Miranda’s stomach twisted inside of her, infuriated with the empty ache it had endured for so long. She scrunched her face in pain, and bent over. Slowly, she blew out. When the pain eased, she stumbled forward again.
Several cars flew by. The passing gusts of wind pulled on their clothing and hair.
Around the bend was their first sign of civilization: a driveway, complete with a manicured lawn. A man with a cowboy hat straddled a riding lawnmower, mowing it in clean strips.
Miranda felt the vibration of the mower into her chest. The smell of fresh-cut grass gave her a sense of security, false though it might be.
More driveways branched off the road like ribs on a skeleton. They were back in a new town.
From behind her, Miranda could hear a truck speeding up the road. Gravel spit where the tires had slipped on to the shoulder. She pushed Cassie into the ditch and dove over the top of her. The red truck honked as it hurtled past. Some man in his early twenties flung his arm out the window and flipped them off.
Cassie’s eyes were as round as eggs as Miranda helped her up. “They almost ran us over.”
Jason’s face was white with fury. He cussed up a storm.
Miranda put her arms around Cassie’s shoulders and steered her away from him. “People are jerks. We have to be careful.”
Cassie resisted Miranda’s leading and craned her head to look back at Jason. “Wow! Are those all bad words?”
Miranda raised her eyebrows and gave a tight-lipped grin.
“It’s like he’s speaking his own special language,” Cassie said.
“He’s special, all right. Come on, let’s keep going.”
They passed into the edge of a town, too small for a welcome sign. The place appeared deserted. Spray paint tagged the sides of buildings with boarded-up windows. A few cars lined the sides of the street, but the silence was spooky. No barking dogs, no people arguing from upstairs apartments, no kids laughing or babies crying. Miranda shivered and crossed her arms to rub the goosebumps away.
Up ahead, a spinning sign marked the entrance to the parking lot of a small grocery store. As it turned, Miranda read, “Penny Wiggle.
“I’m going in there to get us something to eat,” Jason said. His hair was spiky from sweat. Raking his fingers through it, he tried to smooth the dark hair back. “Man, I’m hot.”
Miranda nodded. She knew what he meant about getting food. Neither of them had money.
They cut through the parking lot. Jason led Cassie and Miranda around to the back of the building where there was a green dumpster in an enclosure.
“You both wait here a minute,” Jason told them. “Look in the bin for any food that’s edible.”
“What?” Miranda’s eyebrows flew up. “I don’t think so. I’m coming with you.”
He shook his head no, his hands waving to keep her quiet.
“Oh, you better believe I’m coming in there with you.” Miranda had her hands on her hips. “Hauling out food for the three of us is more than you can do.”
Jason looked up at the sky and sighed. “Fine. But follow me. Do what I tell you to do.”
“Yeah, because shoplifting is such a hard job.” Miranda grumbled.
“Shoplifting?” Cassie asked. Her face was pale as she looked up at her sister.
“How else do you suppose we’re going to get food?” Miranda untied her shirt from around her waist and buttoned it back up.
“Get water too,” Cassie whispered. Her wet hair clung to her head even though her face was pale.
“You got it.” Miranda passed Poppy down to her. “Stay,” she hissed at the dog. "And you stay too," Miranda admonished Cassie. "I don't want to come back and find you've disappeared, got it?"
Her sister nodded.
“And if anyone approaches—anyone—you scream. I'll come running. Understand?”
"What if it's a baby?"
Smart-aleck. “Scream,” Miranda answered.
“Come on, let’s go.” Jason shifted back and forth on his feet, full of energy. He raised his eyebrows at her impatiently, before heading around the side of the building.
Miranda gathered her sweaty hair off her face and twisted into a messy bun. She yanked a rubber band from around her wrist and stretched it around her hair.
Then, with a deep breath, she followed after him.
The bell jingled as Miranda pushed the door open. The cashier watched an old TV balanced precariously on a shelf, and didn’t bother to glance up as she entered. He was barely a man himself, his face still spotted with acne. Miranda walked to the back, where Jason already was.
