All of you

Running from the heckles of the guy I just stole from is sadly exciting.

The sound of my heart thundering, the sounds of my feet hitting the cold pavement.

The adrenaline coursing through my veins.

The rush, the fight, the thrill.

I love it.

I shouldn't but I do.

I know stealing is wrong but it's either steal to eat or starve.

I can only find so much out of trash cans.

No one will hire me, I don't have any identification.

Well a legal job that is.

I do get some work.

When I can find them, so I don't have to do this kind of thing.

I don't like stealing from innocent people just trying to make it like me.

When I finally lose the guy down a empty alley, I climb up a fire escape to a random roof.

After I climb over the ledge and hop a squat I take a peek inside.

"Thank you Mr. Nathan Watkins for your thoughtful contribution to the youth of America." I say out loud as I pull the eight hundred and sixteen dollars out and stuff it in jean pocket.

I drop the wallet down a storm drain and come up with a plan.

To the train station.

I gotta get the fuck out of this town before cops come snooping around.

This little podunk country bumpkin town will not be missed I assure you.

I jump from roof top to roof top until they get to far spaced out.

I hit the ground and make my way down a few more city blocks before I finally arrive at the front double glass doors of the train station.

Freedom awaits.

"Hi, I'd like the next train out of here please." I use my fake polite voice and give a small smile.

"You don't care where to suga?" A little old lady with short white hair pushs her glasses up her nose as she peers down.

"Nope. Just the next one. It's a bucket list thing." I smile again hoping to get some of that suspicion she's casting my way to lighten.

I know I'm young.

I know I look homeless.

I know I even look sketchy but I really need out this fucking town.

She gives a small smile back and starts tapping on her key board.

"Next train is for Gain Hills, it leaves in fifteen minutes." She looks my way like I'm going to pass that up.

I've never heard of it, I don't care though.

"That sound perfect, thank you ma'am."

I smile again.

She tells me the total and I handover the amount.

I get my change and my ticket as she tells me were to go, I take off heading for my gate.

I make it just in time and take my seat.

I get comfortable and fold my legs beside me as I look out the window while watching the trees disappeared from view.

They go by quicker and quicker as most of it turns into a blur when we pick up speed.

After a while the ticket guy comes to my part of the train.

Getting my ticket punched, the guy tells me where the food cart is and to help myself.

I take him up on his offer and order a burger and fries.

I make it double since I hadn't ate in so long. And I don't know how long this ride will be for. I hand my cash over and thank the waitress.

The food bar is nice enough.

It looks more like a simple dinner.

Who am I to complain?

I eat out of trash cans and gladly take left overs.

I sit on a barstool by the register while I wait for my order.

The white marble counter tops and the sterling silver bar stools like a peice of classic Americana. The staff here even wearing the pinstripe and a little red and white bonnet.

The decanters that line the walls sit mighty and proud on display with colored liquid staining the thick glass.

I bet it's just stale water or syrup.

The wide windows of the train stay open without a curtin to give any shade. The cherry wood planking the floor matches the few shelves through out the train cart.

I snag a green bag of chips and inhale them in a few seconds flat.

I lick the bag clean, not caring for the other patrons that may look my way.

My table manners aren't what the used to be.

The middle aged waitress brings me my drink which I guzzle in one chug.

"May I please have a refill?" I softly ask.

She looks at me and down at my cup. Her blended in eyebrow perks up intoba check mark with the pull of one side of her face.

"Thirsty much?" She smiles and takes the cup.

Oh you have no idea.

That being the first bit of water I've had in two days.

She brings it back and hands me my paper brown sack full of my delicious food.

The smell of the cheeseburgers and fries float up my nostrils and fill my lungs with its tasty aroma.

My mouth waters with anticipation of whats to come.

"Anything else sweetheart?" She asks cheerfully.

"No, thank you. Have a good day." I say while popping fries in my mouth and pushing the door open.

When I reach a hand out to grab the knob, I jump when it's someone's hand I touch instead.

When I spin around and look up from the mans hand still on the door I gulp. The dark haired man gives me the chills.

His eyes nerrow at mine like he's looking into my soul.

He sniffs the air as his eyes widen.

I know I must smell bad, I can't even remember the last time I got a shower.

"Oh I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to, I was looking for the knob." I apologize and move back to let the man through.

He staress abit longer before I drop my eyes and step back further.

This is one of the rules I have learned while being on the streets.

Do whatever you can to not cause a scene.

If you can get away from whatever trouble with a fake apology and a submissive behavior then do it.

It's better in the long run.

Not every fight is worth it.

He lets out a breath but finally moves and lets me by.

When I pass through the door I flinch when I feel his eyes following my every step.

I get back to my seat in a hurry and begin my chow down.

I forget about the man when I pull out the burger and fries.

I eat slow even though I want to vacuum it up in one bite.

I've done that before.

Eat to fast and it will definitely make you puke.

I was still new at the being homeless.

I still had alot to learn.

I was only fourteen.

It's been a few years, I know I lost track of time but I think I'm turning eighteen this year in the fall.

As if it matters.

