Break Away

Chapter 7: Obscurity

*Camille*

"Honey? Are you coming down for dinner?" I freeze as I hear Esther calling for me, yet I'm very used to thinking fast on my feet. Hurrying to slide the warm woolen socks over my cold toes, I quickly pull my drying curls in a low pony tail and hurry down the wooden steps. I take a moment to gather myself and try to still the hammering of my heart, but it's no use. I've lived in constant fear and turmoil now for as long as I can remember, and anything remotely calm, I have no clue how that would even begin to feel.

"Come and meet my friends, love," Esther meets me as I round the corner towards her kitchen, but when I see that her "friends" are none other than police officers, I panic. I can feel myself going into survival mode as I turn on my heels and begin to run out the front door. I don't even try to go upstairs and grab what little I brought with me in my backpack, and I don't even seem to realize that the snow is coming down and rather hard at this point. I don't hear Esther or her friends calling my name or even notice that by now, my socks are soaking wet. All I care about is running as far as I possibly can, for there is no way on this green earth that I will ever, ever go back to New York City. No way am I going back home, to my brother, or even my mother.

I feel like a fool for having trusting this red-headed woman. The way she had spoken to me made me feel semi-safe, and I was the dumb one to have let her in...even if it was a smidgen of a crack, I had let her in, and dummy me, I had even given her my name, Camille. Why, oh why, Cammy? Why would you even think you could trust a total stranger? My heart is pounding so loudly in my ears by now, I don't even notice the howling wind  trying to pull me into it's icy grasps, but when I stumble against a wooden door, I realize that I'm most likely near some kind of barn or outdoor building. I gasp for air as I try to get a good grip on the handle, but I am weak since I haven't eaten much in the last few weeks.

"Camille!!!!!" I hear my name fall off the lips of a woman as she nears me, and I grunt as I finally am able to get the massive door to slide open. "STOP! IT'S FREEZING!!!!!"

I stumble into the darker barn, but I'm not fast enough for this woman as she is able to tackle me to the ground. "GET THE FUCK OFF!!!!!" I hear myself fighting as she doesn't let me move one single bit.

"I'm not going to hurt you, but you can't stay out here, Camille!"

"I said FUCK OFF!!!!!" I twist and I writhe in her grasp, but she doesn't give in as she yanks me to my feet.

"I said you aren't going anywhere in this weather! Are you out of your mind, little girl?"

My hair has now managed to fall mostly out of the low pony tail I had pulled it in, and I'm out of breath, but I am not out of fight. "I'm not a little girl!" I try to yank away, but she pushes me against the wooden wall nearby and gets really close to my ear.

"For the love of god almighty! Quit trying to fight me! I know you're a runaway! I know you stole a car! Who's Ariel Grafton, huh? You better start talking and fast! I have a mind to bring you into town and lock you up!"

"No! Please! Don't!" I begin to change the tactic now as I plead. I don't want for her to call my mother. My mother can't know where I am! Why the hell did I leave on the license plate on this car? I knew better! Why, Cammy?

She lightens up some on her grasp as tears are now falling down my face. I don't want her to see me crying. I can't allow anyone to see that I'm weak. I had done that for years, and it hadn't worked one single bit. "If I let go of you, will you come back inside with me and talk to me? Hmm?" The blonde officer begins to soften her tone, but I still don't trust her. Not one single bit. All I can do now is nod, and she slowly lets go of me. I quickly pull down my sleeves to hide the bruises in hopes she didn't see them, and I run my hands over my cheeks before turning to look at her.

Her eyes are tender, kind even, and I wonder how the hell she just tackled me and threatened me into submission just now, yet can turn around and look at me the way she is. But I remain resolute as I quickly fix my hair and clear my throat. I'm shivering now, and am unable to stop as my socks are like icicles. She removes her heavy coat and swiftly wraps it around my thin shoulders. "Let's get you inside, yes? Can you walk?" She looks down at my soaked feet, and makes a quick decision to pick me up. I thought I was slightly taller than her, but I can feel her strength as she begins to carry me towards the house.

The wind is terrible, and I have no choice but to bury my face in her neck because the ice cold blast threatens to suck the air right out of my lungs. I hold on to her for dear life as she carries me with ease, and I can't help but notice how gentle and soft she feels. I can smell her strawberry shampoo in her soft blonde hair, and for the first time in a very long time, I think I know what it might feel like to be able to calm down.

------------

*Stef*

As I sit across for this scared girl, I can't help but notice that she is probably one of the most beautiful creatures that I have ever laid eyes on. I ran her license; so, I know that she is just about to be 18, but since she's not, I don't even try to be anything but an authority figure right now. The only thing I was able to look up was the name of of the woman whose name her car is registered to, and the fact that the car belongs in New York City. I wonder who she's running from. All I know really is that she is in fact running, but the snow has gotten so bad right now, I'm unsure that we'll be able to even leave this farm. Mike says that he can, but I don't want to leave Esther with this girl. She's a runner, and I just can't chance that.

I sit back and pull my hair down from the tight braid I had it in as it was already starting to fall out due to the wind and snow. "So, Camille, is it?" I ask softly as she shivers under a warm comforter. I had asked Esther and Mike if they would allow me to just talk to her alone. I didn't wish to spook her anymore than she already is, and I'm hoping to get even more details out of her.

She sips her warm tea as she nods then replies softly, "Yes. Camille Adams."

I know she's lying to me as it's too late, and I had already seen her license. "Ok," I say as I lean forward and look straight into her eyes. "You better start talking and talking now. I feel like I've given you ample opportunity to tell me the truth, but I already know your name is Camille Grafton and you're from New York City..."