He’d opened a box of granola bars and was sliding them inside his socks, his pockets already filled. Miranda quickly followed his lead, checking around the ceiling corners for a camera.
Tires squealed in the parking lot. Miranda froze for a millisecond before jumping up, freaked out for Cassie. Jason grabbed the back of her shirt and yanked her down.
The door jangled open. Miranda watched through the crack in the shelf as the gang of young men from the same red truck that almost ran them over came in. Their voices were loud and cocky, obviously wanting to be heard.
One of the men called over to the cashier. “Hey, Acne Cream. You look bored. You bored?”
“No-oo—”
“Aww, poor Pizza-Face is bored.”
Jason held his fingers across his lips, warning Miranda to be quiet. Slowly, he slid a water bottle down the front of his shirt. He grabbed another, motioning for her to do the same.
The crash of a display of soda bottles being knocked over shook them both. Miranda froze, staring at Jason. She could barely breathe. Jason scuttled over to her, his lips forming a silent Shhhh.
Then, came a violent slam on the counter and the sound of shattered glass. From the front they heard a drawl, “Why don’t you open up that cash register.”
Jason pinned his hand over Miranda’s mouth to stifle her gasp.
“Y-yes sir, just a minute.” The cashier punched keys in his till to open it.
“Yes, yes, just a minute,” one of the men echoed.
“Hey, Devon, take a whack at this.”
Jason peeked around the corner. They’d lined wine bottles across the counter. The man called Devon sauntered up to them, took aim, and smashed them with a bat. Red liquid dripped down the counters and sprayed on the wall. Green shards of glass littered the floor. Devon turned and tapped the bat lightly on the register, inches from the cashier’s head.
Jason’s eyes darted between the action up front and Miranda. She shook uncontrollably.
“Look at me.” Jason grabbed her hands.
She beat him off in panic.
“Miranda!” he hissed.
Her eyes were wild and unseeing. She sprang to her feet.
Jason leaped up and grabbed her, hauling her back behind the shelf of canned goods. He held her close and whispered into her ear. “I’m not going to let them hurt you. We’re going to get out of here. You hear me?”
Hurry. Hurry. Hurry. Her pulse pounded in her ears. She nodded weakly.
More glass broke up front, and the cashier said, “H-here, take it.”
“Slowly.” Jason got low and began to crawl. “Don’t let them see you.” Down on her hands and knees Miranda followed after Jason. The exit sign beamed green against the back wall. It led to a dark hallway where the bathrooms were. Still on her hands and knees Miranda peeked around the aisle corner. The men had their backs to her, and the young clerk’s face sagged in misery as he bagged the money.
One, two, three, Miranda crawled the length of the hallway. Just before the exit door there was a side room, filled with stock. Jason was in there, shoveling cans into his backpack. A loud shriek from the front froze her blood. More laughter. Jason waved at her to follow him. Miranda couldn’t swallow. Her heart took up the space.
When Jason’s hand hit the push bar of the back door the alarm sounded. They both stared at the blinking red light and then at each other. J
ason shoved the door open.
“Run!”
“Back here!” one of the men yelled behind them.
Miranda ran around to the dumpster, her feet sliding in the gravel. Jason was gone, having already fled up the alleyway.
Cassie looked startled at Miranda’s appearance and jumped to her feet. “Shhhhh.” Miranda frantically waved her down. She crouched over the top of her sister. “Shhhhh. You have to be so quiet right now, baby girl,” Miranda whispered in Cassie’s ear. She wrapped her arms tightly around her sister. The men had reached the back door.
“Where’d they go?”
“I’ll kill them when I find them.”
Miranda sank lower, her legs feeling like Jell-O. She motioned to Cassie to make sure Poppy didn’t bark. Her sister grabbed Poppy’s muzzle and murmured in her ear.
Their footsteps crunched on the gravel, coming closer.
“Maybe they’re behind here. Hiding like rats in the trash.”
A crash of glass breaking came from the front of the store.
“What the hell?”
“He’s beating on my truck!”
