Hope: The Runaway

Please don't tell anyone.

August 10th, Night
I got it! I GOT IT!
I got the heart locket! I'm sitting in the bus right now, and I'll tell you what happened... It was crazy.
After I had figured out how long it would take, (probably about an hour and a half, two if I got distracted), I noticed if I left now, I would barely have enough time to make it back. I had to hurry.
I started to walk the way the map said I was supposed to go, so I turned left, then walked straight forward, then turned right, then another right, and I reached their neighborhood.
I stuffed the map in my pocket, because I knew where I go from here. I walked past the school, down the street, and to the rounded dead end with 4 houses. Including theirs.
I hid my backpack and my other stuff in the bush because I didn't want them to see anything. I hope I could just sneak in and get the locket without them seeing me. But... How?
I tried to open the front door quietly, but it was locked. I walked to the backyard and climbed over the white fence, making sure I was quiet. I tried opening the screen door, and it worked.
I stepped inside and shut the door without sound. I looked around, just to make sure no one was around.
"Hope?" I heard a soft voice say, cracking my name in their voice. I turned towards the bedroom door upstairs. Standing there was Lindsey, skinny and fearful as always, her body trembling.
"Hope? Is it really you?" She walked downstairs and touched her hand to my cheek. She slid her hand over my face, taking in my presence.
"Hope, why'd you leave? I was so worried!" She whispered, hugging her skinny arms around me. I put a finger to my lips. "Is Jimmy home?" I asked, looking around and ignoring her question.
"No, he's trying to find a job." She let go and stood in front of me. Her smile faded away slowly. "Please tell me why you ran away, Hope." I felt like her eyes were staring into my soul, urging me to tell her.
"Because I was scared. Lonely. I couldn't live down in the basement all the time. I don't feel loved, I don't feel happiness anymore, I can't be free anymore unless I ran away. I couldn't live like that." I sighed. It felt good to get that all out. "I just came back because I forgot something. I didn't want you to see me because I knew you would get sad and then tell someone."
She looked at me with her sober face. She looked down at her feet. "I want you, Hope, but you have to go. I agree with you running away, I knew you probably would soon. Go get whatever you forgot. I won't tell. I promise." She looked up and a tear fell from her eye. Her lips quivered as she smiled.
I nodded and ran down in the basement. I looked around, then found it in the corner of the room. I put it around my neck and opened the locket. A black and white picture of my mother and Paris. I touched their pictures with my index finger and sighed. If only.

I ran back upstairs and ran to Lindsey. I hugged her as tight as I could and let go. "You cut your hair," she said, twirling my short brown hair around her finger. "So no one would notice me." I said, touching her hand. "Wait," I said, looking around. I grabbed a piece of paper off the kitchen counter and a pencil that was dull.
I started to write.
Lindsey,
I'm sorry I ran away from you. But I will find a new life. Please forgive me. I wish I could stay here forever with you, but I need to just try and... Push on, I guess you could call it. Forget about the past, and look into what I can find in the present. I won't forget about my mom, or my friends, or even you. But I can try to forget about all the horrific events, and move on.
Please don't tell anyone. My secret depends on you.
Love,
Hope

Lindsey hovered over me as I wrote the note. I folded it and handed it to her. "To remember me?" I said, looking up at her pale face. She nodded. "Your the nicest person I've stayed with." And with that, I ran.
LINDSEY'S POV
"Your the nicest person I've stayed with." I thought about what she said before she disappeared into the backyard. I had watched her go to a bush and pick up a backpack and run off. I don't know why she was running so fast, was she late for something?
I worked on the bills and work papers until Jimmy came home. I heard the front door open and slam shut loudly, and my heart filled with fear. Please don't be drunk, I prayed. He walked into he library where I was, and he didn't look bad or anything, but he had worry lines stamped on his forehead. "What's wrong, Jim?" I asked him, getting up from the computer chair and softly touched his cheek.
He pushed my hand away and grabbed my wrist tightly. I winced and tried to pull away, but his grip held tight on my wrist. "Jimmy, stop," I said, looking into his dark eyes. "Please stop, your hurting me." He looked at me and tightened his grip even more. I tried to make a sound, but no voice came from my throat. I started to panic, and he threw me on the floor and held both of my hands down to the floor. He stood over me with a blank but evil face, staring at me like I was nothing. "Please," I said, a tear coming from my cheek, my voice cracking. "Stop, Jimmy, stop!" I cried. He then snapped out of his trance and looked at me with fear. "I..." He whispered as he let go of me and stood up.
"I.. I dint mean to... I'm sorry.." He stumbled over his words like they were bumps on the road. I stood up and rubbed my wrists. They were red and they felt like a burning fire. I looked at him, wiping away some tears. "It's..." Before I could finish, he pulled me into a hug and cried on my shoulder.

That night, I made my special chicken soup with warm bread. I sat down next to him on the couch and handed him some soup. "I'm sorry for what I did today... I didn't mean to. I didn't know what I was doing..." He looked over to the side, too embarrassed to look at me. I touched his chin and made him look at me. "It's alright, I've already forgiven you." I caressed his cheek. He smiled and looked towards the TV. We ate soup and watched TV for the rest of the night.
HOPE'S POV
And that's what happened.
I'm on the bus right now, and it cost 10 dollars. Pretty sweet, am I right? It's usually twenty.
I'm going to try to find a place to sleep, maybe an old house or...
I don't know. I'm just really tired. I'll write about where I slept tomorrow. Goodnight.

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Heyyooo!
I'm trying to make these books really quickly, so I hope you like it!
I might edit this one and write more, or I might write the next chapter.
Baye!
Carley