Run Away

Chapter 1

The rain teemed down on the front windscreen and even with the wiper blades on high speed it made it difficult for Sandra to see clearly. She drove slowly to avoid having an accident, the headlights on the car giving little guidance. Thick sheets of water blurring her vision.

A shadow on the footpath came into view and she slowed the car further, recognising someone was walking in the torrential rain. Who would be crazy enough to be out in this weather? Sandra thought to herself.

As the car slowly approached the figure, Sandra noticed it was a teenaged girl, who couldn't be much older than seventeen, the same age as her son. The girl wore a hooded jacket, pulled up close to her face to keep from getting wet, and a backpack hung on her shoulders. Maternal instinct kicking in, Sandra pulled the car up alongside the water sodden girl, rolling down the car window to speak to her.

"What are you doing out in this weather?" Sandra asked in a caring tone.

The girl froze instantly when the car stopped beside her, like a deer in headlights, her eyes wide with fear. At Sandra's voice, her body eased slightly, and she glanced in both directions as if to check her surroundings.

"Get in the car and I will take you home," Sandra offered, leaning across the passenger seat to open the door closest to the curb.

"I-I'm fine," the girl stammered.

"Not negotiable," Sandra said in a firm, motherly voice and a wave of her hand to usher her in.

The girl glanced around once more before sighing and climbing into the car, closing the door behind her.

"Where can I drop you off to?" Sandra asked, pulling the car gently back onto the road and continuing on her journey.

"Uh..." the girl thought for a moment, unsure with what to answer with.

"Where's home?" Sandra asked, glancing sideways at the girl who avoided her eye by looking out the window and not answering. "Well, I guess you will just have to come home with me then."

"No," the girl started to argue, reaching for the door handle.

"Not up for discussion. You need to get out of those damp clothes," Sandra smiled at the girl, briefly taking her eyes off the road. "Just for tonight, you can stay with me and my family. Tomorrow we can work out where you're going."

The girl took a deep steadying breath, letting go of the handle and tried to think of an excuse to not go home with the generous lady, but she couldn't think fast enough. She could hardly tell her the truth.

"I'm Sandra by the way. What do people call you?"

The girl searched the car for an answer, her eyes falling on a magazine on the back seat. Sandra watched her from the corner of her eye, she knew this girl's type sadly too well.

"Elle," the girl replied simply. Sandra nodded in response.

It wasn't long before they arrived at a two-storey suburban home, with a large tree out the front. In the driveway was a black Jeep and a silver sedan already parked in the garage as Sandra parked her own car alongside it.

Elle watched behind her as the garage door started to close behind the car. Anxiety crept up inside of her, she gripped her backpack tightly to her chest.

"Let's get you out of those wet clothes first. I'm sure Kelly will have something to fit you," Sandra commented, climbing out of the car.

Elle followed Sandra cautiously into the house, looking around and taking in the foreign surroundings.

Kelly, Sandra's fifteen-year-old daughter, sat with her legs folded underneath her in front of the television on a modular lounge. She was writing in a notebook with a textbook opened beside her. Her blonde waves swept over one shoulder.