No Strings Attached

Chapter 31: Trainwrecked

Briskly walking down Main Street, we threw on our jackets and hid our faces underneath the hoods. Across from us are television stores capturing our photos, names, and addresses.

Some people flocked at them like a traumatic spectacle, while most passed by as if our troubles don't concern them.

Wanted for murdering our assailants? I think, tightening my fists.

This isn't supposed to happen.

James, Marco, Aria, and I did not kill them-even if we blame the guys who shoved us in chemical waste.

Speaking of chemicals, did Hope for Humanity prevented the toxic water from harming civilians?

I kept glimpsing at the news, praying for a reporter to talk about the polluted water, but instead, the broadcast focused on four murderous kids rampaging New York City.

Taking a deep breath, I strolled up to my friends then told them everything my mom said last night.

"Are you serious?" Aria squeaked. "But we didn't kill anyone."

"My mom knows, " I responded. "That's why she wants us to go to Harlem."

James grimaced with uncertainty.

"I don't know, Nadine, " he says wearily.

"What if the cops or so-called government agents are hunting us down?"

Marco gives James a thoughtful look. "Maybe we should go to Harlem."

A surprised glance appeared on James' face.

"What, " he frowned. "But why?"

"Harlem is far away from the city, " Marco reasoned, keeping his head down. "It's safer if we go there instead of standing here like sitting ducks."

As we slowed down, I nodded in agreement.

"Marco's right, James," I say quietly. "We need to get out of Manhattan."

He made a face. "But it's too dangerous."

Aria shakes her head. "We could get a bus or a train ticket to Harlem."

Marco sighs as he tucks his hands inside his pocket.

"Are bus tickets cheap these days?" he grunted.

I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know, but we do have some money saved up."

"Maybe we could take a subway station."

Aria squints her eyes directly at me."What?"

I repeated my plan to her again, but my words weren't loud enough to battle the shrilling sirens, angry taxi drivers, and ignorant people glimpsing on their phone screens.

Sighing, I said "Nevermind" to Aria then resumed forward.

Our feet brushed against the concrete sidewalk as we continued to avoid the attention of others.

James, Aria, Marco, and I huddled together-like penguins in a frozen tundra. White clouds floated over the warm sun, making Manhattan overwhelmed with darkness.

Alarmed, the people in Manhattan ducked their heads for cover. Needles of gray water pricked my skin as the rain poured heavily on the dreary streets.

Water absorbed the concrete sidewalk, like a sponge.

The cloudy trail of car exhaust has vanished into thin air, yet I can still smell its ghastly odor.