“Mother—”
The footsteps took off for the front of the store. A sob escaped Miranda, and she tried to stifle it with the heel of her hand. The truck roared to life and someone screamed out, “We’re coming for you, Boy!”
“C-come on, Cassie,” Miranda stood shaking. “We’ve got to go.”
“What about Jason?” Cassie asked.
“He’ll get away, somehow.” Miranda struggled to control the hitching in her voice, “He’s drawn them off. We need to go.”
She helped Cassie up. Holding her hand, the other clutched around her mid-section to secure the food and water, they crept along the alley behind the buildings. After a minute they turned the corner and cut through a tiny backstreet that ran behind a row of houses. Jason! Where are you? Miranda darted a look around.
At one of the driveways, Miranda pulled out a water bottle and handed it to her sister. “Little sips,” Miranda cautioned her.
Sweat clung to Cassie’s upper lip, and her face, although red from running, had patches of pure white on the cheeks. She gripped the cap and twisted, but her strength had left her. She passed it back. Miranda cracked off the plastic lid. Her sister took a few sips that quickly turned into greedy gulps.
“Slow down, Cassie! Small sips or you're going to throw it all back up.”
Cassie pulled the bottle from her mouth. Miranda could tell it took every last bit of self-control. She wiped her mouth with the back of her arm and handed it back. Miranda took a few sips too, and the same hunger fought to overtake her. Never had Miranda tasted anything so sweet and wonderful as that water. Reluctantly, she pulled it away.
“We can have some more in five minutes.”
She poured some in her hand for Poppy. The white terrier lapped it up with delicate flicks of her tongue.
"We're going to be okay." Miranda reassured both Poppy and Cassie.
“Where’s Jason?”
“I don’t know, Cassie. But he’s fast. He’ll get away.”
Across from the houses was a small park fully shaded by a grove of trees. There was a brick side building Miranda thought might be a restroom. She surveyed the area: no signs of the red truck. And no sign of Jason. Her eyes started to sting, and she gritted her teeth. Focus. He’s going to be okay. It’s all about keeping Cassie safe right now. “Let’s go.”
Cassie picked up Poppy, and they walked across the street.
As they reached the grass, a squirrel ran down one of the trees and chittered at them. Poppy gave a strangled bark and squirmed in Cassie’s arms. Her back legs kicked Cassie in the belly.
“Ow!” Cassie squealed, before letting the dog lose. She lifted her shirt where four red scratches were already swelling on her white skin. “Dang, Poppy!”
Poppy ignored her as she chased the squirrel over to the tree. The squirrel scampered out on a branch and scolded the dog.
“Let's look for some rope,” Miranda said. “We need a leash.”
Cassie tugged her shirt, and pushed her curly hair out of her eyes. “Poppy.” She snapped her fingers. “Poppy, stop that! Come here now!”
The terrier was happy to finally be free. She trotted along the line of trees with her tail wagging.
“Whatever, you spoiled pooch,” Miranda muttered.
The squirrel came down cautiously with its tail twitching. Poppy sniffed the grass, an invisible scent trail leading her farther away. The squirrel scurried to the edge of the road.
Poppy spotted the flash of movement and was off like a rocket. The squirrel darted across the road, with Poppy in pursuit.
A sedan was at the mouth of the alley. Miranda could see the woman glance to the right for oncoming cars. “Poppy!” Miranda screamed.
There was a terrible screech of tires and a thump.
Miranda hauled Cassie behind the rhododendron bush. She wrapped her arms and legs around her sister to keep her from escaping as Cassie thrashed with all her strength. She scratched at her sister’s arms to tear herself free. “No! No!”
“Shhhhhhhh,” Miranda whispered. “We can’t go out there. We can’t be seen.”
“My dog! My baby!” With superhuman strength, Cassie arched her back and then bucked forward. Miranda’s teeth clattered, her muscles burning like white bands of fire.
The car doors opened. Cassie keened in her ear as Miranda held her close.
“Mama! You hit a dog!”
“Oh, poor little thing.”
Poppy yipped.
