Never ending story! discussion

Okay, is anybody out there? Let's try this again.

She stepped into the clearing. It wouldn't hide her for long, but she knew what to do.

She started running across the clearing, and soon, she was soaring into the air, well at least thats what it felt like, its like that feeling when you were so scared you started running and you were going so fast you couldn't stop, the ground beneath your feet blurred, you couldn't even feel yourself losing your breath. That was what Ruby felt,her blond hair with red tips blurred her vision and flicked into her eyes, but that didn't matter once you knew they were after you.

In the fear-baffled haze of her mind, Ruby heard a crunch behind her and screamed, not even bothering to glance back. Where could it be?

That's when I saw the bunny. "Oh no" I breathe out. I look behind me frantically. I pick up the bunny and stuff it in my pocket and continue to run and I don't stop until I reach the cave. You see I meet my best friend here. He's a guy a really good looking guy named...

Alexander, but Ruby calls him Alex. I search in the pitch blackness. Where is it, where is it... there! I flip the switch and...

There he was in nothing but a towel. I breathed out a moan. I knew he lived here he had to. I once asked him but every time I asked he always said no. "You know you could put on clothes" Ruby said.
"Why, you don't like me this way?" Alex asks.
"No" yes "Now put on some clothes" I say to him.

His body was too much to bear sometimes that Ruby found herself stuttering and sometimes speechless, Alex was tall, so tall that many people looked at him, but Ruby liked that, he made her feel safe and secure.

She could always hide in his strong boy-ness. But still, he desperately needed some clothing. Ruby threw him a shirt and shorts that she had brought for him.

Alex joked about putting the clothes and did a reverse strip tease, Ruby laughed, but then he turned serious.
"Are there any updates, yet?"
I gulped dreading the question.
"I uh..."

"None of that excuse crap, Ruby. Just tell me."
She sighed. "Fine. Are you ready for this?"
Alex looked determined. "Yes."
"They found her."

"They... they found her?", the colour drained from Alex's face.
"Yes, they found her not far from here, at the highway near Alpine Forest, i saw the whole thing, she was waiting in a ditch, every now and then she would stick her head up to see if anyone was there," I paused reliving that moment.
"Lauren finally thought no one was there and ran across the road, but they were there in an instant, they grabbed her all five of them, it took them awhile to restrain her, she, she was fighting so hard." I pushed back tears and gulped.
"So that is why we need to leave, they will find us here, its not safe." Alex looked strained.
"So where to then?" he asked.
"Well i was hoping you would know?".

"I wish. Where do two outlaws go? I guess... no, that wouldn't work. Maybe... no. that's not it either. Yes. Grab your stuff, Ru. We're going to..."
Don't say Romania, thought Ruby.
"Romania! I've got a friend with a safe house there, that should hide us for a while."

Romania, great thought Ru. The last time she went to Romania, well it was very embarrasing,

But this wasn't the time to think about that. "Okay. I'll go, but I won't like it. You were in Romania the last..."
"Oh yeah. Sorry to take you back there."

"We should start off then, shall we?" Alex asked.
"Yeh, we should boo a flight as soon as possible, we can get supplies when we get there." Ru replied.

And then sighed. What if it didn't work? Ru had crossed the Hooves before. Let's just say it didn't really work out. But Ru had to be strong. For Crissy.

Alex soon got all of his stuff that he thinks we would need. He gets out a remote and then a burst of green light comes out of it. It shines on the cave and when I blink the cave looks as if it were never inhabitant by Alex. He puts the remote back in his bag then he grabs my hand and together we run knowing that if we walked we would never be able to get out of the forest alive.

The run was just what Ru needed to clear her head and prepare her for the journey ahead, however that run was painful. The wind, her hair and branches whipped in Ruby's face, but that was only the physical pain, the emotional pain left from Lauren was what was really hurting. The feeling of despair and helplessness knowing that she couldn't save her was knawing at her but i suppose it isn't really the time to grieve.

