days. I was just going to take out my toothbrush and paste when I saw Jake amongst the crowd. Suzie and Sam were waiting on a side. Jake was talking to a seller. I looked at him closely. He was holding my energy bars in his hand. He gave the bars to the seller and the seller gave small water bottles in return.

Did he just do an exchange offer with my energy bars? My only breakfast left!?
"Jake!" I screamed. He looked at me and smiled. But I only glared back.  Then he, Suzie and Sam started walking towards the truck.

Suddenly, I heard the slamming of a door and the starting of an engine. The truck vibrated under me. I turned around and saw a man sitting in the truck. Slowly, the truck started to move.

I looked back at Jake. "Get off!" He cried.  But I couldn't hear anything with the buzzing of customers everywhere.

"Oh no!" I cried. The truck was still moving a little slowly. I was going to get off when I realized that my bag was lying at the other end. So I briskly moved towards the bag and grabbed it. Then I turned around. The truck was moving at a lot of speed now. I thought I would just jump off, but the truck finally exited the marketplace and entered the main road. So there were cars all around me.

I realized somebody running after the truck. The figure came into view. It was Jake!  Suzie and Sam were close on his heels. The truck slowed down as it was going to take a turn.

"Jake, hurry!" I cried.

Jake caught up with the truck and jumped inside. He fell beside me on his shoulder. He quickly got up and called to Suzie, "wait right there! I'll be back!"  Then he looked at me. "Are you crazy? Why didn't you get off?"

"Because I'd forgotten my bag!" I shouted.

Jake was panting and he looked at me waiting for me to thank him.

"Hey, I never told you to 'rescue' me in the first place," I said.

"Oh really. Then who was shouting 'Jake, hurry!'"  He said trying to mimic my voice. I pushed him angrily. "I can save myself. I'm not a baby!"   He rolled his eyes. 

Suddenly, the truck slowed down. Jake quickly flung himself on the other side. He held the side of the truck tightly. If he would leave it, then he would fall on the road.

With one hand still holding the side, he put out his other hand towards me.
"Hurry up princess. We need to jump." He said waiting for me to hold his hand for support. I rolled my eyes and flung myself on the other side without his help. Jake looked at me, amused.

"Okay, we'll jump at the count of three. One...two..."  before he could say three, I jumped off, landing on sacks piled on the side of the road.
Jake followed me, missing the cold hard floor by just an inch.

We both got up and dusted ourselves.

"Jake " somebody cried. We looked at the back to see Sam and Suzie running towards us. Susie stopped and held her knees, breathing heavily.

"Suzie, I told you to stay there." Jake said, but she ignored him and turned towards me ."My brother risked his life saving you !" She shouted at me.