//------------------------------// // Chapter One; Arrival- Moonshade // Story: Runaway // by Kix //------------------------------// “Miss, it's time to wake up, I need you to get off the bus unless you're going on to the next stop,” a male voice says as I'm rocked gently. The voice is full of irritation as he tries to hide it while waking me up as professionally as possible. “If you're moving on, miss, then I need to see your ticket before I can allow you to stay on the bus.” Slowly the darkness gives way as light and blurry images assault my eyes. Giving them a rub, I yawn and stretch out before reorienting myself. Where am I? How did I---- It takes a while for me to remember why I'm waking up on a bus instead of a bed or cot. Oh yeah, I ran away..... Again. Though this is the farthest I ran before now. Once I’m more or less awake I begin to rummage around my small bag. Please tell me I didn’t lose it. “I’m sorry sir, I must have lost it,” I admit after I empty it all over the seat next to me. “Thank you for waking me up.” “Sorry Miss, but I can’t let you continue on. Do you have another way to get to your destination?” “Yea, I just need to make a call. But first, is there a restaurant around here?” “Sure is, but first I want you to go make that call.” As I head to the payphones, I notice he’s watching me the whole time. A hint of curiosity and concern crosses his face as I begin to dial. Might as well try and make this as convincing as possible. “Hey mom, it’s me..... I lost my ticket on accident..... Must have fallen while I was asleep..... I’m in, hold on, Canterlot..... Okay I’ll see you soon, love you.” Hmph, first time I ever used those words in a long time. I hope he’s convinced. “So when is your mom gonna be by to pick you up? And why don’t you have a cellphone?” “In about thirty minutes. My phone broke two days ago and we haven't replaced it yet. Is there a McHoofs close by?” “Sure, I’d take you but I gotta get the bus ready. I leave here in an hour and I want you back here with your food.” He’s a little suspicious; thankfully, he can’t follow me. Once I get my food, I’m disappearing. “Alright, see you soon.” I give him a fake smile and wave as I head in the direction indicated. Once I make my order and get my food, I quickly head out, but not back to the station. A minute later, I find myself in a park. I watch my surroundings while eating, staying in the shadows and bushes. A shiver travels through me as a gust of chill air swirls about, my thin jacket not even slowing it down. When I’m nearly done eating, I hear some voices approach. It sounds like seven girls around my age and five grown women. They sound happy, wonder what brought them out here at this time of year. I can’t help but listen to them as I peek through the foliage. Before me sits the group, very close to my hiding spot. “..... What do you think, mom?” the mustard-skinned girl closest to me says, her hair red with streaks of yellow through it. “I guess it won’t be an issue, as long as Luna agrees,” the multicolor-haired woman answers while staring at the woman with blue skin that matches my hands and two tone blue hair. I quietly get comfortable as I stay and listen to the group, imagining what it’d be like to be in a similar situation. I have no clue how long I spend laying there, listening and daydreaming, when hurried footsteps breaks me out of my current train of thoughts. “Ladies, I am sorry to interrupt your picnic, but have you seen this girl? She was last seen heading here, though that was over an hour ago.” I watch as a picture is passed from the police officer to the group of teens and adults. Damnit, I knew that driver was suspicious. But I would have thought it'd be a little longer to be searching. I go stock still as I continue to watch, barely breathing. “No officer we haven't, and she isn't one of my students. Has she done something wrong?” the multi haired woman asks as she passes along the picture to who I suspect is Luna. “We suspect she’s a runaway, ma'am, and just want to ask her a few questions.” “Do you have any leads, officer?” Luna asks seriously as the picture is passed around to the teens. A muttering of the teens as they look the picture over can only be guessed at, but I'm betting it's wondering why a girl that looks like me is a runaway. “Only that she came here on a bus from Baltimare, alone. The driver said she lost her ticket and didn't have much on her, just a small bag full of trinkets.” “Thank you officer, we shall notify you if we find her.” The officer moves on while the group stands there talking. “Do you think she’s still around, mom?” the red-and-blonde haired girl asks with a hint of concern. The woman she addresses just lays a hand on her shoulder. “I do not know, Sunset, but I doubt it.” She stops and looks at her face. “I see, this has got you thinking back on when you were homeless doesn't it?” All she can do is give a nod as the other girls wrap her in a hug. “Let’s try and find her, this park isn’t that big.” the rainbow-haired athletic looking girl says. “I mean, there must be a reason she ran right? Especially