Read Online The Registry by Shannon Stoker - Free Book Online

had any access to money. We have the car, though, and food. It should take us a few hours to get to Mexico, right?”
    Blood rushed to Andrew’s face, and he began pacing back and forth. It was easy for her to read his emotions now. Mia knew she’d lost any credibility she’d had with him.
    “A few hours? Car?” he gritted his teeth.
    “I was so happy we spotted you. I was scared someone else was going to pick you up.”
    “I wish anyone else would have picked me up. Even a homicidal maniac. Anyone!” Andrew stared her down with a crinkled brow. “We need to ditch the car. Now.”
    “But then how will we get to Mexico?”
    “No questions. You just do what I say when I say.”
    Andrew began walking toward the car, taking large strides to leave Mia behind. She ran with quick little steps, trying to keep up, but he was paying little attention to her. As he approached the vehicle he barked at Whitney to get out of the car. Tears were streaming down her face as she hurried out of her seat. Mia was sure she’d heard everything.
    “Get your stuff out of the car,” Andrew said with anger and authority.
    The girls pulled their belongings out as quickly as possible and moved to the side of the road. He jumped in, and the car puttered away. Mia assumed it was due to the lack of gas. He never bothered to check the trunk for more.
    “He’s leaving us?” Whitney asked with a quivering voice.
    “He’ll be back,” Mia said. “We just need to wait.”
    “You’re blackmailing him?” Whitney asked. “That’s not like you, you never think about this kind of stuff. I’ve never seen you plot or scheme in your whole life and this is an evil plan. This is stuff criminals do.”
    “I’m doing what I need to do to survive, for both of us to survive.”
    It was not in her nature to deceive, and Whitney looked disgusted with her, but Mia didn’t care. Her friend needed to lose her old concept of the world. It was time for a new one.

Chapter 12
Girls should take care not to grow inappropriately attached to anyone in their lives. The only relationship that matters is that between husband and wife. Once that bond is created there is no reason to miss any part of your previous life.
—The Registry Guide for Girls
    T he sky was turning lighter by the minute. Whitney kept quiet while Mia tried to keep an eye out for Andrew. As the blues in the sky became brighter, so did Mia’s realization. Andrew had stolen the car and deserted them. He’d been gone for too long at this point and even if he was traveling by foot it would be too hard to catch up to him. For the first time all day Mia felt like joining Whitney in sobbing. Just when she decided to give in to despair, she noticed a person jogging toward them on the horizon.
    “He’s back.” Mia shook Whitney to wake her up. “We need to start walking to meet him.”
    “He left us,” Whitney said, without bothering to look toward the figure. “Let’s just sleep here till they send out the search party.”
    Ignoring Whitney, Mia began her walk toward the figure. She knew it was Andrew. They hadn’t seen a single car or person since he’d left.
    Mia heard Whitney calling to her to slow down, but she couldn’t. With every step she took she felt herself flying away. Her grin grew so large it took up most of her face. But as she drew closer to Andrew, she saw he was not returning her smile.
    Mia felt hers fade as the two met. She had to catch her breath, but he wasn’t a bit tired. Finally he spoke. “We need to lay down some rules. I will help you get to the border. That is it. You don’t make a convincing boy. You need to keep your head down and never speak. Don’t ask any questions and don’t talk to me.”
    “Is that because you’re mad I’m forcing you to help us or because I’m a girl?” Mia surprised herself by speaking to Andrew this way, but she needed to toughen up.
    “You’re already breaking a rule.” Andrew kept his chin up.
    Just as Mia was going