Run Away

(Sierra's POV)
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
I'm waiting for midnight, waiting for my birthday before I go. Before I leave this place and never, ever come back. There's something symbolic about be leaving on my birthday, it's like it's time for me to be reborn into a better life.

The minutes slowly pass as I double check my backpack to make sure I have everything, food, clothes, laptop, water bottles, and money, of course. I have every dollar I've saved plus whatever I've found around the house. There's no guilt in stealing from these people.

My foster parents are passed out in their room, so I don't have to worry about waking them up when I leave. But I can't help but smile as I think of the mess I'll be leaving behind, when my foster parents realize I'm gone the police will have to be called, and they'll find my note talking about the abuse, and these idiots will be sent to prison. I take pleasure in knowing I'll be making some other foster kid's life better by keeping them away from this mess.

I check the clock just in time to see it change to 11:59. One minute left. Sixty seconds and I will be free. It is the longest minute of my life, it stretches on for hours, days, years.

12:00

I open the front door, and I don't look back.

(Skylar's POV)

The clock strikes midnight and I climb out onto the roof. I pull my window shut from the outside, and scamper over to the edge of the roof. After I make sure my backpack is secure, I crouch at the edge and jump the four feet into the only tree in backyard of my newest foster home.

My foster parents are still awake in the family room, watching TV. So I'm extra quiet as I climb down the tree, race across the backyard, and hurry down the street.

I don't know where I'm going, just away. I know I haven't thought my plan through very well, but I don't doubt myself. As I break into a jog, running no where in particular I begin to make my plan.

I'm in Detroit, I've been here for about a year moving to various parts of the city. Detroit is a dangerous, there's all kinds of creeps here, so I move quickly ignoring the people I see. I try to stay away from the worst streets and the gang territory as I go.

I've decided I'm going to go to Chicago, from there I can try to track down Jacob and Sierra. By the time I get there no one will remember me from the missing children ads.

I'm reassured now that I have a plan and head towards the subway station.

Notes