We soon came to a clearing. We were panting so hard or at least I was I felt as if my heart was going to to be thrown out of my chest through my throat. That's when I realized that we were standing on the exact same spot where I was when I spit out my gum and made a stick man out of it. We were in front of my house "Why...are we...here?" I said inbetween breaths. "We need some things..." he looked at me "Are your parents home?" he asked. I just nodded. "How are we getting in then?" I was about to say through the front door when I remembered why he can't go through the front door. Alex and I have been friends for as long as I could remember. When we got older are parents understood that we were close friends but when we got into high school and they repeatedly saw him in my room in my bed with his shirt off they got the wrong idea at once...so they banned him from the house. "We climb of course" I say. He gestures for me to follow. We always use to sneak together he used to come into my room all the time after that. If the weather was ever bad, too cold, too hot. He would sneak over for homework for food for pretty much any excuse really. We both love sneaking around and getting in trouble it's how we met actually. Back when we were three. We were at a wedding and he was a guest while I was just a flower girl. He came up to me at the reception and gave me a piece of chocolate he snuck from the kitchens. He ran away from me giggling and when he disappeared behind a corner in a cute little tuxedo I immeaditely followed. He started to walk with me once I caught up and started to introduce himself. We started planning things like stealing all kinds of candies from the staff. When we had suceeded we had came back just in time for the bride to toss her bouquet. By some way some way shape or form I know you already know but I caught it. After the service before we got into our cars to go home he gave me a kiss on the cheek then he ranaway giggling again. Ever since then we were best friends and it was all because of a piece of chocolate. He started to walk toward the super large tree and he started to climb up then he reached over the balcony and climbed on. I followed his footsteps and when I got to my balcony he reached out his hands and I immeaditely tugged onto him. He started searching in my room. After a few seconds he's pulled out a rope, a blanket and a pillow. He stuffed them into a backpack and he then jumped down off the bacolny railing. I followed him and landed on my feet like a cat would. "We're coming Lauren" I muttered so quietly to myself that even if you were glued next to me you wouldn't have heard it.

several hours later we were driving in a discreet blue Camaro through the back roads of arkansas. we were silent, thinking and praying for lauren. all of a sudden, a beeping went off in alex's bag. "motion sensor. they found the cave." alex took an ipad from his bag and zipped through his apps. a real-time view of the cave filled the screen. a huge man stood in the entravce, looking around the cave. he saw the camera, pulled out a gun. there was an explosion, and the screen went black.

"Do you know who that was?" I know it was stupid question to ask but I was curious. "No of course not" he says. We were now walking on some road. It was a back road on some main street. Houses full with light some with laughter. We passed a few house parties on the way. I honestly was feeling the fatigue setting in. We walked a few more minutes the next thing I know I was falling on Alex. But as soon as I did I got up again. Alex suddenly after another 15 minutes sat down at a bench and got his phone. Meanwhile I was trying my hardest to say awake I caught by the sight of a very beautiful colorful butterfly...when suddenly the butterfly crumbled and I snapped. I was being carried by Alex. My head on his shoulder my arms around his neck. He told me to crawl onto his back and almost numbly I did what I was told. I buried my head in the crook of his neck. I had one eye closed the other opened wide. We came up to a treehouse in some random backyard. Once again he got out that same device and shined it on the tree house. I couldn't see it anymore and from the looks of it neither could Alex. He climbed up the tree me completely relaxed on his back. I knew he wouldn't drop me even he were about to be shot he'd rather save me first then think about himself. He once told me that and after that I made sure I remembered it. He opened the trapdoor and he slipped inside. He layed me down on the ground and pulled out a blanket and a pillow buth were big enough for the both of us to fit in. I sat "Did you find her?" I say in a very croaky voice. Alex yawned and shook his head slowly. "I can't find her anywhere on my iPad, or phone we'll keep looking tommorow but obviously we both need to sleep. I haven't slept in like two days and I know you've been up and worried up all night so just please for me sleep" he says. He puts the blanket over me and he lays the oversized pillow on the ground. He scooted next to me under the blanket and layed down. At once he fell into a restless sleep. I grabbed his arm and layed my head on his chest without even realizing it. I was cuddling up to him and I felt his arm go automatically around me protectivly. It was like we were a couple but reality soon sunk in. My eyes went droopy and my brain became fuzzy. Alex's heartbeat was strong and steady. His heartbeat was my lullaby I fell alseep just like that. My dreams going straight back to the butterfly.

"get up." alex's voice lacked all tenderness and warmth.
"whaa?" was all i could muster. it was light out, so at least we were able to sleep the night.
"there's a potential threat here. we need to go. now."
"aren't we safe here?"
alex shooke his head. i grabbed our stuff while alex worked at his remote.
we slipped down the ladder of the treehouse and went to a car. alex popped the hood and started to hotwire the car. a moment later, the car was ready to go, so we climed inside and set off.

