Unexpected encounter
Carmen Brown leaned over the window, the ten feet distance from her window to the ground, would definitely break all her bones before she could think of running. She pushed herself back in, pacing up and down as she bite her nails in a faze. It was either she went through the backdoor and run along the garden, or stay home and never have the chance to experience the freedom she needed.
She paused, and glanced at the window, with the current of the wind sweeping the curtains from all directions. She walked over it, and leaned down. A balcony sticked to the wall beside her window, a grin spread through her face. She ran to her bed, slang the handbag on her shoulder and turned to the window.
"Miss Brown, are you awake?" Carmen flinched, the door handle wobbled.
"I'm naked, please give me a second!" Carmen froze, focusing on the shadow under her door. The woman behind the door didn't say a word, and Carmen began to panic, she tossed her bag on the bed, and ran into her bathroom, stripping herself. She turned the shower, drenched herself for a couple of seconds then grabbing a towel and running to the door.
She took a deep breath then opened the door. A rather chubby woman, in her late forties, glanced at her from top to bottom. Carmen forced a smile, "Yes, Aunt Shira, is there a problem?"
"Just checking up on you," she smiled, "You take longer than you should."
"Sorry," Carmen said, but Aunt Shira's eyes were on her bed where her bag layed. Sweat broke on Carmen forehead and she blocked her gaze as she stood in front of her. "I have to finish my bath, I'll take longer than I should, so don't wait for me."
Aunt Shira nodded, "Don't take too long, you need to get dressed."
"Of course, bye," Carmen slammed the door, and released a breath she didn't know she was holding. She changed back to her baggy clothes, and thought back to the original plan.
She did what she never thought she'll do. She pushed open the window, the hinges creaking softly. A shiver ran down her spine as she swung her legs over the sill, her feet dangling in exposure as the bright sunlight blinded her plan. The balcony rail was just a few feet away, and Carmen stretched out, her fingers closing around the cold metal. Don't look down, she told herself.
Carmen pulled herself up, her muscles trembling with effort. For a moment, she teetered on the edge,almost slipping and wobbling a few times before landing on the balcony. Then she found her footing, and she was scrambling down the drainpipe, the hinges hurting her chest all the way down.
She landed hard on the grass, the wind knocked out of her, but Carmen didn't stop. She sprinted across the lawn, the house looming behind her like a ghostly sentinel.
Carmen reached the street, gasping for breath. The world was ending a few hours and she'd rather spent the rest of her freedom with the people she cared most about. She pulled out her phone, the screen reminding her of the time. Carmen typed out a quick text to Sage, Emily, and Mila – the usual meetup spot, 4 PM. They'd be surprised to see her, but they'd never turn her away.
Carmen took off into the distance, taking a bus to the local market place and meeting her friends at the usual spot. Little did she know, this was just the beginning.
When she reached the crowded marketplace, she wandered around until she met her friends waiting for her at the spot.
"You're late," Sage said, crossing her arms, Carmen shrugged, placing her bag on the bench and sitting down. Her friends looked down at her, confused.
"You were running or what?" Emily, the one with orange but rather brown eyes asked. Mila, her hair as dark as her eyes, sat beside Carmen. Carmen looked up at her three friends, slowly smiling.
"Why you guys looking at me like that?"
"You snuck out didn't you?" Sage said lazily, she was quick to pick things up.
"Even if she did, at least she's here," Emily said, dragging Carmen off the bench. Carmen groaned. "It doesn't matter how she got here, the most important thing, is she's here," Mila smiled and the girls chuckled.
"Let's go," Mila said, and Carmen found herself wandering deeper into the marketplace, tasting every sample and buying a few snacks.
After hours of endless fun with her friends, and trying a spicy pepper sold by an Indian man on one stall, they challenged themselves. Mila was the one who bought four peppers, wrapped in a plastic bag, she stretched it to the others. Carmen hesitated when she had one burning her fingertips, the smooth texture somehow gave a after taste of the pepper on the tastebud.
Sage three the whole thing in her mouth, and the others gasped. Mila came second, chewing it as fast as it could. Emily glanced over at Carmen, the expression as hers.
"I'm beginning to change my mind," Emily muttered, and Caremn nodded in agreement. "No doubt about it."
"Come on guys, you have to eat it, it's a dare," Sage smirked, her face neutral as if the pepper had not make way to her throat.
