The Invisible Girl

Chapter Four; Escape

Luke was still as a statue, laying flat in the dirt at the wall of the house, his grip iron around my wrist.

The moment the door had opened Luke had jumped into action, grabbing me and dragging me to hide with him. We weren't completely hidden from sight, but if we were lucky, whoever had opened the door wouldn't think to look down.

A light brown shoe touched down inches in front of my face- centimeters above the top of our heads. I had to bite back a surprised squeak, holding my breath. We watched as my father, half-asleep, started down the driveway, dressed for work. I followed him with my eyes, not daring to turn my head in case he saw.

He seemed preoccupied, scanning the street as if looking for something. He stopped to grab the mail from the mailbox, but didn't head back like I expected him to. He was definitely searching for something or someone.

That someone probably being me...

My heart sped up as a dozen horrible scenarios flashed through my mind. If he told mother I wasn't in the basement when he went to check on me, I was in for a punishment. Since we had moved here I had managed to keep myself out of trouble for the most part, keeping safe and somewhat content, save for the few times I had been made to kneel on the hard floor. But that was a simple punishment- one she used when I 'talked back' or wasn't in the basement on time.

What would she do to me if she knew I snuck out? That I was with a boy? She'd jump to conclusions. She was already convinced I was out at night whoring around, and she didn't even know I snuck out anymore. How could I convince her that Luke was just a friend?

After a minute or two of scanning the street my father sighed, turning around and walking back up the driveway. He read through the mail in his hands as he did, not really paying attention to where he was walking. It was pure luck that he didn't spot Luke and I, instead tearing open a letter from Marie's new school as he shut the door.

I sighed, allowing my tense muscles to relax as Luke's fingers disappeared from around my wrist. I was sure to have a bruise there, but if it weren't for him I'd be in deep trouble. I was thankful for his quick thinking.

"Thank y-"

Luke cut me off, pushing a finger to my lips to silence me. As if on cue, the garage door began to creak open. After a moment, my father's car backed into the driveway, into the street, and then sped away.

"Thank you," I tried again. This time, Luke let me finish, though he looked impatient to get out of here as he climbed to his feet. He offered me a hand, pulling me up next to him. "It would have been bad if he had found us."

Luke flashed me a grin, dusting himself off as we climbed out of the overgrown garden and started down the driveway. "Anytime, cupcake."

I smiled too, following him. I stopped short as I realized something. "Cupcake?"

He glanced back, realizing I wasn't following him, his grin widening further. "Yeah, cupcake. I'm hungry- sue me." Taking my hand, he resumed walking.

I blushed, realizing that he probably hadn't had anything to eat. I had snuck a few crackers out with me last night as a snack, but I hadn't really eaten anything either.

We walked in silence for a moment, but upon reaching the street I realized Luke had yet to tell me where it was we were going. "Um..." I trailed off, wondering if he'd think I didn't trust him. He had been big on trust. I didn't want to hurt his feelings if he misread the intent behind my question. "Where are we going?"

"My friend's house. We're all getting together to talk about our schedules for school."

"And they won't mind me showing up? Invisible?"

Luke was silent for a moment. "It's the only way I'll be able to convince them you're real." Abruptly, he changed the topic. "Who was that guy? Was that your dad?"

I nodded. "Yes."

"He seemed paranoid. What was he checking for when he got the mail?" Luke froze, turning to face me in the middle of the street. By now I could barely tell my hands were there- they were just a faint veil of mist. "Was he looking for you? Are you going to be in trouble?"

This time I was the first to move. Realizing where we were, Luke started walking too, but he didn't give up. "Are you in danger because of me?"

I shrugged, trying to be as honest as possible without worrying him. "He does check on me every morning, but there's a chance he won't mention it to my mom."

Luke had already learned a lot about me and how my family worked. I hadn't planned on telling him, but one night my mom had stayed up late, and hearing me in the kitchen, had come out to investigate. She almost caught me sneaking food out, and I was made to kneel. When he couldn't find me, Luke had snuck around to the back door and knocked. I had two choices- let him in to see my bruised knees and tear-streaked face, or I could let him continue to knock and wake my mother up again.

Needless to say, I let him in.

He had been horrified by the purple and blue splotches on my knees. I had explained it didn't really hurt, that I didn't usually get bruises from it, I had just been shoved to my knees, but he didn't care. It was that night he started trying to convince me to leave, to spend a day with him and his friends.

"And what if he mentions it to your mom? What'll happen then?" Luke asked, starting up the driveway of a neighbor's house- a pretty brick ranch. I was pretty sure I had seen people here playing with a dog before, but I wasn't certain it was this house.

I shrugged again.