Unexpected Fate

Chapter 1

"Run Jess!" I heard my brother, Jace, yell in the distance.

As I gained speed, I glanced back, he wasn't far behind. I could see the blue lights from the cop cars fill the dark night sky, and sirens began to fill the silence. I ran as fast as I could, praying they wouldn't catch up to us.

"Remember the plan Jess, and don't stop!" Jace yelled again, as he fell to the ground and police officers swarmed my brother.

As they tackled him to the ground. I heard one shout "Get on the ground and put your hands behind your back!"

I gasped for air as tears filled my eyes. Terrified didn't even begin to describe the overwhelming sense of fear that ran through my body. My legs were starting to cramp, and I had terrible tightness in my chest. I took in a big gulp of air, and kept running down the sidewalk of our small town. The blue lights and sounds of the sirens were slowly starting to fade. My thoughts were racing through my mind. What was going to happen to my brother? How am I going to do this without him? I thought to myself. "Keep going, remember the plan." I whispered to myself in an attempt to calm myself. I kept running until I saw the dimly lit cafe sign in the distance.

"Turn left into the alley way by the cafe." I could hear Jace's voice in my head, as he quickly explained the plan to me. "There you will see a door to the right of you, and Jay will be there waiting for you."

As I got closer to the cafe, I began to slow myself , to try and catch my breath. As I came to a fast walk, I could feel my heart beating out of my chest, and my breathing was uncontrollably fast. I stopped for a short second, to slow my breathing. I could hear the cop sirens getting closer, and officers were yelling. "Dammit!" I mumbled under my breath. I quickly started to look around, and there, directly to my left, I saw the alley. I darted into the pitch black alley. I panicked, I couldn't see a thing. I quickly sat down in a feeble position, beside a large dumpster to my right. I covered my mouth with one hand, and clinched my legs to my stomach with the other, trying not to make any sound or movement. As I heard the footsteps of the officers getting closer and closer. Panic began to set in and once again my eyes filled up with tears. "I'm caught." I thought to myself. Suddenly, a light scanned the alley. I closed my eyes and gripped myself tighter, "All clear here." I heard a male officer shout.

"Keep looking." Another replied."It's an eighteen-year-old girl. How the hell did you lose her?"

"I'm not sure, Sarge."

"Well find her! I don't care if it takes all night!"

The footsteps and sirens began to fade. I didn't budge, I stared ahead of me in complete and total shock. I felt like I was going to faint from the sheer fear that raced through my body. I began to panic. What am I going to do? Where am I gonna go? Going home isn't an option, my evil stepmother would definitely turn me in. For the first time in my life, I was separated from my brothers. Do I turn myself in? The cops would never believe me. I'm sure Mark's friends have filled their heads with lies, but I can't run forever. What was going to happen to Jace? Would he go down for something I did? As I sat there in a daze with all these thoughts running through my mind, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I jumped and before I could yell, a hand covered my mouth.

"Shh!" The tall dark figure whispered, "It's me, now come on."

I followed him a couple of feet away from the dumpster to a door. It was Jay, I thought to myself, I'm safe, I think...

As I entered through the doorway, I noticed a recliner with a table and lamp beside it. The lamp was the only light on in the whole place. Across from the room from the recliner was a twin-sized bed and a TV. The room was very neat and clean for a male, from what I could tell. I looked over at the tall man standing in front of me. He was probably about 5'10 with slightly shaggy brown hair. He wore a dark colored shirt with gym shorts. He was also fairly built, and fairly tan from what I could see.

"Jess, it's me Jay." He said.

I nodded.