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

The tape around her IV itched. She scratched her arm and stared at her bald head in the mirror of their private bathroom. Her eyes had dark circles underneath. She thought of Ash, unsmiling.


She walked back into their room, rolling the IV with her. They both still wore hospital gowns because the nurses said their clothes weren’t fit to wear.


“Of course I am.” She patted his shoulder.


He lay in bed looking as weak as a little baby.


Then the door opened and Tom walked in.


Dayna cringed and put a hand to her face. She’d told the doctors not to let him in. She’d shown them her scars; she’d told them everything! They’d betrayed her, must not have even believed her. This was much worse than being made fun of.


Chapter 165