Escape

  Claire peered through the branches into the dark, listening to the late night sounds. A cricket boldly played its sweet melody off in the distance as a cat padded through the dew covered grass. Her concentration was interrupted by a small movement, followed by a ruffling of leaves.

 "Did I wake you?" she breathed.

 "Nah, I was already awake,' replied a drowsy, deep voice.

 The sound of his voice brought back memories of the previous night spent in anxious hours of waiting and praying not to be found.

***

    It was a gloomy day and deep-gray storm clouds stretched across the sky. The kids in the orphanage were getting restless. Claire was perched at the window watching the first drops of rain touch down on the battered glass. She was waiting for Luke to meet her for one last scan over their risky plan.

     Claire nervously tugged at her old hand-me-down t-shirt and tried to ignore the loud conflict that was brewing behind her. Luke silently strode past the shouting girls, unnoticed, and stopped next to Claire. He noticed Claire's jaw clench as the girls started throwing punches. Sighing softly, he placed a soothing hand on Claire's shoulder. 

      "This is why we are leaving," he reminded her.

     She nodded and turned to face him, glancing around the room to make sure nobody was listening, "We have five minutes before they call for lunch. Are you ready?"

      Luke slipped a screwdriver to her, "Yes, be careful, that window will be hard  to breach, and it's pretty small..."

 "I can fit through it, Luke," Claire whispered, "I'll be fine."

 Luke raised an eyebrow, "We'll be fine." She smiled and nodded.

***

     Claire remembered every detail, and smirked when she recalled how they hadn't even been detected while sneaking out. She realized the morning had crept up on her while she was reflecting. The sun was just  peeking over the horizon, spraying a magnificent pinkish orange across the sky and painting the fluffy white clouds that had replaced the storm clouds of the previous night. Taking a peek at Luke, she saw that he had fallen asleep, his chest rising gently with each breath.

    They had agreed staying in a tree for the night would be better than on the ground or behind a bush, but Claire had not anticipated how soar her muscles would be sleeping on the rough branches. She sat up and stretched ruefully, examining their surroundings. There was only one early morning jogger, but other than that nobody was in sight.

     "We are clear across town, you don't have to be so cautious."

     Claire gasped at the unexpected break in silence. Luke chuckled and Claire heard a soft thud as he jumped to the ground.

     "What do you want to do?" Luke asked, brushing dirt off of himself.

     As if to answer him, Claire's stomach growled, "What about breakfast?"

     "We don't have any money, and anyways, Claire, I'm not too fond of stealing," Luke said, looking up at her.

     Claire turned so her legs dangled from the branch and she swung them playfully, "Who ever said we would steal?"

     "You have a plan?" Luke questioned.

     "Of course I do!" She grinned as she slipped off the branch and landed on the ground, "I will show you, but let's go to the cafe a few blocks from here first." Luke skeptically agreed.