It's not like I can stop, I have to stay on the streets.

Or atleast where I'm able to hide and run when I have to.

I can't go back.

I will never go back.

I will never be caged again.

Even if that means living on the streets and eating out of trash cans for how ever long it takes.

I finish my food and sip the last bit of my water while feeling like eyes are on me. As if bugs have started to crawl on my skin. Finding their way under my shirt and pinching My tender flesh from under my armor.

I start to get anxious.

I'm ready to get off this train.

I normally have a good sense of this kind of thing.

I can just feel it when some thing's are not right.

It's happened before, I can always feel when something's not right.

I know when I need to make a run for it.

After a grueling three hours at the edge of my seat we finally get told over the intercom that the next stop is pulling up on our right.

The quaint town of Gaines Hill.

As soon as we dock I'm the first one out the doors.

I slip past all the bustling people around me and make for the exit.

I need to get out of the train station.

I need to get out of sight.

I can feel something isn't right.

The air feels like it's charged, waiting for some type of power surge to electrify me.

The hairs on my neck stand up.

I'm being followed.

I don't know who, I don't have time to look back and find out.

I have to get out.

I twist and turn as I push pass the crowded station and make my way to the front.

The worst fear is that I didnt run fast enough, I didn't hide good enough.

I didn't get far enough away.

That it's him and his gonna take me.

That fear fuels me.

Once I make it out of the front door I jett through the maze of cars.

After I get into a parking garage I roll under a car.

I wait and listen.

I know someone was after me.

I could feel it.

After a few minutes three pairs of feet come out and stand at the start of the row.

I fucking knew it!

They walk together, coming up on my right.

"We know you're here princess, we just want to take you to safety. Come out."

A deep voice sounds almost genuine but I know better.

No one can help me.

No place is safe.

I hold in my breath as one of the men stand infront of the the car next to the one I'm hiding under.

I clench my fists and slowly curl my knees up to my chest and reach as carefully as I can to get the makeshift blade from my boot.

As soon as one of my fingers graze the handle the other two stand at the car to my left and at the trunk.

Fuck!

"Princess, we mean you no harm. You can trust us." The same man goes again.

I almost believe him.

"We know you're under there, please come out." He keeps his sympathetic tone but I don't move.

I trust no one.

I hold the blade in my hand as I scoot up to the hood.

"Princess, we have you surrounded. It's time to come home." He warns.

I hold back the scoff.

Home.

I knew it.

I lay still waiting for one of them to make a move.

With a huff I can hear the leader give the order for them to take me.

The one on my right drops to his knee as the one on my left drops flat to the ground.

Waisting no time I stabb the man on the ground.

My blade sinks into his shoulder, with a gurgling yell he moves away.

When the one on my right lowers down I take it as my opportunity to roll out and jump into the bushs at the hood of the car.

I can hear them curse as he shout out orders to follow me.

I take off into a full sprint while clutching my blade in my hands.

I whip around corners and make my way through groups of people on the side walk.

I can hear them yell out for me to stop.

I will not be caught.

I will never go back.

I step out on the road and slide off of car hoods as they slam to a stop and honk at me.

I pass stores, restaurants and businesses at full speed.

I push people out of my way and jump over whatever I have to.

Normally I don't have to try this hard, my assailant already lost in the sea of people but not these two.

I can hear them behind me.

"STOP!" The leader begs.

When I turn a corner and realized I'm running out of the center of town and coming up on housing. I have to jump on a trash can and leap up to the storm drain.

I pull myself up and slide onto the roof.

Housing is never a good idea if you don't know anyone.

To many variables go in to it.

When I stand up and peer over the side, the two men cuss when they look up.

I take a running start and jump to the next roof planing to make my way back and choose a different path.

I can hear tires squeal and vehicles come to a stop below me.

"Where is she!?" A voice thunders like a heat storm in the summer.

The sound makes me trip as it claims my attention.

I fumble and catch the railing of the building I had every intention on landing smoothly.

"On the roof there!" Another voice booms.

Fuck!

I hear the footsteps and a hostel roar making me feel more panic set in.

I pull up with everything I have in me and swing my leg over the side.

I fall like a sack of potatoes.

quickly I pop up and take off again.

I can hear more men start to follow in behind me and give chase.

I jump from one roof the to next with my graceful precision.

When I come to a roof top with a door open and stairs leading down, I quickly duck in and shut it.

Turning the lock I barrel down the stairs with sonic like speed.

Taking in the space around me, it hits me.

I'm in some kind of office building.

Passing by glass offices I notice everyone here is in suits.

I take the staircase back down and come to a flat area that opens into a smoking room.

Swinging open the door I crawl on top of the fake grass to gain a sneak peek out over the ledge.

Moving just enough to catch a glimpse down, I let out a sigh of relief.

No bad guy in sight.

I need to get out of this town to.

Looks like Gains Hill was a bad choice.

I sit agaist the stone ledge and catch my breath.

If someone looks they couldn't see me from the fake plant blocking their view and if anyone came in it would be easy to stand and slip through the door quick enough to get away.

I need a better plan.

I need to get out of here.