Runaway

Chapter Four

The next morning Luke and I had woken up in a pile of tangled limbs. I was curled up against him, my legs intertwined with his. We laughed it off and then untangled ourselves to get ready.
I joined the boys downstairs as they were eating.
"Hey we have a writing session at the studio today, do you want to come?" Luke asked.
I thought about it. "No I'll stay here, but thanks."
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Yea. I'm tired so I'll just catch up on sleep today." I smiled.
"We won't be back till late." Luke warned.
"Alright."
"Look I would feel a lot better if you came with us." he looked nervous.
"I'll be fine." I promised.
After they had eaten and were ready to go Luke stopped me.
"October, you can still come with us."
"Luke I'm fine here. I'm not running off I promise." He looked satisfied with that answer.
"I'll have my phone on me so call me if you need me." I nodded. He gave me a final smile before they left, I locked the door after them.
Finally a day to myself.
I made me a strong cup of tea and curled up on the sofa. I turned on the television and started to channel surf. I hadn't watched the tele in ages. I found a show that seemed interesting and settled on that.
A few episodes later I ventured upstairs and took a nice, long, hot bath. I dried my hair a towel and let it air dry. I changed into a black tank top and black skinny jeans Luke had bought me and returned downstairs.
The clock in the kitchen said it was now 7:15 in the evening. Scrounging for food in the fridge I made myself a sandwich, still not understanding why Michael insisted on keeping the butter on the counter instead of in the refrigerator.
I took my sandwich back to the sofa and flipped channels until I found another show. I must have fallen asleep because when I woke up the tele was still on and it was pitch black outside. I stretched and took my plate back to the kitchen. I glanced at the clock that now said 11:04.
I had left my phone upstairs and decided to check it. I jogged up the steps and into Luke's room, picking it up off the bed. I had 5 missed calls and 8 texts from Luke.
'You doing okay?'
'hello?'
'Why aren't you answering?'
'October?!'
'Seriously answer the phone'
'Im getting really worried'
'if you don't answer me in ten minutes I'm coming home'
'October!'
I bit my lip as I read the messages. He was going to be pissed. The last message was 10 minutes ago.
'Sorry, left my phone upstairs. I'm fine, I promise. Sorry!'
Luke responded almost immediately. 'Thank god. We will be home in about an hour.'
'Ok' I texted back before putting the phone in my pocket. I was returning back downstairs when the doorbell rang.
I froze.
Maybe it was just a neighbour.
I padded down the steps and walked to the door, unlocking the bolt and swinging it open. The man with the tan coat stood there. Definitely not a neighbour.
I slammed the door shut, hearing a shout come from him. I yanked my phone from my pocket and ran upstairs. I shut the door to Luke's room and pressed my back against it, dialling Luke's number as I did so. It kept ringing.
"Come on Luke pick up pick up" I whined. It went to voicemail. "Luke I need help! Please hurry!" I heard a banging come from downstairs. I shut the phone and listened through the door. I heard the sound of the front door opening.
"October, come out, I just want to talk!" The strange man called into the house.
Bullshit.
"It's about Delilah!" He called again and I froze. How did he know my sisters name?
An idea sparked into my mind. I rummaged through the drawer Luke had given me for my clothes and felt around the bottom. My fingers touched the cool metal and I grasped it in my hand. I ran my fingers over the blade. I'd had this pocket knife since I ran away. It came in handy during drug deals, and for my protection.
I opened the door slowly and crept down the steps, keeping the blade behind my back. He was standing in the middle of the living room facing the other direction.
"What about Delilah?" I barked at him. He turned around and smiled lightly. "I said what about her?! She's dead!" I yelled at him.
"No she's not." he held his hands up defensively." And I can prove it if you come with me."
"I'm not going anywhere with you." I snapped.
"Do you want to see your sister?!" He challenged me.
"Give me some proof...now." I said darkly.
He rummaged through his coat pocket and produced a photograph. "This was taken two days ago".