for running such a distance.” “Ah agree with Rainbow. She mus’ be runnin’ from somethin’ horrible if she traveled from Baltimare,” says the girl wearing a cowboy hat. “Let’s split up, either in pairs or alone.” The group ends up splitting apart with Sunset, her mom and and a timid girl with pink hair heading towards my location. Oh shit, not good. Can't let them----- “I think I heard something coming from those bushes.” Sunset says as she approaches my position. “Hey, it's okay. We aren't gonna turn you in but we do have questions for you.” Damn and double damn. I can feel my heart begin to race as I stay as still as possible. Please don’t come any closer. Despite the fear rushing through my very essence, I focus on keeping my breathing quiet and controlled. Even with that meal, I can't really run. I can't afford to waste the energy, it'll cost me too much. “Uhm Sunset..... If..... If she's running away, I don't think she'll come out that easily,” the pink haired girl says quietly. I have to strain my hearing just to make out what she says. Gotta risk it, can't get----- “Hello there, and just who might you be?” I look up and standing next to me is the woman addressed as mom. Sunset stands off on the opposite side while the shy girl is standing in front of me. Damn, how did I miss her approaching? Hesitantly, I stand up but keep the deep hood drawn and my head down. “No one.” My answer comes out assertively as I refuse to let them get a look at my face. The woman extends a hand towards me, and I can somewhat make out a smile as she begins to talk. “I’m Celestia, what is your name?” I can tell she is already thinking I’m the girl from the picture. Okay, I have to time it just right. There are others, they know out there, I'm not in the best of shape and I'm not at optimal health for an extended run, haven't been for a while. I wait as sure enough, Celestia and Sunset break their eye contact with me and stare at each other. At that point I turn and run, restraining myself from making the mistake of full out sprinting. Instead, I pick my path carefully while maintaining a quick but easy pace, careful to keep the sound down. The surprise of my move earns me enough of a head start, and after ten or so minutes I slow down. False..... Trail..... Best..... Bet. I huff out mentally and use the precious head start to make another trail after being careful to step into my tracks for a little bit. Up ahead, I can hear the noise of others crashing through the woods quickly. Time to go. My current trail dumps me in front of the mall. Perfect, best place to hide in a crowd. Redrawing my hood to hide my features, I make my way inside, the gnawing pangs in my belly quickly making my decision on where to go. I lost them, thank God. Now to refuel and find a place to hunker down for the night. It takes longer than I want, I’m able to get some food. A minute later and my anxiety would have started to kick in despite trying to keep it in check. All throughout my meal I keep a nervous eye on the entryways after finding the table that offers the best view of the room. Okay, I got….. $40 left, need to make it stretch as much as possible. Also, I know now to avoid a school. I’m guessing the high school. Once I finish eating, I pick my way through the mall, looking through all the stores to see which ones are going to be easiest to steal from. Once I’m satisfied with my choices, I make my way down to where I noticed some abandoned buildings, thankful it hasn’t rained yet. At each deserted building I examine first the outside, and if that’s clear I check the inside via windows before debating if I should inspect it further or not. The sixth house I check out is the jackpot, as it still has running water and electricity along with mostly boarded up windows. Further investigation leads to a good amount of tools still in usable condition and a worn but clean mattress. Now just need to cover up the rest of these windows from the outside and gonna need a fire pit plus ventilation for it. Humming softly, I empty my pitiful items left in my bag and take stock of what I have left. Tomorrow I need to find a few markets, need to restock on toiletries and personal hygiene stuff. Once a plan is somewhat formed, I wait for nightfall as it’s the best time to get my other supplies, which is mostly extra sheets of wood to block out the windows but also scrap metal and large rocks. Along with the windows, I rig a custom alarm system at the front and side doors and the windows. All it consists of is a bunch of metal cans and string. After testing them a few times, I’m pleased with the attachment points and noise the cans produce. The two hardest projects are the fireplace and an emergency exit door. Unfortunately, those will need to wait as I need more materials and tools. The final project I work on is to customize a hidden lock on the door. Not much here can help me, so I gotta wait till I go to the store. Plus, I need to find someone who has a cordless drill set. With those thoughts, I go back over my list I’ve written down, adding a couple new items before falling asleep.