I sat back and looked at him. I grabbed a hamburger off the tray, and started to unwrap it. He watched me closely. Finally I asked, "So, what are you going to do?"
Ashton sighed and leaned back in his chair. Running his hand through his hair, he said, "I'm not sure. They told me to find you, and bring you back. If you wouldn't come willingly, I am to use this," he pulls a small bottle, the size of my pinkie finger, out of his pocket.
"What's that?" I asked, then started on my burger.
"A knock-out serum. It's supposed to go into your drink."
"Are you going to use it on me? You already found me, and this place is pretty hard to run out of. Plus, you know, I'm not one to come easily."
He opened his mouth, then closed it. "I don't think--I'm...I'm not going to do anything..."
I almost choked on my burger, "What?"
"I'm not turning you in. On one condition..." He paused unsure of himself. "I come with you. Where ever you are going, I'm going. Whatever you do, I do. If I go back there...They'll just use me again."
I'm not sure what to say. Could this be a trap? Is he saying this to gain my trust, then to later on turn me in? "Why do you want to come with me?"
"I like this freedom. The air, it's so...fresh...Please. Just let me come with you."
"I...Alright. But you have to listen to me, no questions asked, and I need to run, and your still sleeping, I'm leaving you behind. And if I see any funny business, I'm out." Ash nodded. I finished off my burger then started on some of the fries. "Are they in contact with you...Are they tracking you?"
"They call me every hour, I think I have a tracking device in my phone somewhere...If I don't report back, they'll know something went wrong. They'll send out a squad."
Hmm. "Let me see your phone."
He handed it over. I studied it for a moment. It was a newer phone, flat, with a three by two inch touch screen. Ash handed me a pocket knife, I raised my eyebrow at him, but he only shrugged. I began to pry the phone apart. I looked around the phone's motherboard. I poked around at the motherboard a little while, finishing off my fries. I finally find the tracking device.
It's small, flat, and almost transparent.
I pull it off the phone then I hand it to Ashton. "What do you want me to do with it?" He raises his eyebrow.
I sigh, "I don't know...Something? Hey here's a thought, get rid of it, that might work." My tone was dry.
But Ash just laughed, "All right then," he stood up, "Getting rid of it now. Be right back, don't go anywhere."
"Fine."
I watch him walk over towards the bathrooms, but on his way he accidentally bumps into a twenty year old guy. He apologizes immediately, then continues to the bathrooms. While I was waiting I emptied my drink.
He walked back grinning. As he takes his seat he said, "All done."
I smirked, "What? Going to the bathroom, or getting rid of the TD?"
"TD, tracking device, clever," Ash mumbled under his breath, then in a louder voice he said, "The TD."
"Aah, that's good. So...Wanna blow this Popsicle stand?"
Ashton burst out laughing.
"What?" I asked irritated.
"Nothing, it's nothing. I just never pictured you saying that."
"Fine what ever. I won't say it again. Can we please go now?"
Ashton laughed again, "Okay let's go." He picked up my tray, and emptied the wrappers into the trash bin. I grabbed his phone off the table and headed for the door. Ashton followed me out onto the streets.
Monday
Sunday
On The Run
I stayed in the forest, between the Prison and the city, for five days. My water was running low, but at least it had been raining most of the five days. I was soaked to the skin, freezing. But I wasn't giving up. I had risked too much in order to get out. Too much to give up now.
When I got to the city I had no idea what to do. So I walked down the busied streets looking for a hotel. I finally found one after a good two or three hours.
"Hi." I said to the woman at the desk. "Do you have any rooms available?"
"Yes," she sneered as if she was too good to be talking to a teenager. "How long do plan on staying," it wasn't a question it was a threat.
"Three days." I snapped back. "That's when my dad will be picking me up." It was a lie. But she didn't have to know that.
She made a 'Humph' noise then she waved a man over. She handed him a key. "Take the girl to room 34." She commanded. He nodded and motioned for me to follow.
He didn't talk except to tell me that this is my room and room service comes at ten. After the man leaves I took in the room. It was an average size room, with a bed in one corner and a dresser next to it. There was a couch with a TV sitting in front of it. There was a small kitchen with a small refrigerator. I pulled all of the blankets off of the bed and threw them into the corner opposite to the bed. I can't sleep on a bed I never have and I never will.
