Sixteen

"You cannot be brave without fear."

- Melody Hobson

Of course I'm not surprised that my dad found us. Of course I'm surprised that he got Jeremy to help him. "Why?" I say over and over again.

"Because I wanted revenge," he keeps replying.

Revenge for what? What did I do? When did I do it? Was it even me? Was it an accident that scarred him for life? I don't know. I don't know if I ever will.

We drive down the road and turn on an exit. And then the most bizarre thing happens. And something that I never expected. A random car that is white with bright headlights turns onto the wrong lane and runs into the front of the car that we're in.

We all scream as the white car rams into us. The windshield breaks and the airbag knocks dad out, who was driving. The other airbag from the passenger seat hits Ernie and knocks him out, too. I tear the duct tape off of me and when I get the chance, I jump up to the middle of the car and punch Jeremy and Jay. I knock them out. Then I tear the tape off of Cam and Tessa and get out of the car. We start running back to the Lacey's house when the white car honks at us.

We turn around. The driver's door opens and a woman in a long coat steps out. Jill.

"Come on!" She calls from yards away. "Before they wake up!" We don't question. We trust Jill. We run to the car and get in through the back doors. Oakley and Drew are in the very back, buckled up and playing with small toys together. "What--" I ask, but Jill interrupts. "No time. We're going to pick up John and then we're leaving Utah." She starts the car.

"Why?" Tess asks. "How?"

"No time," Jill repeats, driving faster. We drive to a tall building and John runs out the door.

After about ten minutes of silence, Oakley and Drew start talking, more so fighting.

"I want to be the dinosaur!" Oakley wines, reaching for the toy in Drew's hands.

"No!" Drew answers, raising the toy higher. "Dinos are for boys only!"

"Are not!"

"Are too!"

"Not!"

"Too!"

"Not!"

"Too!"

"Enough!" Jill interrupts their argument. The children go silent. "Not now, kids, please, not now." Jill sounds as desperate as if she were begging a kidnapper not to steal her kids.

After another ten minutes, John and Jill start talking.

"Where to?"

"Where ever is safest. Someplace unpopular."

"Good--"

"What is going on?!" I can't take it any longer. "Who are you? How did you know? Tell us, please, we aren't children. We can handle this." Now I'm the one who sounds desperate.

Jill hesitates. So does John. Finally, she sighs.

"We really are the Lacey family," she begins. "We're undercover cops. We're here to save you."