Chapter 4: Capture & Escape

"Hi. Officer Burwell? It's Hank. Hank Stamper. Listen. I caught myself a couple of fugitives and a runaway you might be interested in." I hear the old man say as I start to come to. Oh shit! Fuck! I thought in fear as I look over to my side and see Sean next to me. Shit, shit, shit! I thought as I look around. How the fuck are we gonna get outta here?! "Oh, they ain't going anywhere, don't you worry. Okay, fine. Thank you." He said as Sean regains consciousness.


"Sean..." I whispered and he looks over at me then gasped as he looks around in a panic. "Shhh...shhh..." I whispered, trying to keep him calm. "They're just outside the door." I whispered then he looks down and finds that he and I were bound to a pipe by cable ties. "Oh shit." He cries out, softly. "I know, I know." I said. "Where's Daniel?" He asked me. "I wish I knew, Sean." I said while I hear the old man, Hank I think him heard him say, talk to the woman in the store.


"The police'll get those two straightened out and take the girl back." Hank said. "Are you sure about this, Hank? I don't know..." the woman replied as Sean and I get up to try and pry the ties off our wrists, but it was useless. "Then they'll be off our property and won't be our problem no more." Hank said to her. "If you say so, then...Well...I'll let you deal with it..." the woman said and I hear her leave while Hank enters the room to see Sean and I awake.


"Oh...Hey there. You two finally awake?" He asked as he holds up mine and Sean's backpacks and tosses them to the side. "Sorry I had to secure you two..." Hank said as he slowly grabs a chair and sits in front of us. "But if you're innocent, don't act guilty..." he said then he looks us over. "How's your stomach, boy? And how's your face, girlie?" He asked.


"We're gonna tell the police you kidnapped us." Sean growled at him. "Nice try...But I know who you are and what you did in Seattle. I saw it in the paper. Maybe I should call ICE to make sure you're a citizen..." Hank said as he gets up from the chair. "Fuck you, hillbilly. I'm American." Sean said then Hank goes over to Sean and kicks him in the face, bruising the right side of his face and giving him a nose bleed. "Sean!" I exclaimed, in fear, then I glare at Hank. "You bastard!" I yelled.


"Watch it, punk!" Hank yelled then he kicks me in the face as well. "(Y/n)!" Sean shouts as I groan in pain. "Oh God." Sean said in a panic as I glare up at Hank. "You're going to jail for this." I growled at him. "Pretty sure the local police will vouch for me over some...thugs like you and your boyfriend." Hank said. If I could, I would tackle this man.


"Where's my brother?" Sean asked him. "Wish I knew...Little shit took off...I'll find him. Don't worry." Hank said. "If you touch him..." I said, fiercely. I've only know these two for almost a day and I already want to do everything to protect them. "You think I'd hurt a little boy?" Hank asked. I glare at him as he looks over at Sean. "I guess you didn't have any second thoughts about leading him out into the middle of nowhere, though. That's real safe for a little kid...If he's lucky, he won't end up like his criminal big brother." Hank said as he walks over to the door.


"Just let us go...Please..." Sean begs as Hank opens the door and glares at him. "You're the reason we need to build that wall...You hold tight. I'm gonna go get your brother." He said and he walks out of the room and shuts the door.


"Racists bastard!" I scream out after him as I jerked my hands but the ties didn't break. I let out a sigh as I look over at Sean. "You okay?" I asked him with worry. "Will be better when we get out of here." He replied. "Yeah..." I said as the lights go out and we were in the dark, all we could see was some outlines of objects. "Well, shit." I muttered and I could just make out Sean looking around the room before he spots something. 


"Wonder if we could get more light from it..." he said then he stretches his leg just far enough to nudge over an object. Then the computer awakens from sleep mode, revealing a picture of a happy older figure leading along two children. "That's a little better." I said with relief. I look around then up to see a shelf above us, I lean back and raise my leg towards it but my leg was too short. "Here, I think I got it." Sean said and he leans on his back then kicks his leg up enough to knock over a wall-mounted shelf, which caused a wooden bear and a few papers to fall. 


"Sean? (Y/n)? Guys? Where are you? Guys? Can you hear me?" We hear Daniel's voice say through the vents. "Daniel?" Sean and I said as we go over to the wall vent.
"We're right here...Are...are you okay?" Sean asked him. "I...I think so...That old guy chased me into the woods...But...I think I lost him...Is he gone? I'm really, really scared..." Daniel said, fearfully, which made me want to go hug him. "Hey, enano. You're doing great! You totally fooled them!" Sean assured him. "Yeah, thanks to you...we have a chance of getting out of here." I said. "Yeah...?" Daniel asked. "Yeah. We gotta hurry, though...He called the cops on us." Sean said then he looks away, like he was thinking. 


