The lost one

The beginning

I never have felt the love of others towards me. Everyone tells me that I have to much adventure inside of me, which is bad in this place I suppose.

It's always gotten me in trouble, sometimes I just can't control the growing curiosity inside me. I've always wondered what is beyond the stone walls, I have grown to know.

I have asked all the people that come in and out of this place, but they all look at me the same way shaking their heads and walking away. Today they would never have to worry about me asking the questions ever again because I'm going to find out for myself.

I carefully slip away into the darkness trying my best not to make a sound. Mrs. Dawn had always been a cruel woman and I know she has never cared about me but for so many years, I just wished she loved me. I carefully walk down the gravel path past the old wooden barn.

The street is silent with shadows and flickering lamps. I get to the small but magnificent garden and open its large wooden doors. I look back to the only place I've ever known I place I never once wanted to call my home. And with that I slip past the doors off to a new life.

~ 3 months later ~
The adrenaline pumping through every single vein in my body. The slight breeze as I run past all the trees and hop over broken branches. I know they're close behind, but I also know I'm faster.

I hear the faint sound of yells behind me but I won't let them catch me. I know what they'll do to me if they do. I've made it this far and I'm not giving up. Not without a fight.

Up ahead I see the glistening rush of water and I know this is my chance. I keep pushing my body to run faster. My feet and legs wanting to give up. I have to make it.

I come to the banks of the river and know what my only option is. The other side is too far ahead and the current is too strong for me to swim across. So I jump, taking in all the air I can hoping it's enough.

I can feel myself getting pulled along with the current, hoping I'm enough distance away so they can't see me I attempt to push myself to the surface for more air. Struggling to get to the top for air, I start to panic. I finally manage to squirm my way up to the surface taking in the cool brisk air and letting it fill my lungs as relief floods my body. I know now that they won't be able to find me now.

I've spent too long in this same place, Hamilton Montana. It may be beautiful here but there are too many people attracted to it. There have been so many strange animal attacks here lately too. There has been everywhere I go which is bizarre in my mind but I must go.

I sadly can't risk going by bus or train so I'll have to walk, sadly. I'm almost to my new home, well I hope. After 10 long hours of walking I have finally arrived, Whitefish Montana. I walk down the street with my head down. Such a great day to spend my 16th birthday. All by myself

I step foot in a local diner called Big Oak Diner, where everyone looks friendly. I walk up to the counter where a pretty woman I'm guessing maybe around the age of 40 is pouring coffee. She looks up and gives me a big grin. "How can I help ya Hun?". She has a slight southern accent in her voice. Still slightly shocked on how cheery she is I give a small smile back.

"uhh I don't have much money" My voice comes out shaky. She looks at me with a slight frown and tilted head, but it all changes in a quick second. "That's alright your meal is on me." She gives me another big smile. "I don't understand, you don't even know me" Confusion filling my head. No one has ever been this kind to me.

"Oh settle down now that's not a problem, I'd love to not only help you but get to know you as well." Her smiles are contagious I can tell ya that. "My name is Abigail, what's your name sweetheart?." I scrunch my nose up thinking if I should tell her or not. "My name is Emery, Emery Jennings."

I give her a genuinely warm smile. "Well, you need a place to stay for a while? I know you ain't from around here that's for sure." She chuckles lightly. I laugh along with her "actually yes I do, do you know a place?"

"Of course I do, look I have this small and cozy cabin right by the lake which is a couple miles from here, and if ya want, I'll give you a job here too?" My smile gets a whole lot bigger when she says all that. "Oh my goodness, of course I'm saying yes! Thank you so so much." I haven't been this happy in a very long time.

I sit down at the counter and tell her my order. A corn dog and fries with a rootbeer. I haven't had a nice meal since I left that awful caged place that I was forced to call home for 15 years. Abigail comes out with my order and I give her a quite thank you with a smile. "Now how old are ya?" She asks politely. I finish chewing the food I have in my mouth and reply "It's actually my 16th birthday today" I reply with a shaky voice.

We never really celebrated birthdays in the walls so I don't know how things are done here. Abigail squeals in excitement "Oh my Lanta, you're kidding?" She seems slightly shocked.

I give a small laugh, "haha no today July 18th is my birthday." I've never really liked my birthday, mainly because I grew up being an only child in a small walled-in village with no one who loved me.

"Oh yippee! I've always wanted a daughter ya know." She gives me a wink and a smile. I laugh and so does she. I continue to eat when I hear the bells of the door chime open. All of a sudden I start to feel stuffy and hot, my palms sweating. My breath quickening. I turn around to see a group of guys my age, one, in particular, staring straight at me.

Slightly tall but very fit body, with dark brown hair and warm hazel brown eyes. His pearly white teeth slightly showing from his opened mouth. He's wearing black ripped jeans with a white t-shirt that hugs his body so well, matching his white vans. But for some strange reason, I feel connected to him, almost as if I know him.

The rest of the guys stop laughing and look over at their friend who's still as a statue. They look over to where he's staring, straight at me. A look of realization flashes through all of their faces but I still sit there with a look of confusion on my face.

Abigail comes back out of the kitchen and stops when she sees the group of boys. "Ahhh hello boys, Noah nice to see you." She smiles and nods towards the boy who for some reason I just want to get to know.

She then looks at me, "Emery you about ready to go? We can stop at the grocery store to go pick up a few things if you'd like?" I can't manage to make eye contact with her instead just nodding and then finally breaking eye contact with the boy I now know who is Noah.

"Yah I'm all set." I give her a small smile as we head to the door, my head down trying my best to avoid making any eye contact with him. And just my luck I manage to trip over myself, getting ready to just face the fact of not only embarrassment but also a nice bruise.

But the pain doesn't hit my body but instead, two large strong arms hold me up from the ground, making sure I don't fall. Confusion going through my mind trying to puzzle together everything that just happened, I finally lookup.

Up into the eyes of the one I was trying my very best to not see. He smiles at me and I could have sworn my heart skipped a beat. I shake myself mentally from my daydreaming and back into reality and finally start to pick myself up out of his arms.

I look into his eyes once more, giving him a reassuring smile and a quiet, "thank you." He gives me another smile and says "anytime Emery." His husky voice filling my ears. Abigail grabs gently by the elbow and says her last goodbyes to the group, and we walk out of the diner.

"Who was that boy?" I ask her softly. "that sweetheart was Noah Davis, he's your age and very strong-headed but also kind." She smiles at me. I'll never get tired of her warm smile.

We continue to walk to her car to go to the grocery store, I should be thinking of all the essentials I need. But the only thing that's on my mind, or who is Noah Davis.