"Can you look and see if you can find her because obviously she's no longer in the country" Alex's hoarse voice says softly. I look at him carfully.
"You put a tracking device on her?" I say a little too sharply.
"No you put a tracking device on her" I stare at him.
"Unless I was sleepwalking I'm pretty sure I didn't put a tracking device on Lauren" I say trying to calm my voice a little bit.
"Oh no you did you just didn't mean too. You see the last time you hugged me before seeing Lauren I put a tracking device on you. I wanted to keep a close eye on you but since that fell off and fell on Lauren it still works out" He explains briefly. I shake my head and turn on his almost dead iPad. He thrusts an iPad car charger in my hands which I hook up. I go to the app that tracks things and log in with his password. A black grid shows up with gray lines. There was a green dot and a red dot. They were really far from each other. I pressed the map button and from what it looks like we were the green dot currently in America and the red dot was in...I gasp rather loudly. Alex glances at me "What's wrong?" he asks concerned.
"Lauren she...She's...she's...she's in Italy" I say finally looking at the fast moving and blinking dot.
"What?" he snatches the thing from me. He unbuckles his seat belt. He then moved from the driver's seat. "Take the wheel" he says hastily. I move over at once. We swerve a little but I straighten us out. I start to speed not caring if we were in danger of being pulled over. Alex didn't seem to cae either. He glanced up once then started to type wildly on his iPad. I glance down at what he was doing. "We're going to need plane tickets a hotel suite a rented car and clothes for a wedding" he says while giving me the ipad and sliding me back to the passengers seat and taking the wheel. "If there is one thing I know about you is that you are best with getting things that we need and want" he says "We really can't afford all of this"
I sigh I dig into my pocket and get out my iphone. I type in the number for the airport. When they pick up I clear my throat "Hello this is your boss speaking the minister needs tickets to Italy put it on my tab will you?" I ask in a pretty convincing british accent.
"Of course Miss but uh who will be getting the tickets?" A male voice asks.
"Two teenagers. They are cousins of the minister. Alex and Ruby I will call if there are any other arangements" I hang up before he could answer. I dial another number feeling Alex's eyes on me the entire time. "Hello who is speaking" I ask in a italian voice.
"The manager speaking from ROY's allstar bar eat & sleep hotel how may I help you?" says a cheery voice.
"Oh...it's that place" I whisper loudly as if talking to a husband. "Sorry nevermind I don't want to stay there GOODBYE" I say harshly.
"Wait, wait MADEM MANQUER! Wait what is the problem!" she says fast.
"Oh I just don't want to stay there do to bugs of various..." I swallow loudly "Kinds"
"No, no, no please I beg you please come it will be entirely free I swear it" she says hastily.
"Oh please yeah right" I say.
"No please, please miss please" she pleaded.
"Oh alright but at the sign of the first bug we are leaving" I hang up with a snap. "I think we can get fancy outfits later alright" I say in my normal voice. I dial another number "Hello is this Joe's car shop?" I ask my regular voice.
"Yes this is Joe himself how may I help you?" He asks.
"I was just wondering what is your cheapest rented car?" I ask.
"Oh the price?" his accent coming out as Irish surprisingly.
"Yes" I answer.
"5 dollars"
"Really?" I ask. "We'll take it then"
"Okay who am I giving it to?" he asks.
"Umm... Lilly and Billy"
"Okay see you then" he hangs up.
"Well the cars taken care of and fancy clothes will have to wait" I say.
He looks at me with something that I've never seen before in his eyes: desire. "Good job as always. And yeah we can work something out as for clothes" he says softly. That's when I realized he had heavy circles under his eyes. He must've been up all night.
"Alex?"
"Yeah?" he answers.
"Let me drive...let me protect you for once" I say even softer.
He shakes his head "I'm fine" he says in that natural tired voice. He shuts his eyes tightly.
"Yeah like I said...move it or lose it." he reluctlessly moves over. And I take over. "Sleep" I demand. And as soon as he got in his usual curled up position when he sleeps he fell asleep at once. I always liked the way he slept. He looks so peaceful...

soon, we arrive at the airport. we make our way to the ticket counter, wading through throngs of people.
"name?" intones the lady sitting behind the counter.
"ruby," i say boldly.
"ruby who?" she says in robot tones, lifting one eyebrow.
"we're picking up tickets for the prime minister," alex jumps in.

