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No Turning Back

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.<br><br>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.<br><br>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.<br><br>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.<br><br>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?

Kim Flowers · LGBT+
Not enough ratings
165 Chs

Chapter 114

“I’m so sorry, Dayna.”

“I don’t know what I’ll do if anything happens to him.”

Ash bit her lip. “We’ve got cough medicine.” She knelt beside Kevin and nudged his shoulders.

“Are we inside?” he asked, eyes closed.

“Yeah, we’re safe,” Dayna said. “You just need to take some medicine.”

“I hate medicine,” he mumbled.

Ash poured a spoonful of cough syrup anyway and raised it to his mouth. He swallowed and grimaced.

“You can have some water.” Ash jumped up and ran to the cooler and back. “Drink as much as you want.”

Kevin chugged several gulps, then lay back down. Ash held her breath, as if the medicine would cure him instantly.

“I’m tired,” he said.

“That’s okay,” Dayna whispered. “Just get some sleep. You’ll feel better in the morning.”

Ash looked at her nervously. “Dayna? I think you should take some medicine, too.”

“There isn’t much in that bottle,” Dayna said, not looking at her. “We need to make sure Kevin has enough.”