ROOK'S GIRL.

CHAPTER THREE.

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CHAPTER THREE.

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HARRY.

I am becoming desperate now. I look almost everywhere. And brought attention to myself when I went to an all men's section of the mine. I refuse to give up or be intimidated. Like dad said, blend in. And that's what have being doing for almost thirty minutes now. That man is still nowhere in sight. It's everywhere that he has plans on purchasing Graven Hollow mines. He must surely have enough money on him. What would he want to do on a small piece of land?

This aimless walking will blow my cover and just when I was about to give up- there he was. On a phone call. I don't think twice as I make my way towards him. A shiny cap in contrast to the miners. Boots too clean to belong here, in a place like this.

Jonathan Wales. Landlord. Parasite. A thief in a suit. He was suppose to give us time to pay back his debt instead of using our house as Liability. And I'm sure he must have found a buyer willing to pay good money for it. Which I wouldn't allow. But then what can a seventeen year old do? " You think we won't fight back?" He flinches, a weird reaction, he looks worried for some reason. But then masks it in a smug, " Miss Douglas. What are you going here? It's enough you've made your mother's life miserable but the mine too? What do you think will happen if someone reports seeing a minor in a mine?" My fist tightens around me. " Conclusion is you shouldn't be here boy," he interjects, " Neither should you. But here we are. And I'm a girl," he roll his yes. " Clothes don't make you one. But you're pretty enough," I eye him up and down disgusted.

" Harry, sorry to burst your bubble but I have a certain type of taste. And big mouthed teenagers isn't on the list. Now leave," he commands, amusement dropping faster than lighting. " Where are we suppose to go?" My voice breaks, unintentionally. " I have suggestions. Mars? Dumpsters? Streets? To hell even. I'm not human enough to care-" " How could you-" my voice rises but he cuts me off. " I owe that mother of yours nothing. We are cut from the same cloth yet I'm the villain why? Because I'm business minded. And she's your mother?" He snickers," You're not the only kid with problems Harriet. Your problems are yours. I have my own. Yours are miniscule. Maybe try earning your keep instead of playing hero in a hard hat. Honestly you look pathetic and desperate. Your old man should have taught you a thing or two of how the world worked."

Tears threatens to fall from my eyes but I don't let them. miniscule? We'll be homeless if he evicts us from our home with nothing. The remaining of Dad's relatives do not want to see mom and over the years the same allied to me. What exactly was my fault here? Being born?

" My father saved this town! He sacrificed his life for you to enjoy the privileges you have now," he chuckles, a low and patronizing chuckle. " That line won't work on me Harriet," he quips, " It's Harry," I correct him. " I could care less. Pray tell... Be honest with yourself at least? Usually that sacrifice you so highly claim should show. But where is it? You and your mother are more poor than a church mouse. That sacrifice you're so proud of made you fatherless and soon homeless. What did it buy you? A shack and an overdue debt? "

I lung a step forward, ready to throw a punch for his disrespectful words before he raises his hands up in mock defeat . " Go ahead. I dare you. Just know it'll only make things worse. For your mother. And it won't stop the eviction." He glances at his watch then shoulders past me, I'm weak to speak, too tired to pick myself up from the ground. So I just let my tears fall as he disappears into the dark corner. He moves too fast for someone who cared little to nothing. But what do I care or know . I could give two shits. I don't care if he was running from the lions themselves. Hopefully they should devour him.

For the first time in a long time the bitterness returns. They said we should understand and be proud of the choices he made. He was my entire world. When I lost him the world lost a human being. The army lost a soldier. His unit lost a team member. Mom lost her husband . And I ? I lost my world. I tend to tell myself it will be alright someday. But God isn't it quite clear. I'll never be loved like my father did. And I'm not sure I want to get up from here.

I don't know how long I stay on the ground. Slowly I stand up. And head heaven knows where. I don't really care. I have no place to go. Must as well as stay in a mine.

Aren't you just the dramatic one.

Shut up.

School is not great either. I don't know why but they're thinking about revoking my scholarship. I was going to be uneducated and homeless starting any day now. All I know is that it had something to go with her, Rhea Grindel, she's had something to do with it. The classic mean girl trope that's out to get you for no reason. She could destroy someone's day for the hell of it.

Suddenly, mid- wallowing in my suffering, someone crushes into me, and that does it, my temper had reached it's limit. " HEY!" I shout and follow him blindly. Rounding the corner into the deeper side of the mine. The man looks back, big eyed, blood ozzing out of his nose, and the familiar creamed t-shirt and black pants. I couldn't help but I ask.

" Johnathan?" Once I draw near I grab his tshirt. And we both fall. Geez what's with me and falling today. He gets up quickly, panicked. " It's all your fault," he points, " I'm pretty sure I'm not the one who beat you up. But I can't say I'm not secretly commending the guy on his amazing job," he gives me a death glare. And I look back at him a little terrified. He looks unrecognizable. A fraction of the greedy and calm man I knew.

He grabs me by my t-shirt. And then points a gun at me. My heart thunders. Then I see him. The boy from earlier. " One step and she dies," he has a brow up, eyes moving back and forth between Johnathan and me. " What the F*ck Johnathan," I try to wiggle my way out put he points it closer hands on the barrel. " Now ... Now Jonathan. I wouldn't start getting your hopes up. Dead or Alive you're tagging along with me. " My eyes stare at his cold and inhumane ones. I'm terrified. Of who? I'm not sure. " I'm not bluffing. I'll kill her!" He shouts now. " Do it," my eyes widened. I was stuck between two heartless psychos. " You're both going to die," he smirks then shoves me forward. And collide with that boy from earlier. He shoves me aside cruelly and just when I was about to cuss him.

A crack.

A groan.

The world shifts.

My screams never made it far above the ceiling when everything comes falling. And then pitch black.