the prison gaurds daughter

chapter 7

I groaned as I rose about four or five hours later. I, Nicole Rose Clarkson, do solemnly swear, that I am never sleeping in a tree again for as ling as I shal live. Never. Again.

"Hey Benny..." My whisper was forced to halt before it had fully passed my lips as Benny's hand closed firmly around my mouth. He pointed down and not 50 feet away, stood the man. He was talking to someone on the phone.

"Thanks for helping out. I only found a few foot steps leading this way. Don't worry they won't get anywhere. Yeah the closest town is about 20 miles from where I made camp in the opposite direction. These kids couldn't find a skyscraper in New York much less a town in the middle of the Canadian wilderness. I'll be in touch Jim. Let me know if they turn up. "

So we were in Canada eh? Lovely. At least we knew where civilization was now, or at least the general direction it was in.

As soon as the man had stalked off to look for us, we carefully lowered ourselves down the tree and took off in the other direction. About 3 long hours later we ended up back at the car. I climbed in to see if he had any food or water stashed when I heard Benny yell in surprise. I cursed under my breath and croutched behind the seat.

"I thought I heard someone in those trees. So where's the girl? Or did you just leave her here to rot while you ran free."

"Sh-she was still asleep when I l-left. A bobby pin fell out of her hair and I used it to get the window open. Sh-she must have run away after I left. I was going to find someone to help and she would have slowed me d-down. Please dont kill me I'll do anything."

"How about you tell me where your little friend went and I'll let you keep an arm. Hell I'll even let you pick which one."

"I dont kn-know I swear!"

That was really sweet of Benny to cover for me but he never stuttered. Ever. He must be planning something because he would rather die than use less than stellar diction. He was kinda OCD about that. The man turned away from Benny and back to the shack. I slowly stepped out of the car and towards Benny. Suddenly he lunged at the man and ripped his car keys out of his pocket where they dangled out, and threw them to me. He took off towards the passenger side and I launched myself into the drivers seat and jammed the keys into the ignition. I started the engine as Benny screamed at me.

"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR???? DRIVE!!!!"

I heard several gunshots but Benny just kept running. I waited until he could easily jump in beside me and once he was in I gunned it. Here's why I failed drivers ed. in a nutshell. I wanted to go really fast and everyone else didn't want me to. I swear the driving instructor made up most of the rules. No right on red? You can do it most other places but not here? What is this BS? This is also why I made a very good get-away-car driver.

"Benny you amazing idiot I can't beleive you got us out of there. I would kiss you right now if I weren't driving like a maniac through a densly wooded area."

He just groaned in reply.

"Benny are you okay? You dont sound to good." I glanced over and thay was when I saw the blood. It wasnt gushing out like in the movies but it was enough for me to tell it wasnt just a scratch. Benny had been shot. Not just grazed shot either. Full on bullet into his side shot.

"Oh my god. Stay with me Benny. we need to get you to a hospital stat. Try to find a phone and call 911." Oh God. Oh God.

"Nikki I don't... I don't think.."

"Stop right there. You are going to be absolutely fine. In 2 years your going to graduate, then your going to go to stanford. Just like you always talked about remember? Your going to study Biology and be a teacher. You don't care where as long as it isn't Washington. Your going to save up enough money and eventually go on a trip to Europe so you can finally see your brother again. Because he's not talking to your mom so he never visits. Why am I telling you all this these are your dreams. Tell me what else you want to do with the rest of your very long life."

"Well... I imagined.. that one day I would be able to... work up the courage to... ask this girl out... I've loved her for... two or three... years now... I guess... I. can't do that now.... dying and all...."

"Are you off the phone with the cops? As far as dying wishes go which this is not. You are going to live thats a pretty good one. Call her."

"I can't."

"Why not? Did you forget her number?"

"No but... That man already took your phone."

I almost had to pull over I was crying so hard.