Cassie’s body clenched as though electrified.
Miranda peered through the bushes.
The woman walked next to Poppy, and knelt down. Poppy was a limp ball of fur on the ground.Softly, she stroked the dog. “It’s still alive.” Lifting Poppy carefully, she cuddled the dog next to her chest. “Sit in the back seat, Tyler. We have to hurry.”
The boy scrambled into the seat.
“Seatbelt,” the woman said.
After the seatbelt snapped into place, the woman gently set Poppy on his lap.
Poppy licked the boy’s hand. “Aww, poor thing,” he said. “Mom, where are we going?”
“To the vet’s.” She looked around briefly to locate an owner before climbing into the driver’s seat.
The car sped off.
Cassie collapsed against her sister as the car drove away. Miranda rocked her back and forth, her hand cupped around Cassie’s head. “I know, baby, I know. I’m so sorry.”
“Please Miranda, get Poppy back.” The last plea came out in a choking sob.
Miranda feel like her heart was being ripped into two. “We’ll get her back, Cassie. Somehow we’ll get her back.” Miranda’s lip trembled and she bit it hard.
Cassie broke down in muffled sobs. “Daddy gave me that dog.”
Miranda squinted her eyes tightly. God help me. I can't take anymore.
She heard it again, like she’d heard it her entire life. Be bigger. You aren't weak; you are strong.
Miranda stood up and lifted her sister to her feet. “Cassie, we have to go.”
No answer.
“We’re still not safe. We have to go now.” Miranda wrapped her arms around Cassie’s shoulders. “Come on, Chickee.”
Chapter Fourteen
~Homeless~
Miranda hated to see Cassie cry. With her arm circling around her sister, Miranda steered her through the park. She readjusted Cassie’s t-shirt to cover her bare shoulder. Together, they walked over to the swing set.
“Can we rest here a second, Miranda?”
Miranda nodded. “Go ahead, Chickee.”
Cassie grabbed the swing and sat. Pushing off with one sandaled foot, she slowly swung back and forth as her head rested against the chain. Her eyes were closed tight.
Miranda chewed on her lip and tried to decide the next step. Dark clouds rolled in along the horizon. She needed to find some type of shelter. After a moment,
she decided to head back to the dumpster behind Penny Wiggle. Jason might search for them there. And there was an awning over the dumpster enclosure in case it did rain.
The decision strengthened her. Miranda watched Cassie for a minute, trying to gauge if she was ready to get moving. Cassie's face was pinched with grief. Her sister didn’t look like she’d be moving any time soon.
From around the corner came the squeal of tires on the road.
“Get up!” Miranda demanded, tugging on her sister’s arm. “We’ve got to go now!”
Cassie jumped to her feet and stared wild-eyed in the direction of the sound.
Miranda clung to her sister’s hand and pulled her along. “Come on. Hurry!”
The roaring of the truck came louder. Miranda and Cassie hid behind a tree and waited until it passed. It slowed at the park before it accelerated again. Miranda peered around the tree to watch it leave.
The truck screeched to a stop. Quickly, it shifted into reverse and backed up.
“Run, Cassie!”
Miranda and Cassie raced down the sidewalk, Miranda’s frantic eyes darting for an escape. The truck had nearly caught up with them. Shouts came from the driver’s window as the men catcalled.
There! On the street was a lady waiting at a bus stop with her young child.
“Faster, Cassie!”
Cassie fell, tripping over child’s scooter she had attempted to leap over, and immediately grabbed her ankle,
“Cassie!” Miranda looked around wildly as the truck jerked to a stop in front of them. “Help!” she screamed to the woman.
The mother glanced over with nervous eyes.
A guy in a yellow shirt and a backwards baseball cap jumped out of the passenger seat. He called to the woman at the corner, “Don’t be concerned with us, Mrs. Sanders. Hey is your husband still deployed? We want to make sure you and your daughter are safe at night. We'll be keeping an eye out.”
The woman bit her lip and turned her back. Her hand firmly gripped her daughter’s shoulders and turned her around too.
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