Read Online Runaways by V.C. Andrews - Free Book Online Page B

eyes dark with thought. “He might just come after us himself in his truck.”
    That made even me quiet for a moment, contemplating a maddened Gordon Tooey racing over the highway, his mouth contorted, his nostrils flared, his eyes bulging as he pressed down on the accelerator in pursuit. If he caught up with us, there was no telling what he would do. We’d be luckier to be caught by the police.
    Crystal gazed down at her maps.
    â€œWe could send him on a wild goose chase,” she muttered, still looking at the documents.
    â€œHow?” I asked.
    â€œWe’ll leave the route we don’t choose behind. Maybe . . . pretend to drop it. He’ll find it and think he has an easy way to find us and go off in the wrong direction,” she said.
    â€œThat’s brilliant, Crystal. That’s really brilliant,” I said, encouraged that she offered a helpful suggestion.
    â€œIt’s still a huge long shot, Brooke. I don’t know,” she said, taking off her glasses to wipe the lenses as she shook her head.
    â€œIt’s better than just sitting here and waiting to turn eighteen,” I said, “or until Gordon tries totouch one of us again. There’s no telling who he’ll go for next.”
    I turned toward Butterfly and gazed at her. I was determined to use anything and everything to get Crystal to see.
    â€œShe’s right, Crystal,” Butterfly said. “I’m willing to try if you are.”
    â€œWe don’t have to spend money on motel rooms if we use the station wagon.” I continued. “It’s big enough to sleep the four of us when I put the back seat down. Tomorrow night, after everyone’s asleep, Raven and Crystal will go to the kitchen and pack up as much food as you can. That will save us money, too. Between now and then, everyone choose only enough clothing to fill a pillowcase. We can’t take much and we can use the stuffed pillowcases as pillows.”
    â€œYou’ve really been thinking about this awhile, haven’t you?” Crystal asked me.
    â€œLonger than you can imagine,” I said.
    â€œDon’t forget your toothbrushes,” Butterfly said. Even Crystal had to laugh.
    â€œOkay.” I said, “let’s study the map we’re going to use.”
    Crystal looked at Raven and Butterfly to see if they were still all for this, and then she put one of the maps on her desk. We gathered around.
    â€œWe’ll leave this route for Gordon to find,” Crystal said, “to Pennsylvania, Virginia, Florida, Texas. Maybe he’ll get as far as Florida before he realizes he’s on a wild goose chase. By that time, we’ll be long gone.”
    Butterfly laughed. We estimated where we might be the first day and the second, all of us talking at once. It felt wonderful; it felt like hope.
    Later, it was almost impossible to fall asleep.Minutes after the lights were out in our room, Raven called to me.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œYou’re not going to change your mind, are you, Brooke?” Raven’s voice shook slightly.
    â€œAbsolutely not. You don’t think we’re doing the wrong thing, do you?” Suddenly I too was scared.
    â€œDon’t worry Brooke, no matter what happens to us on the road it won’t be half as bad as what could happen if we stayed.”
    â€œGood night,” I said quietly.
    â€œBrooke?”
    â€œYes?”
    â€œI was just thinking . . . this is our last night here,” she whispered.
    I thought for a moment. Of course, she was right. Good-bye and good riddance to these four walls, I thought. Good riddance to feeling like nobody, nameless and alone. Tomorrow, tomorrow we’ll be on the road to our future.
    â€œI couldn’t be more happy about it,” I said. “I don’t care how hard it’s going to be for us after we leave. I’m glad we’re doing it. I’m glad we’re finally taking charge of our