Carmen and Emily exchanged glances, and Caremn took a deep breath before tossing it into her mouth. She did what Mila did, chewing it faster before the burn began. But Carmen wasn't as lucky, as soon as the pepper landed on her tongue, she felt the excruciating pain of fire scaring through her mouth. Her tastebuds died before she could scream, she cupped her mouth, feeling her eyes water and her ear burst immediately.
Emily had the same thing going on with her too. Sage passed them both water bottles and the grabbed it without veil. Carmen, drank the whole bottle in a gap, quenching her throat and gasping into the air, but it wasn't enough to extinguish the fire burning on her lips and mouth.
Before she could ask Sage for another bottle, her phone rang in her pocket. She pulled it out, stiffing on her spot. Her mother's phone number along with her profile picture, made her forget the pain for a split second, before she placed her phone back without answering. She hiccupped.
"Sage? Do you have another bottle?" She asked, panting.
The hot breath made her feel dizzy, along with the damping of her heart caused by the unexpected call. She knew that they found out about her running out the house. But she wasn't worried about the constant calls, she was more onto how she was gonna explain herself.
"Nah. You can go over to the tap over there," Sage pointed at a distance.
"Thanks," Carmen rushed through the crowd, apologizing on stepped foot and sudden pushes.
A man, taller than her, pushed her by her shoulder. "Look were you going brat!" He exclaimed, making his way passed her. Carmen scoffed, rolling her eyes and she turned to the direction she was heading for. Before she could take at least three steps forward, another body collided into her. Greater force than the man before.
Her nose hit his chest, causing her to stumble back. A hand caught her waist, and Carmen looked up, rubbing the red tip of her nose.
"My bad," he smiled. A charming smile, that made her pause into his eyes. She croaked, then looked away.
"It's…it's ok-" before she could say, she was dragged.
He dragged her thought the crowd and Carmen was confused as he ran. She forced her legs to match with his pace, bumpimg into people without apologizing. His hand on her waist tightened, as their pace increased and when Carmen got her senses back, she yelled. "Hey! Let go of me!" But he didn't listen, he just ran. As if someone or people were after him. Carmen's heart began to pound, could it be police officers were after him.
A criminal running away from the law and dragging her along with him. But even if she tried to halt her steps and tense her muscles from moving, the boy was incredibly strong and too fast for her to even stop her legs from moving. He stopped hastily as soon as they ran into a alley, and he grudily let go her wrist. Carmen took a breath, he hands on her knees, and her heart beating like crazy over the moment of adrenaline rushing through her veins. She glanced up, shooting the boy panting as well.
Carmen straightened up, despite the painful feeling in her lungs. She pointed at him, and he seemed to feel her finger on him. He raised a brow, glancing the girl from top to bottom. A smirk spread across his face. Is he checking me out? She thought, she scoffed. "What's wrong with you, why did you drag me here."
He shrugged, his hands sliding into his pockets. He walked towards her, Carmen's eyes widened and she slowly, with hesitated steps, went backwards. When he reached her front, he out her finger down and slid his finger back. Her face flashed.
"Didn't your mom tell you it's rude to point at people?" He asked, chuckling after her face frowned.
"What's funny?" She asked, her hands clenching in a fist.
He tsked, his eye shifting away from her to the open sides of the alleyway. It was a narrow path, with four entrances out, the damp smell of rats and sewage caught up to Carmen's scent. The alluring smell of dustbin discarded right above their feet, got rid of the burning sensation in her throat. Carmen blocked her mouth, her face turning green. Thanks to this guy, she didn't even know where she was or what she was doing here in the beginning.
This wasn't what I planned for a girl's independence, Carmen thought, staring at the guy who brought her here, but he was too focused on the entrances.
"Hey! Take me back!" She yelled, but he didn't look her way. "Hey! Are you listening! I said take me back!"
"Shhh!" He placed a finger on her mouth, glancing on a specific entrance. Carmen froze on the sudden moment, as her wide eyed gazed into his face. He turned to her, his gaze burning into hers, and she felt her face turn instantly red.
"Check on this path! He can't be far!"
"Shit!" he cussed. Before Carmen could react, he leaned over her and devoured her lips. Her eyes widened, her body tensed and her fingertips stood midair, cracking in every motion. He wrapped his hand around her waist, leaning in further into the kiss. And all she did was stand there like a statue.