Run With Me

~Chatper 1~ The Plan

I push myself up off of the glass dusted carpet, every part of my body aching from the beating that just took place. I swipe the back of my hand across my damp forehead and wince as I come in contact with a cut. My hazel eyes scan over the now ruined livingroom, broken glass scattered on the floor, picture frames that contained once smiling faces crushed and mangled beyond repair. These dingy yellow walls used to be a sunflower yellow and full of life, mom had believed that bright colors would brighten the moods of everyone who had walked in. After mom died, all of the happiness of this room went with her. No more decorations, no more family game nights. No more mom. Finally, my eyes land upon the figure passed out on the couch, my stepdad Ben. His chest rises and falls in deep, regular breaths, a whiskey bottle still clutched in his large hand. He's never liked me, or Miles. Miles is my sweet, innocent five year old little brother. Whenever mom wasn't around, he was so mean, he'd tell us he'd get rid of us, that we were worthless. Infront of mom, that was a different story. He acted like he actually liked us, he'd pick up Miles and tickle him. Poor little Miles was getting whip lash from all the mood swings. When mom died though, Ben had no more restraints, no more reasons to act nice. That's when the beatings started. If we did something wrong, we'd get hit multiple times. I always take the blame for Miles, I don't want him hit, I don't want him to be scared, but while we're here, he's always going to be fearful. That's why I'm getting us out. Tonight. I've got to be quick, I've got to be quiet, and I can't make any mistakes. Everything has to go to plan.

My hand gently pushes Miles's door open, being quiet as ever. Miles was huddled in his scooby doo blanket, his green dinosaur tucked under his arms. His scared dark brown eyes flickered my direction before he soundlessly jumped off his bed and ran to me, his little arms wrapping around my leg. "Lilly, are you okay?" Miles looks up at me, his eyes watery and his bottom lip in a pout. I hate seeing him like this. He's supposed to have a happy childhood, not one that he has to look over his shoulder every five minutes. I run a hand through his dirty blonde curls and smile, trying to calm him down, "It's okay Miles, sissy's okay. But I need you to do something for me, okay?" I kneel down to his level so that I can be face to face with him. He nods his head quickly, "What's it?" I take a deep breath and stand up, walking to his closet and pulling out a duffle bag, carrying it back over to him and kneeling down again. "I want you to put your most favorite things in this bag, toys, your blanket. Can you do that for Lilly?" Miles looks at the bag and walks over to his toy table and returning with his bucket of toy cars and miniature dinosaurs. I smile and take the toys from him and placing them in bag. I walk over to his dresser and start grabbing some of his clothes when a small voice draws me away from my thoughts "Where are we going Lilly?" My hands clutch the clothes that I have grabbed and I close my eyes. I haven't thought that far through yet. Where are we going? All I know is that I have to get Miles as far away from here as possible. I gently place the clothes and remaining toys in the duffle bag, zipping it up. "I don't know Miles. But we'll find out"

After grabbing mine and Miles duffel bags, the hard part came. "Now, we have to be very, very quiet Miles, okay? We can't wake Ben." Miles clutches onto his stuffed green dinosaur that he insisted on carrying and nods, his eyes wide with fear. I want to see that look dissappear forever and never return. My breathing comes out shallow as I creep down the stairs, Miles right behind me. I make sure the duffel bags don't hit anything, I don't want to take any chances waking Ben. I freeze as I reach the bottom step and look at the door, only about ten feet away. My head turns to the livingroom, seeing Ben in the same position as before, not having moved an inch. I turn around to Miles and lock eyes with him, "Miles, as soon as I open that front door, you run and get in the backseat of my car, is that understood? And if Ben comes out there and I'm not in the car, I want you to lock all the doors. Can you do that?" Miles's shaking at this point, I haven't seen him this scared in awhile, and it breaks my heart. "Yes Lilly" He whispers back, holding back tears. He's grown up for his age, which made this harder and easier at the same time. I make my way to the door and place my hand firmly around the doorknob and sending off a quick prayer before turning my hand to the right, making the door open wide.