The punishment for a seventh-grade dropout runaway is probably pretty harsh, but Ash Barker doesn't care. She can’t waste time or emotions on anyone but her brother, Matt. They were placed in separate foster homes, so Ash runs away to find him. If she fails, she’s headed back to juvenile detention. Everything is going right on schedule until two kids, Dayna and Kevin, barge into her hideout -- which just happens to be in their house. She ditches the pair fast, but can’t stop thinking about those bruised, skinny kids. Dayna and Kevin live with abusive parents who force them to stay in their room most of the time. If they go to the authorities for help, they’ll be split up, too. Ash knows how that feels, and she goes back to help, taking the two with her. With any luck, they’ll all help each other along the way. Meanwhile, as Matt waits for Ash, he can’t resist telling his foster brother and best friend, Jon-Allen, about the plans. They stash food, earn money, and keep watch for the night Ash appears at their bedroom window. Ash is so happy to be reunited with Matt and to discover she’s falling in love with Dayna that, at first, she doesn’t worry about what they’ll do next. But life on the road begins to take its toll -- they have to resort to shoplifting and scavenging to survive. Ash feels a growing sense of guilt at the disaster she’s made of everyone’s lives. Can she somehow keep her newfound “family” together despite hunger and sickness? Or will she be able to find the strength to reach out for help?

No Turning Back

She must have dozed off eventually though, because before she knew it the sky had turned black and a bright light shone in her eyes.


“Quit it, Kevin,” she mumbled. Then she realized their only flashlight was in her pocket and her eyes popped open. Several tall, grotesque shadows loomed over her and she gasped. She couldn’t see what the shadows were through the glaring light.


“I didn’t do anything,” Kevin said. Then he bolted upright.


Dayna screamed as she scrambled over to where Kevin stood. Ash jumped up to shield them both and turned on her flashlight, still unable to see.


The blinding beam lowered and Ash could now see a teenage boy who held a flashlight of his own. Behind him were three other guys and three girls, most of them taller than she was. The reason their shadows had looked so distorted was because all of the boys wore cowboy hats.


“Leave us alone,” Ash said, fighting to keep her voice steady.


Chapter 43