Or Did You Let Go?

9

Author's Note
I'm so sorry that I haven't updated in so long, I've been really busy with school, extra curricula's and mental health. I hope this chapter is okay although it is kind of a filler and rather short. There is a slight panic attack in it, I've based what happens off what I've seen happen with friends and how I experience attacks, sorry if it's badly depicted and feel free to give me advice on how I could make it better.

I also made this DEH themed cookie, hopefully this helps make up for my slow updating.

Sincerely me

Evan

After waiting for what seems like years, I see Connor and Jared climbing back down the tree. They seem slightly out of breath, but not enough to have run very fast. I watch as they make their way through the branches and end up standing next to me.

'D-did you do it?'

'We did indeed, we now have full access to the tracker on Zoe's phone.' Jared replies.

'Great.' I reply. 'Let's find Michael and Jeremy and get out of here.'

We sprint along the fence again and make our way back to the car. Connor sends a text to Michael to meet us at the car and we begin waiting. I perch myself on the bonnet of the car, Connor stands about a metre away and Jared leans against the passenger door.

'Why couldn't you climb the tree?' Connor whispers to me. Although he's talking very quietly I know he is making sure Jared can hear. I'm not exactly sure why, it doesn't seem like something he would do.

'Um... When I broke my... Um... Arm I f-fell out of a tree.' I tentatively answer. 'W-well kind of...'

'What?' Connor demands his voice raising. I flinch at the harshness in his tone, I notice that Jared is also visibly taken aback. 'Sorry, I mean, what do you mean by 'kind of''

'Um... I... Um...' For some reason I really want to tell him, but I can't get the words out. 'I... I can't say right now, I-I'm s-sorry.'

Jared nods at me in a comforting way then looks down at his phone, within seconds he is vigorously taping away. Conner stares at me for a while longer, his eyes seem to gradually roam over my face as he contemplates. Eventually he looks away but moves so he is leaning against the bonnet directly next to me.

'You'll be okay, eventually.' He says in a reassuring manner. 'You survived, and wanted to, that's all that matters.'

'I don't u-understand.'

'When you fell you only broken your arm, it could have been a lot worse and you know now that you don't want to fall again.'

'H-how do you know?' I question, he doesn't even know what I tried to do, how can he know I regret it.

'I see it all over your face, yours is not a face of one who wants to go.' Why is he being so cryptic? He's giving me the impression that he knows more, but I'm not sure what and I don't want to say something wrong.

Just as I'm about to reply I see Jeremy running towards us, he looks like he is about to die of heat, face fluorescent red, mouth panting like an overly excited puppy and feet thudding like a stampede of elephants.

'Start the car!' He belts, staring at Connor.

'Where's Michael?' Jared interjects.

'He's a bit behind me, start the car and we can pick him up as we get out of here.'

'Why are we in such a rush, what did you guys do?' Connor questions.

'We didn't do anything, a guard just noticed us and started chasing. Now can we please get a move on.'

Connor jumps in the car, as does everyone else, and he turns the key. Pedal on the floor of the car, he burns us down the road. After about two-hundred metres he spots Michael and let's him scramble in before tearing down the road and towards the free way.

We all sit in silence for a couple minutes, just contemplating what we've achieved, before Jeremy breaks the silence.

'So where is she?'

'The Deutshlandlied Palace, the domain of Queen Regina George.' Jared answers.

'Really? She's been kidnapped by another kingdom?' Michael inquiries.

'It appears so.' Connor confirms.

I gaze out the window while they talk about the queen and possible motives. The countryside zooms past in a green and brown blur, houses occasionally breaking up the monotony of open green fields. My mind wanders to how crazy and scary this situation is. My friend, who happens to be a princess, has been kidnapped by a queen who is notorious for oppressing her people and intimidating other nations. I'm now fleeing from a government facility with her delinquent brother having just hacked into its database and we're probably going to be organising some sort of attack on a palace. I don't understand how this has become part of my life, these sorts of things don't happen to unimportant people like me. We're probably going to get in lots of danger too and people could get hurt, we've already been almost caught and I've been a let down to everyone already, I bet they wish I wasn't here.

I can feel my breathing start to speed up as my mind flitters through all the ways I could let everyone down. My heart is beating at a pace much faster than its usual speed and my fingers snag on the strings at the hem of my polo shirt. The noise of the others dims as my vision gains a slight blur. My breath leaves my mouth in course fast huffs and my shoulders gain a uneven shuddering.

'Are you okay Evan,' I faintly hear Connor inquire from the driver's seat next to me. I'm too overwhelmed to comprehend his words let alone reply so he pulls the car to the side of the road and places a hand on my shoulder. 'Evan, just breathe. In for four, hold for seven, out for eight.'

I can sense that he is talking and try to focus on the words he is forming but I can't quite make them out. I give my head a slight shake and his voice raises in volume by a few decibels.

'Concentrate on your breathing, count, in for four, hold for seven, out for eight.'

I manage to decipher his words and try to follow his instructions. My breathing eventually slows slightly and I feel the tightness that had built in my chest begin to ease. After a few minutes I look at Connor and whisper.

'T-thanks.'

'All good, panic attacks can be awful.'

'Y-yeah.'

'Are you okay for us to keep driving or would you like to wait a bit?'

'C-can I get o-out for a moment?'

'Sure.'

I clamber out of the car and sit down on a small patch of browning grass. Connor waits a moment before joining me.

'Are you sure you're okay?'

'Yeah, I just need some fresh air.'

We both lye back and just watch the clouds for a few minutes before getting back into the car and continuing our drive towards more danger.