I slowly made my way down the rest of the steps and snatched the photo from his hand.
The face looked like hers but a few years older, but the photo was blurry. Was my sister really alive?
"Where is she?" I glared at him.
"At a safe house in Manchester. I can take you to her."
"Lets go." I stated again. I walked towards the front door when suddenly my wrists were yanked backwards. My pocketknife fell to the ground and i yelled at the pain.
"Stop!" I screamed at him.
"Stop struggling you little brat! Just come quietly and you won't get hurt!" He pulled me backwards again.
"Where are you taking me?" I kicked him in the shin.
He grunted in pain. "There's someone who wants to see you!" He slapped my ear, knocking me off balance.
"Who?!" I gasped as he yanked my hair back.
"Your uncle." He said.
My blood ran cold.
"You work for my uncle don't you?" I spat at him.
"Whats it to you brat?" He muttered, pushing me towards the door.
I prepared myself to fight for my life.
I kicked backwards, hitting him in the groin. He let go and i took that as my chance to move. I punched him in the jaw, then took the heel of my hand, shoving it into his nose. I could hear the crack as his nose broke.
He screamed in pain. I ran to the back door but i was tackled to the ground. Something shiny flashed in the corner of my eye. He had my knife. I struggled to get the knife from his hand. He swung his arm and the blade sliced my arm.
I kicked him in the groin again, kneeing him in the stomach repeatedly until he released me. I took the knife back in my hand, ignoring the blood coming from my arm.
He backed up.
"I'll be back for you kid." He threatened before retreating out the front door.
I sat on the floor, shaking.
My uncle knew where i was. All the years i had hid and kept my identity a secret were falling apart.
I was jolted from my thoughts by the sound of Luke rushing into the house.
"OCTOBER!" He yelled for me.
"In here!" I called back.
He ran into the living room. "Oh my god!"
"Luke." I sniffled, standing up.
"Was it him? Was it that guy? I'm calling the police, they'll find him. They'll find him." He pulled me into his arms.
"No!" I pushed him away. "No police." I was begging now.
"October he broke into the house!" He argued.
"He's gone." I cried.
"I'm just glad your safe." He said hugging me again. "You're bleeding!" He noticed the cut on my arm.
"It's just a scratch." I mumbled. "I'm fine."
"Come on lets clean it up." He said. I followed him to the bathroom as he tended to my cut.
We said nothing as he pressed a band-aid over it and headed towards the bedroom. I grabbed a change of clothes and went to the bathroom to change while Luke changed in his room. I went back to his room. He was sitting up on the bed.
I walked to the bed and sat next to him.
"Tell me what happened." He said bluntly.
I began with how i opened the door and he was there and that I ran upstairs to call him but he didn't answer his phone.
"After that?" he pressed.
I hesitated. "He..he said it was about my sister..." I breathed. "But he lied."
"What do you mean?" He scooted closer to me.
And at this moment i knew i couldn't lie to Luke anymore. I had to tell him. I couldn't protect him from me.
"My sister died three years ago. He said she was alive and that he could prove it. So i followed him and thats when he attacked me. He lied. She's not alive, he just works for my uncle. He tricked me. My uncle...he knows..." i couldn't form coherent sentences now. I was crying so hard my body was shaking.
Luke wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me back against him. I turned into his chest, staining his shirt with my tears.
"Your uncle...is that who you ran from?" he whispered.
I nodded into his chest and i sobbed. It felt like my chest was breaking.
Is this what it felt like to open up to someone?
Luke rubbed circles on my back, soothing me. His fingers traced shapes on my shirt as i cried. He said nothing else just consoled me.
When i had cried all my tears out i peeked up at him through my hair.
"Sorry", i mumbled sitting up. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"October...dont be sorry. Its going to be okay." he looked me in the eye. "What did you mean when you said your uncle knows?" He asked.
I looked away from Luke and hesitated before whispering.
"...He knows I'm alive..."