Escape

"So, how do you ride whatever this is?" Peter asked, scratching his head, perplexed by the peculiar vehicle before him.

Micah, ever the adventurous spirit, responded with confidence, "Easy."

Peter halted his scratching, dumbfounded by Micah's nonchalant response. "What do you mean, easy?"

"When you're sixteen, you get an after-school driving class. Most fun thing there," Micah explained, a hint of excitement in his voice.

Still bewildered, Peter hesitated but decided to go along with Micah's assurance. He hopped onto the jetski.

Micah, making a playful vrooming sound, twisted the handle.

*Vroom*

The jetski surged away from the port, its engine roaring, propelling them into the unknown.

"So, where are we going?" Peter stammered, feeling the rush of wind against his face.

"Let's just hope we're lucky," Micah shouted over the din of the wind, increasing the throttle and pushing the vehicle faster.

Back inside the orphanage, an unexpected turn of events was unfolding.

Kirk, a figure known for his mischievous nature, walked purposefully toward the office, a sly grin playing on his face. He noticed the conspicuous absence of Micah and Peter and seized the opportunity to cause trouble.

He arrived at the door, marked with bold letters that spelled 'Principal.'

Knocking on the door and rubbing his hands together eagerly, Kirk awaited an audience.

Bumble, Mrs. Jist's devoted servant, opened the door.

Kirk feigned concern. "Where do you think they went?" he asked, his voice dripping with pretense.

"I don't know, Mrs. Jist," he replied, pretending innocence. "But, this may raise concern with the authorities."

Mrs. Jist nodded, considering the situation carefully. She turned to Bumble and whispered instructions that Kirk strained to hear.

Bumble scurried away from the room, heading to the back door.

"Well, Kirk, I believe I have a proposition for you," Mrs. Jist said, a sly smile on her lips.

Kirk's excitement bubbled up. "Tell me!"

"Find Peter and Micah, and you shall receive the best treatment in all of the orphanages," she promised.

Kirk stammered in disbelief. "I will gladly accept."

"Good," Mrs. Jist said.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and Bumble entered, clutching a piece of paper.

After a moment of silence, Mrs. Jist continued, "Well—"

Kirk's eyes widened in anticipation, eagerly awaiting his next directive.

"Go with the security guards. Clearly, these boys are attempting to escape."

The engine roared as they sped through the waters, the wind whistling past them.

"Well, this is a peaceful ride," Peter commented, enjoying the sensation of the breeze against his skin.

Micah joined in the sentiment, scoffing in enjoyment. "You can say that again."

"So, what do you think we're going to do when we escape this place?" Peter asked, attempting to shift the conversation.

Micah shrugged, contemplating their uncertain future. "I don't know. I plan to leave this all behind me. Maybe find a real orphanage."

"You want to go to a different orphanage?" Peter questioned, puzzled.

Micah clarified, "If anything, that'd be the last thing you'd want to do."

Micah shook his head, revealing his desire for a normal life, perhaps even aspiring to be an author.

"You write a diary," Peter teased.

Micah smiled. "I could at least learn."

Curiosity sparked, Peter was about to respond when he hesitated. He had never given much thought to his aspirations, given his expected stay at the orphanage.

"I don't know," he sighed. "It depends."

The mood began to shift, both of them lost in their thoughts.

"We could live together, as really good friends," Peter suggested, trying to lift the atmosphere.

"That'd be nice, but I'd still need something," Micah pondered.

"We can both be authors and live normal lives, leaving all this behind," Peter proposed, brightening the mood.

"You're right," Micah agreed, hope rekindling in his eyes.

As their optimism grew, suddenly, the sound of engines grew louder.

"Um, does this boat have more engines?" Peter asked, sensing something amiss.

"No, why do you ask?" Micah responded, puzzled.

Peter looked at the mirror and noticed multiple jet skis gaining on them.

"They knew!" Peter shouted in surprise.

Vroom

The engines roared, gaining ground.

"Hang on!"

The jetski swerved to the right, attempting to evade their pursuers.

"What do you plan on doing?" Peter asked frantically.

"We need to juke them!" Micah declared, shifting to a faster gear, trying to outmaneuver their chasers.

He skillfully led the jetski to the left, attempting to evade the boats.

But their pursuers split into two lanes, closing in on them.

"They're still gaining on us!" Peter shouted, fear mounting.

Meanwhile, Kirk was leading the chase, unseen by Peter and Micah.

"I see them trying to escape our grasp. We need to catch up to them," Kirk ordered over the walkie-talkie.

Bumble, also part of the chase, responded, "I actually agree for once!"

Their boats drew closer, side by side with the jetski.

"Remember me!" Kirk clamored.

"Yes, we do, and we're not pleased," Peter shouted back.

Kirk shook his head, an unsettling grin on his face.

"Go away!" Peter exclaimed.

Kirk laughed and signaled for an aggressive approach.

Splishhhh*

The boat reached near the jetski, and a bump from Bumble sent the jetski spinning.

Peter dodged bullets as they flew past him. "They're shooting!"

Micah, stupefied, stared at the mirror, watching bullets pierce the water.

"They are definitely not calming down!"