8 Betrayal

Jades pov

I stopped to take a breath from walking for so long. I had made it through main street and was now halfway down the highway. Still a few hours away from Karma's, but I was getting closer.

Getting out of the city had been easier than I thought it would have been, I hadn't seen any police, if at all any. Its almost as if they had been called off or had a better case to work on, after all there were murderers out there. They didnt have time for a wild goose chase with a teenage runaway.

I stood still in the middle of the bike lane close to the intersection. Suddenly I heard a car coming from behind me, I had been trying to hitch hike, which probably wasn't the best idea. It didn't matter anyway, no one ever stopped. I sighed before I started walking again, this was going to take a while.

I moved closer too the forest, feeling uneasy. If I knew my brother, he'd come looking for me. It would be better for him if he got to me before someone of authority did. I had to be ready for the moment an officer or my brother came driving up behind me. Then I could easily run into the bush and disappear.

I mentally sighed thinking about if I could really make it to Karma's without being caught first. I was exhausted from walking, what makes me think I could run? Ive just made things worse for myself.

"Are you kidding?" My brain jumped in, "you did whats best for us, for you. You should be proud."

I nodded, trying to shake the doupt from my head. We'd make it. And Karma would protect us.

Jason's pov

I lit a cigarette as I drove down main street, looking down allyways. I had looked down about twenty of them by now and I was getting frustrated. She couldn't have gotten that far, this fast.

I started to doupt she would be in the city limits anymore, if she was anywhere it would be the highway. I know she would have gone to the safest place she could. The problem is, I don't know if that would be in an abandoned building, or at my older sisters farm. The way I see it, there's no harm in looking everywhere.

"Screw this." I said so Jody could hear me. He snapped his head towards me. "I'm checking the farm."

Jody nodded, seemingly trying to think. He perked up before suggesting checking the ally ways more thoroughly.

"Or we could even check the back roads, what if some hillbilly's took her in?"

I sighed, I was getting irritated. He was right. It would be smart to check the back roads, or walk down the allyways, but I wanted to know she wasn't at the one place I suspected the most. If she got to Karma before I could catch up to her, I'd be in deep shit. And there's also the fact that karma would never let me around her again, I know it would be the best thing to happen for her, but it doesn't sit right with me. She belongs to me.

I felt myself almost growl in response to him and he let out a soft chuckle, what was funny about this to him? I glared him down.

"We'll check the back roads and even walk through those damn allys as soon as I know this pain in my ass isn't on the highway, or anywhere near the farm." I sped through a red light and revved my car although I didnt mean too. I turned back to look at Jody who had a weird look on his face, almost as if he seemed defeated.

"We'll be covering more ground though, jay. If she's not on the highway, she's ought' to be somewhere close by. What's the use skipping that part of town?" He tried to convince me. But I didnt want to have it. I wanted to do this my way. I also had a feeling that Jody wasn't being all that straight up with me. I mean he could very well be hiding something, the extra miles on the car proved that.

"If I didnt know any better, I'd say that you helped her. I'd say that you had betrayed me. But, you would never do a stupid thing like that. Now would you?" I firmly gripped the steering wheel. I watched him waiting for a response. He seemed calm and quickly gave me his answer.

"No Jason. I would never dream of it. Not after everything you've done for me. How could you think I would betray you?" He shook his head and slumped back into his seat, flinging his hands in the air. "I just wanted to make sure that she wasn't still in the city before we moved on."

I thought for a second, he seemed legit. And after I brought him in.. I believe that he'd be forever grateful. And so I sighed out loud. "Okay, look." I came to a stop at a stop sign and barely waited the three seconds before going, making another driver honk at me. "Were gonna check the highway and farm first. I have a strong feeling, and then we'll go and check everywhere else in the city."

He was looking out the window, but I saw him give a mere nod before I turned my signal on and started down

the highway.

Jades pov

I was still walking down the highway in the bike lane. Daylight was starting to show and I was growing paranoid. Instead of raising my thumb, trying to get a free ride, I turned to look behind me every time I had heard a vehicle coming my way. It could easily be Jason, or even an officer.

I looked to the woods I was prepared to jump into at the sight of either Jason or a police car coming for me. I felt sick and I was tired. I must have been walking for more than three hours. I just wanted to lay down and sleep.

I held my breath and froze in my place as I heard the woosh of a car driving behind me. I exhaled, relieved as it passed me. It wasn't Jason. I continued walking, shaking a bit. I was scaring myself, and right now wasn't the best time to do that.

'Your being a child. You need to calm down'

I took a deep breath know that my mind was right. I needed to be calm and think properly. If I didnt, I'd get caught for sure.

I physically jumped when I heard the sound of a revving car. I looked behind me to see Jason's red Chevy come to a stop behind me. Jody was sitting in the front seat, I made eye contact with him and he had a pitiful glint in his eyes.. Had he told Jason where I was going?

'That betraying bastard! Run!!'

I widened my eyes without breaking eye contact with him. Then without skipping a beat, I ran in to the forest. Adrenaline running through my veins, and my core.

Jody's pov

I watched as Jason and I came up the tiny hill on the highway, I was staring out the side window, praying to god that we wouldn't find Jade. Or that maybe she had gotten to the farm already and that Karma knew everything and she was now untouchable by Jason.

I then heard Jason gasp in excitement.

"What the hell did I tell you, Jody? Look who's here!" He chuckled as I turned my head. A heavy feeling of fear came over me as I made eye contact with Jade. She looked terrified. I watched as her eyes left mine and she bolted into the woods next to us.

'Oh shit. Oh shit.'

I needed to come up with a plan, and as fast as I possibly could. I looked to Jason who was about to start the car, and thats when it hit me.

"Wait, Jay, what if I go in the bush after her and you cut her off where she'd come out?"

He thought for a moment before agreeing. I didnt think twice before I got out of the car and took off after her. As soon as I knew Jason was out of ear shot I started shouting her name. I couldn't see her anywhere within the trees.

'What if she's almost to Jason'

I bolted in the direction that Jason was parked. I wanted to scream for her to wait, that Jason was waiting for her at the other end.

"J-jody.."

I stopped in my tracks as I heard the tiny and timid voice from behind me. She almost sounded like a five year old girl. I felt most of my fear melt away as I turned around to see her coming out from behind a very large tree. I had to be careful, I didnt want her to run away from me.

"Jade.." I let out with a big sigh. "Your alright.." I took a step closer as she took a step behind her. And I realized, she thought that I was here to take her back. I shook my head and Made eye contact yet again. She looked like she had been crying, tear streams were evident on her face and her eyes were red.

"Jade, I'm not here to drag you back. But we dont have much time. I need you to trust me." I started walking towards her slowly. She stood in her place and watched me carefully. She was risking everything by letting me get close to her.

"Jason's waiting at the other end, he's going to come looking himself soon if he thinks I'm having trouble getting to you.."

I could see the tears welling up in her eyes again. I was closer to her, I was almost beside her.

She sniffled. "S-so its over then? Your taking me back.."

I flinched at her words as I came to a stop directly in front of her. I put my hand under her chin lifting her head so that our eyes met. I knew I only had one choice now. Jason was already suspicious of me helping her. And if I came back without her.. Itd be bad for me. I looked into her green eyes.. I only had one choice now.

I wiped her tears from her eyes, "no.. I'm not dragging you anywhere."

Her eyes widened again, but this time out of hope.

"I'm coming with you." Suddenly I heard a car door shut and Jason call my name. I looked to Jade and pointed in the opposite direction.

"Run, that way.. Go!"

And we took off, running away from Jason..

... I had just betrayed him...