How to Survive to 18

The Day Before

Ow, ow, ah, ow

No one ever tells you how painful it is slipping down a steep and wet hill. I could feel all the rocks and wood. All that going into my mouth, along with whatever was in that dirt. I bump up against Ally when I come to a stop at the bottom of the hill, knocking her down again, her bruises were almost entirely covered by dirt and her scars as well. Her and I help pull ourselves up to our shaking feet and we hold each other, listening.

We don't hear anything for a moment and sigh out a breath of relief, however that breath was cut short by the sound of tires screeching faster and faster. I glance to my right, past all the dark wooded trees and the uneven ground, and see car lights increasing in size and intensity. We crouch down behind a big stump that's probably been cut down for some house to be built. It's near a dirt path, which I guess is the one Ezmour and Rebecca use for their car. I think to myself how thankful I am for this house that was built from this tree, because it's out only protection in this moment. 

I see Ally frantically look around herself in search of what I can assume is another rock, she seemed to know how to work them. I join in her struggle of looking for some sort of weapon in arms length, no luck. We are pushed back against the stump by the lights of a vehicle, and we hold our breath. I keep my eyes on the dirt path, like an eagle scanning for pray. Though I linger my hand toward Ally's and grab it. Her hands are shaking harder than ever before, they are sweating buckets, but to be honest, so are mine. We hold our breath together and don't move in the slightest.

I watch as the girl who I've known for years is in the drivers seat, looking out every window to find us, but more specifically me. I wonder... what caused this? But I don't think there's a valuable explanation. Rebecca drives by without seeing us, and heads forward, going even further down the hill. Closer to an actually road which Ally and I can see from where we are. 

I'm still holding her hand, and slightly pull on it, persuading her to come with me. 

"Nina, where do we even go? This is one of the further parts of the forest, we've never been here."

"Well I'm not a fan of staying anywhere near here, so let's just walk near the path. Maybe we could find the town that way."

So we did. Ally and I got up and walked together, holding hands, down the side of the dirt path. Staying near the more wooded parts just in case so that if we saw Rebecca's car, we'd be able to hide. Ally is breathing heavy, and so am I. My mind is racing at a million thoughts a second and my body is shivering. We had to get to the police station.

After only about 15 minutes of walking we reach the main road. Surprisingly there are no cars around, so we run through the road to the other side, heading to the station. We near a crowded area, people shopping, talking, kids screaming and playing.  Everyone stops what they are doing and stares at us, some mumbling, but mostly silent. A few seconds passed, someone in the crowd calls out, "They're found!" Another says, "Call their parents!" 

Many of them surround us and pull their phones out to make several phone calls. Three police cars arrive, one holding my parents, the other Ally's parents, and the third Kai. They all get out and our families run toward us and embrace us. Tears are flooding the street as we are finally home. I stand to see Kai relieved, I walk over and hug him, gesturing for Ally to do the same. We all hold each other for several minutes, not wanting to let go. 

We get into the police cars and we are all driven to the station. The women driving our car I recognized as Detective Romarly, "Hey there sweet! I had hoped not to see you again, because that'd mean you're in trouble, but here we are. Though I'm so glad you and that girl got out, and got to safety with your families." She said while turning on an intersection. We are headed home, since it's very unsafe for me, Ally, and even Kai. Police have been sanctioned outside each of our homes, and we have been instructed to not leave the houses until Ezmour and Rebecca are caught. 

As Detective Romarly got pulled up to our drive way, and let us out the car, she waved to some police officers and then walked us to the door. We all walked in and she pulled me aside as my parents were taking off their coats. 

"I heard it's your birthday tomowrrow." she said, reaching into her back pocket.

"Oh yeah it is, honestly I almost forgot." I say. Its true, I did almost forget it's my 18th birthday tomorrow. 

"Here, count this as an early birthday gift." She pulled out some pepper spray and placed it in my hands.

"I don't think my parents would want me having this." My mom and dad are very non-violent, and passive. They'd never, under any circumstances, would let me have something like pepper spray.

"I'm aware, but seeing as your in danger... I feel like you can break the rules. At least till you're 18, because then you're an adult and can make your own rules." She held my hands and closed the pepper spray in them. Obviously hiding it and hinting to not show my parents, which I won't. We make eye contact and I nod slightly. I even smile. 

As my parents and I sit on sofa in the living room, we just watch tv. After everything that happened, something so simple, seemed so hard. I'm glad I'm home, and I hope nothing else happens. I can finally feel my body sink into comfort and coziness in the couch, and the warm blankets against my skin. The good food filling my hunger and the warm green tea slipping down. 

As I lay down in my bed, and pull the covers over me, my parents kiss me goodnight. My mind falls down into a rabbit hole of dreams. My mind is finally asleep and my body is relaxed. It still hurts from rolling down the hill, but it's not tense.

.          .          .          .          .          .          .

Grabbed. I feel a hand on my shoulder push me to my back, then that same hand hold me by my neck. It's fingers lace around, closing air circulation. I catch a glance at a knife and a form behind, I sway my head to get out and manage to see the clock and it reads 11:59, I'll be 18 in one minute. 

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Authors Note:

This is my shortest chapter yet. Honestly its been the hardest to write, the story just wasn't coming to me, but I managed. Big announcement! Next chapter is the last! I can't believe it. I have a second story in the works. It'll be a little more developed than this, but I still have a special place in my heart for this story nonetheless. I hope you guys enjoy the ending I have planned in the next chapter :)

-Sincerely June