She looks Alex up and down. "What if I don't have the tickets? What if I had strict business to only give tickets to hot guys if they go on dates with me and to do..." she then looks at me her smirk vanishing. "Other things" she continued bringing back her smirk.
"How about I take the tickets and take you on a date when I'm dead?" Alex says with a smirk of his own.
She licks her lips "Playing hard to get I see...Here you go" she says. When Alex snatches the tickets and turns away and gets about ten feet away. I turn and punch the girls nose and before she cries out I duck tape her mouth all in five seconds making sure no one saw. I speed up and catch up with him. "That wasn't nice" Alex mummurs as we come out of the airport.
"Yeah well she had it coming" I say back.
"You did break her nose right?" he says a grin forming on his face.
"Oh Alex, Your doubt in me hurts" I say. He laughs out loud.
We walk to the side of the road with our luggage "TAXI!" he bellows. A taxi comes out of nowhere and pulls over. Alex gestures for me to get in first like a gentlemen then comes in himself.
"Where to?" says a rough Italian voice.
"Joe's Car shop please" I say politely.
He speeds off fast. Alex gets out his iPad and looks at the still moving dot. "On second thought dude could you take us to theeeeee..." Alex stops momentarily then continues as the dot stops. "The Ricardo Clown Shop?"
The dude takes a sharp turn then for all we knew we could be on our way to our doom. Alex must think this too because he puts his arm around me and pulls me closer...

The cabbie pulls to a screeching halt in front of a building with a giant sign announcing the Ricardo Clown Shop as Alex jerks his arm from around me. We walk inside the shop after paying the man. Alex suddenly surges ahead of me to the counter and adresses the man. "Hello, sir. I'd like to become a professional clown."
The man raises an eyebrow slightly. "Yes? Are you intrested in birthday parties or circuses?"
"Circuses. Getting up close with kids isn't my strong point."
"Yes. I believe we can fit you in for a tutor. What room number?"
"Room six. Definitely six."
"Very well then." The man winks at Alex. "Good luck."
"What was that about?" I, having watched the whole thing, am thoroughly confused.
Alex looks mischevous. "You'll see."
Alex leads me to a hallway and a door marked 6. We walk inside and shut the door.
"Alexander Richard Ennis," Alex says professionally. A blue light washes over us. The light disappears as I blink, then the room changes. The door seals and the walls turn themselves inside out. Boring ivory walls flip to reveal lights, dials, and computers.
"What is this place?" I wonder aloud.
"A room full of secrets," Alex tells me.

"What?" I say.
"It's where I keep everything. It's how I track it's where I work it's where I practically live"
"How come I haven't known about this place?" I ask. I turn around to see him right behind me. I nearly run into him.
He starts to grin "You've seen it a few times briefly you just didn't know it was there" he answers. I turn around and look at the fairly huge computer.
I suddenly see something rather peculiar. "Why does this have my name on it?...And Facts about me?" I ask cautiously and curiously. I turn around and see Alex's mouth turn into a staight even line.
"That's nothing" he says to quickly.
"It says I smell like sweet dandilions"
I hear him swallow "Does it?"
"It also has you in hear a picture or pictures" I say as I scroll down. Suddenly I felt his hands on my waist. I was bending down looking at the sceen. I didn't realize it. He starts to pull me but not before I see something that makes me gasp. It also says I have a major crush on him and he has a crush on me. He finally pulls me up and turns me around. "You...you...me...me...I...I...us...us...How?"
I see him swallow again "I d-don't know" Alex says. Horror was in his eyes.
I suddenly gain my voice "You have a crush on me?"
He turns around and doesn't answer me. "Alex!" I call. He doesn't turn around. I walk up to him turn him around and before I know what to do or say he pulls me closer and kisses me.

I tense. No way on earth was I suspecting that. But then I give and kiss him back. After a few minutes, I break away for my second or third breath of air. "We still have to find Lauren." Alex smiles coyly. "I know," he replies. And comes back toward my mouth. "Alex," I reason, "Why are we here? Did you drag me in here just to kiss me?"
"Technically, you weren't supposed to find that. But yes, kissing you is definitely a plus."
"No. Why did you bring me in here? We have a person to save!" Exasperation was starting to fill me.
"Okay. I guess making out will have to wait."
And then we got down to buisness. He logged in to two of the computers and directed me toward one.
"Let's get going." we research, google earth, and several other sites that I've never heard of.
And we find who's holding Lauren.
Suddenly, I ask Alex, "What's Manollow Industries?"
"We got her."

