Chapter 1
Lexi
I’m a nervous wreck as I sit here, waiting for my sister to come back. She’s been gone for hours, and the sun is starting to set. I’m getting worried that something bad has happened to her.
I wanted to go with her, but she insisted I stay here, that it would be safer if she went alone, and someone needed to stay with our bags.
I pull my jacket up around my neck, trying to stay warm, shivering as the cool wind blows through the broken window.
It smells of mildew and dirt, but it’s abandoned.
Options are limited when you're on the run in the middle of the night. We took what we could get, and honestly, it’s not that bad.
Sighing heavily, I get to my feet, careful not to step on any of the broken glass, and go to the window. I grab the dirty sheet we use as a makeshift curtain and do my best to put it back into place.
The sheet manages to help a little bit, but now it’s blocking the only light I had. Every other window in this place is boarded up.
Silva told me to stay put until she got back and not to explore without her in case I got hurt, so I sit back down in the same spot I’ve been sitting in and continue to wait.
The sound of the wind blowing outside is eerie, sparking a bit of fear inside me. We’re in the country, just outside the little town we passed through, the same one Silva went back to for supplies.
Coyotes howl nearby, and a heavy feeling of dread sinks in. It’s not safe for her to be out there on her own in the dark. What was she thinking?
I should have gone with her. What if our foster parents found her? What if they called the police, and they found her?
No. Silva said that wouldn’t happen. We haven’t been the property of the government since we turned eighteen a few months ago. The only reason we didn’t leave the day after our birthday was because we had no money and we feared that the Fieldings would use the fact that we’re still in school against us.
We’re now adults in the eyes of the law, we’ve dropped out of school, and are hoping to be able to lie low.
However, it’s not that easy when you have no money to your name, no family to help you, and the only people we can depend on are each other.
Our foster family didn’t care about us, we were just another check in their pocket. They gave us just enough to eat to survive, and that's it.
Everything else we have is because we worked and bought it for ourselves. That is, until our foster brothers would come into our rooms and take what didn’t belong to them.
Just thinking about them makes my stomach turn.
Closing my eyes, I lean my head against the wall and try to think of anything else.
I must have dozed off, because the next thing I know, my head is jerking up. The sound of footsteps echoing around me makes me scramble to my feet.
“It’s just me,” Silva says as she enters the living room.
My heart pounds from the adrenaline rush, and I let out a sigh of relief. “Are you okay?” I ask, blinking as I try to focus on her, but it’s so damn dark. How long has the sun been set for?
“I’m fine, sorry it took me so long. It wasn't easy getting everything, but I managed. Here.” Something clicks, and light illuminates the room.
She tosses me the flashlight before grabbing another one and turning it on, too.
“I could have gone with you, you know,” I huff as I make my way over to her, taking some of the bags from her hands.
“And it wouldn’t have been as easy to slip in and out of the stores if I was worried about you or us getting caught.”
“Next time, take me with you,” I insist, sending pleading eyes her way. “Sitting here worrying about you isn’t fun.”
“Like I said, I’m fine. I got us enough for the next few days. We’ll get some rest and make a game plan tomorrow, okay?”
“Fine.” I don’t want to argue with her. I’m tired, cold, and so damn hungry.
