The Dying Generation

Chapter Twenty- Four

"How much time do you think we will have?"
I sat back in the fluff of blankets, watching Alton grab his things and stuffing them into his book bag.

"I don't know, I wouldn't think too much longer now. I'm sure since they're looking for me, they have already gone through my other friends. I probably over stayed anyways." He quickly shoved a shirt into his bag and reaching for the next thing to pack away.

I looked at him with worry clearly in my eyes.
"Where will we go?"

He stopped, thinking over my words and keeping his eyes down onto the ground.
"I don't know.."
He slowly put another item into his bag, I could tell he was still thinking it over.
"A motel maybe. I don't know."

His head shot to the door when it quickly opened and Parker rushed in with his arms full of papers.
"Guys, these people really aren't playing." He tossed the stack of papers down, causing them to spread out. I crawled over to the edge of the bed to peer over the side.
I adjusted my glasses, focusing my eyes on it, attempting to read them.

It had Alton's picture on it and what looks like a sketch of me. The flyers said 'wanted' in big bold words at the top.

Alton stared at it with wide eyes then returned the look to Parker.
"Where did you find these?"

"All over school, and not to forget, practically all over the area. The amount of cops I have been seeing has increased." Parker looked down to the bag Alton was packing.
"What are you doing?"

Alton turned his head away from Parker, going back to his 'blank, not answering' state.
But I felt, he wasn't just trying to be a jerk about it, he had a lot on his mind.

"He's planning to find another place to stay." I answered for him.

Parker looked at me, almost shocked-like.
"Wha-whe-" Parker stopped himself and took a breath.
"Okay, when you get out there, what do you plan to do? Walk out the door and run into a cop? They are everywhere now!"

"Then what do you suggest I do?" Alton growled, standing up quickly.
"Hide here for however long until they find me here. My Dad has seen you with me before. If anything, you're the next target. They will barge in here and I will be thrown in jail and Clayton back into her little glass box to be tortured some more!" Alton glared, his chest heaving in and out.
He turned away, pacing and gripped his brown hair tightly before marching out the door with Parker staying in his spot.

I watched, stunned.
I knew Alton was stressed out, he had a lot going on. Police was now after us and his Father keeps trying to get in touch with him.
I was becoming worried as well, but I trusted Alton's judgment. If he thinks it's best to leave, then I'll support him. I only wish I could do more.

Parker looked at me a few times before approaching me and kneeling down beside the bed I was on. I still feel a little weird around him but that's just because I'm use to mostly being around Alton.
I knew Parker wouldn't hurt me.

"I'm sorry you have to go through this, I swear, Novians are not a bad race." He offered a smile to try to lighten the mood a bit.

I glanced down.
"It's okay, I believe you. I guess that's another way Novians are similar to humans, there's some messed up people in this world just like how there's some in my world."

He smiled. "Hm, that's a way to think about it."

The door swung back open when Alton marched back into the room.
"It's getting dark, we should get a move on."
He walked over to his bag, making eye contact to no one.
He grabbed the strap of the bag and set it on his shoulder. His hand reached for me quickly, gripping around me. I struggled since it was now a bit uncomfortable.

"Um? Okay. Let me know if you need anything then..." Parker looked down awkwardly as Alton walked out the door without saying anything back to him.

He stuffed me back into his jacket's pocket, his grip still a little tight, causing a bit of aggravation towards the stitches in my middle.

I could hear the screen door open and a little cool air leaked into the small space I was in.
I worried for Alton, for myself, and for anyone else effected by this.

Just..... -sigh- .... how long was this going to go on for. I don't think all of this stress is going to do anything good for his body or health. It was all starting to put anxiety on me now.

My eyes wondered down to his hand that was tightly wrapped around me. I slowly lowered my hands onto his.
As soon as my hands touched his warm one, his grip loosened. Like he finally relaxed.
I rubbed my hand over his as a comforting gesture.

It took only like a second until he easily pulled me out of his pocket and I could see the darkening sky and the pinkish color in it from the sun setting.
I held onto his thumb for support even though he had me in a fist and I couldn't really fall.

His brown eyes flickered my way and went back to ahead of him, he brought his hand that contained me onto his shoulder, on the left side of him. I shivered at the cool air when the warmth of his hand left me.

It was an small awkward moment of silence until..-

"I'm sorry if I was being rough." He blankly said.

"Hm," I gave a small smile.
"It's okay. You didn't hurt me."
It may have been a little bit of a lie since my stitches were now a bit sore from his grip but I knew he didn't mean it.

I rubbed at my eyes from under my glasses and sitting myself up.
"Do you have a plan?"

I looked up to Alton when of course he didn't respond right away.
"There's a motel a little bit down the road from here, I was going to try there first."

"Annnnnd... What's the money situation like?"

"I got my Dad's card." He held up a card in between his right pointer finger and middle finger before shoving it back into his pocket.

I looked at him a little stunned.
"So I'm going to take it that he has no idea right?"

"Yup."

"What if he deactivates the card when he realizes its gone?" I shifted in my spot a little, looking down at the concrete ground far below.

"I'm kinda hoping he doesn't do that too soon, this was the only thing I was able to get to when I left at the time."

I shivered at another small cool breeze, wrapping my arms around myself, trying to block it out.
If it's really as bad as Parker says, then let's just hope whoever owns the motel wouldn't recognize Alton. I'm clueless about the future or how much trouble would we get into if caught.

I scooted closer to Alton's neck, feeling immense heat.

Alton flinched back at my touch.
"Are you cold?"

"I'm okay." I mumbled, snuggling up to his neck for the warmth and closing my eyes for a few seconds until I felt him messing with something near me.
I opened my eyes tiredly at the same moment he picked me back up with his right hand and he used his left hand to move his jacket off his shoulder a little and set me back down at his neck.
Feeling a little more of his body heat, he pulled the jacket back onto his shoulder so it would cover me like a blanket.

I smiled, and closed my eyes once again.