*Caitlyn’s POV*

What woke me up was the sudden bouncing that took place as the bus was moving. I quickly lifted my arms and legs to stop myself from ricocheting between the tight space, body vibrating painfully as the bus continued to move. Damn, it was a smooth ride until now. After about ten minutes, the bus came to a stop. I let out a slow breath, relaxing some. Loud voices could be heard as the bus moved. Based on the weight depression and bus moving, I could tell five people stepped off the bus.

I cursed myself for not counting how many people were riding the bus the night before. Exhaustion took over and I felt like I was dying right now. Sweat from the heat covered my body and drenched my clothes and my head felt dizzy and heavy. I had to get water soon before I dehydrate. I felt the bus move one last time before a door closed shut.

I waited five minutes, listening to hear anybody or anything. Nothing. I took it as my chance. I unlatched the door from the inside and stepped out. It was definitely cooler outside than in that cramped space. The June weather was nice, cooler and breezier than that down in DC, wherever I was. I didn’t care where I was as long as I was out of DC.

I couldn’t waste time. I briskly walked over to the door, pushing the release button. Judging how the door was unlocked, they wouldn’t be gone for long. I jumped into the bus, barely taking in the interior as I quickly found the mini fridge. With five boys travelling in the same bus, there had to be plenty of beverages. There was. And I gratefully took the bottled water, quickly drinking it down.

I threw the empty bottle in the bin, reaching into the fridge for another. My hand stopped when I heard a press of a release button. My eyes widened. Shit, were they back already? I looked around, desperate to find a door. The bathroom! I jumped in, shutting the door and to be safe, jumped in the shower and pulled the curtain, squatting down and crushing myself in the corner.

“Yeah, El…” I heard from the other side of the door. A small range of laughter could be heard as the bathroom door opened. “I got conned into getting Niall’s retainer.”

I shut my eyes tightly as I saw a figure walk to the sink, digging around. He sighed deeply, “Where the hell is it? He said it was in the bathroom… The shower?”

My breath caught. Oh no, oh no, oh no. I haven’t even ran for a day and already I was caught. Shit, and I was wanting to get as far away from DC as possible. I let the doom of fate hit me as the shower curtain swung open, revealing a boy with a beanie and glasses on. He froze, seeing me. He took a step back, making a show of taking off his glasses and rubbing his eyes. I slowly stood, body position in stance in case I had to fight him. “Shit, now I’m seeing things…” he stopped rubbing his eyes.

His bright blue eyes fell on me again. His face fell from whatever light expression to dead seriousness. “Hey, Eli, I’ll call you back. Yeah, okay.”

He hung up, bringing an arm down as he continued to stare at me. “You… are you a fan? How did you get on here?”

I could hear the annoyance in his voice, but his words began to doubt themselves as he seemed to take in my appearance. I wasn’t sure what I looked like, but after two days without a shower and drenching in sweat, I probably wasn’t that presentable. I swallowed, beginning to fear for myself.

I wasn’t sure what brought the words out of my mouth. “Help me.” I begged, looking up at him straight in the eyes. “My parents are trying to kill me.”

His eyes slowly dropped from its annoyed look to shock. His mouth gaped and his phone fell out of his hand, it landing on the floor. The noise made us both jump some.

I was caught, but I could tell he was having a hard time believing me, yet at the same time he did. He clenched his jaw, bending down to pick up the phone he just dropped. Would he believe me? Would he help me? It was risky, but I had to try. I knew I couldn’t just survive in that carriage in the heated weather without dying of heat exhaustion and I knew this boy would be my best option in getting away from my murderous parents.

He would have to, I thought. Because of this, the mere fact that he found me, his life was now in danger for ever laying eyes on me.