That night was definetetly intresting; it was the first night I ever dreamt about Alex. It was all about marriage, and children, and life at home. Then there was a very realistic one showing that we had found lauren and we were all hanging out together. Alex and me even more. We were clinging to each other constantly and sharing kisses every few seconds. Then there was another one that showed we were at a party. Once again we on each other like I was the Honey and he was the Bee. Then there was another one that scared me. I've always had a major crush on Alex and being with him was shocking but this dream actually scared me and I almost am never scared that much anymore. Alex was on the floor of a room and was bleeding...a lot. He was in his own pool of blood lying on the floor looking up at the ceiling with a blank lifeless look on his face...in his eyes. I was half asleep now I wasn't able to get away from the nightmare. My throat seemed like it was closing in and eventually I felt suffocated. Usually when I had nightmares I never made a sound. I would suffocate in my nightmare. Then suddenly I heard a voice. It seemed far away very far away. I tried to reach out for it tried to grasp it in my fingers for just a second to touch it once. The voice was beautiful to me like an angel sent to help me from my nightmare. Suddenly my eyes flashed opened. I was cold from cold sweat. The blankets were tangled up in my body. My hair seemed to be stuck in my face. My throat was tight and my cheeks werepuffy and probalby red. Someone was leaning over me looking concerned. I snagged my hands around Alex's neck and he pulled me up by my waist and hugged me back looking very confused.
"Are you alright?" he asked pulling away from me slightly.
I kissed him and I never stopped not even for air. Alex pulled me off the bed and pulled me closer to him. I suddenly felt him lift me up so I put my legs around his waist. We were getting so heated that we were hitting walls now and our make out session ended up in bed with me on top. Alex's hands were going under my shirt but he never went any higher. I took his shirt off completely. He grabbed my hands from doing anymore damage and flipped us over. My shirt was rising but it never came off because there was a beeping sound coming from one of the computers. My hands were on the buckle of his jeans they hesitated then they backed away and so did his lips and hands. He got off of me but not off of my bed. He got his shirt and put back on as we both tried to get our breath.
"I'm fine by the way" I breathe out. I stand up and kiss him once more then walk out. I grab my clothes and change very fast then go to the computer that's blinking. I feel Alex stand behind. "It's a video chat request" I look back at Alex.
His eyes were narrowed then he shakes his head. "Let them leave a message whoever it is no one can know we're here" And suddenly just as he had said they leave a message.
I click play after I get Alex's approval Two dudes appeared holding an unconscious Lauren in-between them or so I thought. Her head was bowed and her blond hair was dirty and as if they cut it uneven in odd places. Her body was limp and bruised and I was suddenly scared to see what her face looked like. I was right; her face was black and purple. Her bottom lip was swollen and blue. Both of her cheeks were purple the right a little more so. Her left eye was bleeding and was black, she couldn't even open it. And from the look of her very crooked nose it was broken. I covered my mouth with my hand in horror. "No" I moan. Alex pulled me into his side and tried to comfort me with his hand as the third dude in the back stepped into the camera.
"Oh Alex all you have to do is give us what we want. You know what we want, something you can never have forever...give her up" And then the screen went black.
"Alex what does he want?" I asked still trying to recover from my horror. Alex just stares at me and with realization the Horror returns but this time I felt lightheaded. Whoever those dudes were they never wanted Lauren, never. They've always wanted, I swallow, me.

So I run. That's all I can ever seem to do. I think about why they would want me. Why, why, why? And then it hits me.
Once, when I was only ten years old, my father, a genius in science, had taken me to work. I had gotten lost and seen a few scientific things- ideas and inventions- that could have hurt a lot of people. Or killed them. And those men who had seen me and started after me, shooting me, and throwing really heavy things wanted me to forget what I saw. I managed to hide in my father's office, the next building over, before the huge, burly guys caught me. I had never been so scared in my life. And I had reason to. The men had met my father as I hid in his office and tried to get around him, but dad's security guys outmuscled the men, so I was safe. But as they took the men away, for what reason I'm not sure, to jail, one of them swore vengance on me. And he must have gotten away. Watched me. Figured out what I cared about. I never had wanted to return to that piece of my mind that had the violent, evil things in it. So I never told anyone.
Alex has caught up to me by now. I realize that I am sitting on the curb a few shops down from the Ricardo clown shop, bawling.
Alex holds me, shushing and comforting me. I realize what must happen.
"Get away." I say softly.
"What?" Alex sounds horrified.
"Get away! If they find out that I'm close to you, they're going to take you away and beat you and do all those horrible things that we saw happened to Lauren. Oh, God. If she dies, I will never forgive myself!"
"Shh," says Alex.
"Wait." I wipe my eyes with my hand, the thought that my makeup must be running terribly crossing my mind. "How did they know? How did they know you knew what they wanted? Are you one of them?" I cry harder.
Alex doesn't seem to know what to say.