Once I was happy with my "bed" I left the hotel, looking for a store. I walked in to one that looked promising. It was one of those places where teens go to get clothes that look in style. I really didn't care whether or not I was in style, as long as I blended in.
I was in and out in a matter of minutes, fifteen at the most. I walked out wearing a black pair of those skinny jeans, a black v-neck shirt, a leather jacket, also black, and finally a pair of black running shoes, (one of those brand name ones, All-Stars or something or other). I figured black would be easier to blend in with. I start towards a hair-dressing place just down the street.
Now what to do with my hair? My red mane. Long and mostly unkept, covering my right eye, and ending somewhere near my hip line. It would point me out like a flag. A very red one. Yet, I was reluctant to do anything to it. I finally settled on cutting it and getting darker tones popped in. It ended up looking quite nice. Red, yet black at the same time, my hair came to a stop around my shoulders, layered and very light. It still swept across my eye, but more styled, not wild.
I made a bee-line to one of the fast food restaurants. While I was standing in line I saw him. Around my age, dirty blond hair floating just over his eyebrows. His blue eyes followed me. His position was relaxed, but also, tense. Black shirt, dark jeans. But worse than his attractive domineer, I knew him.
From the Prison, I've seen him once or twice. Is he after me? Why is he here?
He started over to me. I quickly looked away, deciding to run or order the meal, I had already planned out in my head. It was a very public place, buzzing with people.
"Hi," the voice is low, and nice.
Crap. I turn, slightly, "Hi." It came out stiff.
He grinned, flashing perfect teeth, "Fancy meeting you here, Scarlett."
"You too, Ash." His real name is Ashton Berrenings. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm rather hungry." I brushed past him and ordered my meal. But before I could pay, Ashton paid for me.
"Come, sit with me," Ash smiled, grabbing my tray and heading to a table in the far back. Annoyed, I followed. Once I was seated he said, "Nice hair."
I fingered my hair, then frowned at him, "Why are you here?"
He sighed, "Always straight to the point. All right." He leaned forward, "They sent me."
Scarlett
When I got to the city I had no idea what to do. So I walked down the busied streets looking for a hotel. I finally found one after a good two or three hours.
"Hi." I said to the woman at the desk. "Do you have any rooms available?"
"Yes," she sneered as if she was too good to be talking to a teenager. "How long do plan on staying," it wasn't a question it was a threat.
"Three days." I snapped back. "That's when my dad will be picking me up." It was a lie. But she didn't have to know that.
She made a 'Humph' noise then she waved a man over. She handed him a key. "Take the girl to room 34." She commanded. He nodded and motioned for me to follow.
He didn't talk except to tell me that this is my room and room service comes at ten. After the man leaves I took in the room. It was an average size room, with a bed in one corner and a dresser next to it. There was a couch with a TV sitting in front of it. There was a small kitchen with a small refrigerator. I pulled all of the blankets off of the bed and threw them into the corner opposite to the bed. I can't sleep on a bed I never have and I never will.
Once I was happy with my "bed" I left the hotel, looking for a store. I walked in to one that looked promising. It was one of those places where teens go to get clothes that look in style. I really didn't care whether or not I was in style, as long as I blended in.
I was in and out in a matter of minutes, fifteen at the most. I walked out wearing a black pair of those skinny jeans, a black v-neck shirt, a leather jacket, also black, and finally a pair of black running shoes, (one of those brand name ones, All-Stars or something or other). I figured black would be easier to blend in with. I start towards a hair-dressing place just down the street.
Now what to do with my hair? My red mane. Long and mostly unkept, covering my right eye, and ending somewhere near my hip line. It would point me out like a flag. A very red one. Yet, I was reluctant to do anything to it. I finally settled on cutting it and getting darker tones popped in. It ended up looking quite nice. Red, yet black at the same time, my hair came to a stop around my shoulders, layered and very light. It still swept across my eye, but more styled, not wild.
I made a bee-line to one of the fast food restaurants. While I was standing in line I saw him. Around my age, dirty blond hair floating just over his eyebrows. His blue eyes followed me. His position was relaxed, but also, tense. Black shirt, dark jeans. But worse than his attractive domineer, I knew him.
