Only Hope

Chapter 3 - Escape.

Edinburgh, 22nd August, 2018.

The day had come. I sat up in my bed, feeling oddly motivated and optimistic. My bag lay 'packed' on the other side of my bedroom.

Chris's plan was the only thing on my mind. 

I looked over at my alarm clock. Ten AM. Two hours. I wanted to get this over with.

I sat in silence as I ate my breakfast. We all did. I tried not to look over at Jay, I couldn't stand thinking that we weren't going to see eachother for the rest of our lives. Deep inside I felt both sympathy and jealousy. He was so naïve, he had no idea what was going on and that it was bad. But he was happy, and right now happiness was all I could wish for.

We headed out to the nearest shelter entrance. As I joined the queue, I had to clench every muscle in my body to stop myself from shaking. My heart was racing. Any moment now. Any moment...

"Crap!" exclaimed Chris, rummaging through his bag, "It's not there..."

I sighed with relief.

"My passport..." continued Chris. "Is there time to go and get it?"

No answer.

"Next please!" growled the brawny security guard. We were next in line. Chris looked at me, clenching his fists hard. I could tell that he was angry at himself. 

"Next!"

My mother and Jay stepped towards the gates. This was the last time I'd ever see them. Quickly, I clenched my jaw and shut off my emotions, but it was not enough. I started to panic. Something was wrong. Chris had messed up. He was supposed to leave at this point. Something was keeping him.

"Chris." I whispered. He was staring out into nothing. I snapped my fingers. "Chris! What is it?"

"Jay" he mumbled.

I saw the doors snap shut behind my mother. She was gone. I never got to say goodbye. But Jay. I couldn't leave him too. 

I jabbed Chris in the ribs. "Quick. I'll make a distraction". I didn't need to explain further. We both knew what to do.

Pulling up my hood, I moved over to where Jay was standing, just in front of the metal detector. I looked around. Quick. Something. Anything. The security guard was watching me, eyeing me like a hawk. I tried to act like I was checking inside Jay's bag, making sure for one last time that he had everything. I edged closer to the guard, every time he looked away. Come on. Come on.

I made a final step to my right and swiftly pulled the guard's pistol out of its holster. Spinning round, I fired it at a fire extinguisher. With a deafening hiss, it burst, filling the air with clouds of white powder. The crowds were running everywhere, screaming and panicking, adding to the chaos. Chris grabbed Jay, and we made a run for it.