I look at him waiting for an answer and when he doesn't give me one I get up and I walk back to Ricardo's. I knew he was following me because I heard the gravel skidding on the ground and knew it wasn't me doing it. The sun was now hiding behind the clouds and I knew it was going to rain. I was confused and hurt in a way. Me and him we had no secrets we had NONE! So, what happened? I turned and looked up at his confused face.
"Just tell me...how do you know?" I ask him calmly.
"Honestly it's not what you think Ru" he claims. He reaches out and puts a lock of hair behind my ear locking eyes with me.
"Explain then" I demand. I suddenly felt a drop of rain hit my nose and waited.
"I over heard them one time" he looked at me apologetically. "We were twelve" and he groaned not looking at me. "I was a stupid kid and I tempted to tell you, but you see they had warned me not to tell anyone they were coming after you. And when they had heard me they didn't tell me they were going to kill you in your sleep they did it without you knowing to someone else..." he paused and for the first time in my entire life I saw real pain cross his face "I never really lived with my grandparents, Ru. They murdered all of my family. I didn't, couldn't, wouldn't let them lay a finger on you. You meant and will always mean everything to me and I honestly can't lose someone else that I love" We were now so close to each other that the hard pouring rain didn't seem to hit us but our backs. "They've been planning for so long that they've gotten impatient. They took someone else that meant something to me and to you. Lauren's my cousin and your best friend. They've played the perfect game and we've been nothing but the pieces. I'm sorry, Ru but I couldn't put you into anymore danger then you needed to be"
I shook my head "You could've told me somehow...or your parents...or...OH MY GOD! Alex we could have found a way. I'm not a weak little girl anymore. Lauren doesn't need to be tortured and your parents..." I gasped. I couldn't continue after that. I just threw my arms around his neck and hugged him so hard that I couldn't even breathe. "We could've made it" I whisper in his ear. The rain was falling so hard now that I couldn't see. I leaned back and looked at him.
"I know what your going to say. And no it isn't your fault and it's not mine. It's those bastards fault and if not thier fault its mine...if I hadn't been there..."
"Don't blame yourself" Alex says softly in a voice I've never heard before. I reached up touched my lips to his. The kiss was a kiss I've never been through before. It was powerful, very powerful...and wet. When we let go of each other we were both out of breath. As we moved apart the rain soaking us through but it seemed like neither one of us noticed or cared, he took my hand and smiled my favorite smile. Sweet, cocky, and somehow loving enough to make any girl melt. Together we walked back to the room...and there we planned. We planned everything we would need to make it practically impossible to work around. Then surprisingly we were both so tired that the my bed that we were working on we fell asleep together on it and there it was nothing but bliss in my dreams...

I wake to a warm feeling and suddenly remember where I am. The Ricardo Clown Shop. Wrapped in Alex's arms. Alex is not yet awake, but one of the computer screens is flashing with missed video. I turn off the speakers and read the lips of the messengers.
"Time is running out for your friend, Mr. Aikynd. Hand over what we want or we will have to take her away from you- one limb at a time." I gulp. The screen flickers back to the circuit-looking desktop.
I realize what I have to do. I start to write on a random blank note pad.
You know I love you. And I will always love you. But right now I know that I need to help my friend. Don't worry about me, by the time you find this note, I will have been gone for hours. I have taken a lot of your gear, so technology will be my friend. Please message me if you need to know exactly where my exploits are taking me. If you trust me, don't freak out. I will come back.
I scratch that out. I don't really know.
I write again: I will bust my butt to come back- and be there for you. Please, stay where you are. If you're in the safe room, I know that you will be where I can find you.
Love, Ruby.
So I leave, the clown shop empty except for the man behind the desk. He nods at me and turns back to whatever he's reading. I set out of the shop and start to run.