From the Prison, I've seen him once or twice. Is he after me? Why is he here?
He started over to me. I quickly looked away, deciding to run or order the meal, I had already planned out in my head. It was a very public place, buzzing with people.
"Hi," the voice is low, and nice.
Crap. I turn, slightly, "Hi." It came out stiff.
He grinned, flashing perfect teeth, "Fancy meeting you here, Scarlett."
"You too, Ash." His real name is Ashton Berrenings. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm rather hungry." I brushed past him and ordered my meal. But before I could pay, Ashton paid for me.
"Come, sit with me," Ash smiled, grabbing my tray and heading to a table in the far back. Annoyed, I followed. Once I was seated he said, "Nice hair."
I fingered my hair, then frowned at him, "Why are you here?"
He sighed, "Always straight to the point. All right." He leaned forward, "They sent me."
Scarlett
Saturday
The Break Out
"This is it" I had thought, "Time to get out." I was planning on leaving and then later on coming back to get my family. I grabbed my backpack which had been stuffed with the things I would need, water, climbing gear, a few paperclips, binoculars, night vision goggles, a GPS, and money.
You see I had been in that place since I was very young, and they had me training on every subject possible. Science, history, math, geography, even stuff like tracking, swimming and holding my breath for over an hour, running and jumping farther and faster than a normal human. But the worst was the training to kill. Oh yes, I was trained to handle guns of any and every sort, I learned the 101 ways to kill a man with a knife, a pin, and even a nail, I learned how to arm and disarm many different types of bombs, I learned how to disable a person by using pressure points, and I learned how to hot wire, pick locks, and how to get past all the types of alarm systems. But the most important thing I learned was: They were going to use me as a secret weapon. That's when I decided to leave.
I had just rounded the hallway corner when the bell that signals lights out rang. I glanced at my watch, it was nine thirty. "Right on time." I told myself, as I slipped around another corner. "The guards will be out soon." I come to a stop in front of a door, then glanced at my watch again. I gave myself one minute. One minute to unlock the door slip out and lock it again. It only took me thirty seconds. Then I was running through the yard, climbing the fence and running as fast as I could to the neighboring city.
Scarlett
You see I had been in that place since I was very young, and they had me training on every subject possible. Science, history, math, geography, even stuff like tracking, swimming and holding my breath for over an hour, running and jumping farther and faster than a normal human. But the worst was the training to kill. Oh yes, I was trained to handle guns of any and every sort, I learned the 101 ways to kill a man with a knife, a pin, and even a nail, I learned how to arm and disarm many different types of bombs, I learned how to disable a person by using pressure points, and I learned how to hot wire, pick locks, and how to get past all the types of alarm systems. But the most important thing I learned was: They were going to use me as a secret weapon. That's when I decided to leave.
I had just rounded the hallway corner when the bell that signals lights out rang. I glanced at my watch, it was nine thirty. "Right on time." I told myself, as I slipped around another corner. "The guards will be out soon." I come to a stop in front of a door, then glanced at my watch again. I gave myself one minute. One minute to unlock the door slip out and lock it again. It only took me thirty seconds. Then I was running through the yard, climbing the fence and running as fast as I could to the neighboring city.
Scarlett
Friday
My name is Scarlett, I'm 17 years of age, and I'm running. Running from my past, and my possible future. In my past I escaped from a dreadful place, and now they want me back. In my future is destined capture or death.
The dreadful place was like a prison. But in a way it wasn't a prison either. It was my home where I was surrounded by my family and friends. My mother, father, sisters and brothers, and my best friend. They are all most likely suffering greatly because of my actions. I am very sorry for the pain they are suffering, but I can not return to that place.
I ran away three weeks ago. And I hope that they are not out there, reading this, but I need to tell you what is happening.
Scarlett
The dreadful place was like a prison. But in a way it wasn't a prison either. It was my home where I was surrounded by my family and friends. My mother, father, sisters and brothers, and my best friend. They are all most likely suffering greatly because of my actions. I am very sorry for the pain they are suffering, but I can not return to that place.
I ran away three weeks ago. And I hope that they are not out there, reading this, but I need to tell you what is happening.
Scarlett
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