"Can you try and open this vent?" I asked Daniel. "Yes." He replied and I could hear some banging noise. "Ouch! It hurts! Sorry, guys...It won't move..." he said. "Don't worry. We'll figure something out." said Sean then he looks past my shoulder and noticed something. "There's a window over there. Maybe you can find a way in or something?" He said through the vent. Then we hear Daniel running around the building and I look over to see the outline of his head through the window.


"Uuhhh...there's no way. But there's this neon sign! Hold on! I think..." he said and he turns on a glowing red neon sign in front of the window. "Here! Is this better?" He asked us. "It is, but be careful, it might attract him." I warned him


"Hey, you think you can open the back door?" Sean asked him. "I don't know..." he said and I hear him go to the door, rattling it, then running back. "It won't open! It's locked! What do I do??" He asked, frantically. "I don't know..." Sean said. Then I see the keys were by the back door. "Of course the fucking keys are all the way over there..." I grumbled. "Yeah, of course they would." Sean said then he goes over to the vent. "Okay, Daniel? We see some keys. But (y/n) and I can't reach them...Maybe we can...get them if we can pry this pipe off the wall...Can you find some sort of tool out there?" Sean asked him. "I don't know where one is!" Daniel replies.


"Find us something sturdy, like a...screwdriver, or a wrench...Anything." I said to him. "But...where can I find one?" He asked. Sean and I share a look before he looks back over to the vent. "Enano...I can't really see much from where we are. There should be some tools nearby." He said.
"Okay, okay, I'm looking..." Daniel said and seconds later we could hear him running around the building. "This is so fucked up!" Sean groans in frustration. "I know. I'm so sorry, Sean. But we will get out of here, I promise." I said as I so my best reach out for his hand but I was only able to brush my fingers over his. We smile at each just as we hear Daniel running back to us.


"Guys! I've found something." He said and a black screwdriver slides through the bent bars of the vent. "Is this what you guys wanted?" He asked. "This is it! You rule, Daniel!" Sean exclaims. "Oh, I owe you a hug and at least three or four Choc-O-Crisps, munchkin." I said as Sean and I shuffle to the pipes grip tie. Sean hands me the screwdriver, since I was ahead, then I position the screwdriver over the pipe's grip tie. "Come on...Let's do this..." Sean said to me and I pry the tie off the wall. "Yes!" I exclaimed as I push the couch away by shuffling along the pipe.


After making it to the other end of the room, I reach out my leg and each it closer to the keys. "Come on, you mother..." I muttered as Sean said. "You got this, (y/n)." Finally, I kick the keys off the hook. "YES! Score!" I exclaim as I pull the keys over with my leg, then hand them to Sean and we began to make our way back to the vent.


"Did you do it?" Daniel asked us as Sean slides the keys to Daniel. "Here, here! Come on!" He said. "Okay, hold on!" Daniel said and we hear him run around the station then fiddle with the back door. Finally, Daniel bursts through the door and rushes to our side, embracing Sean in a hug then me. "Sean! (Y/n)! Oh God...I was so scared!" He said as Sean shakingly turns his head towards Daniel, revealing his bloody nose.


"What happened to your face?" Daniel asked him. Then I turn to look at him and he gasped. "What happened to you?" He asked.
"That old bastard happened..." Sean growls.
"Okay, we need to cut this off. Fast!" I said as I gesture towards the ties. Then Daniel goes to the desk and returns with a pair of long, black scissors. "How about these?" He asked. "Dude, you rock." Sean said as Daniel cuts us from our binds. "Did that asshole see you?" Sean asked him. "No way...I'm invisible..." Daniel replied as I go and hug the kid. "Yeah you are." I said then Sean and I go to our backpacks and start repacking it while Daniel runs to the main store area.


"Okay. Now we gotta get our stuff...and go." Sean said to me just as we hear voices.
"Don't make me hurt you, kid..." Hank's voice said and Sean and I look up at him in fear. "Let go! SEAN!" Daniel screams.
The lights began to flicker, and Sean and I hurriedly put on our backpacks and rush towards the open door. Daniel was standing amidst fallen shelves and rolling merchandise scattered around Hank's unmoving body. "Daniel? What...what happened? What..what did you do?" Sean asked, fearfully, as I look at this in shock. "Holy shit!" I said.


"I...I don't know...I don't know what happened..." Daniel replied as he looks up at us. "I-it's okay. You're safe now." Sean said as we look towards the floor, where Hank lies seemingly unconscious. "C'mon! We gotta move! Now!" I said as I nudged Sean and we run towards the door as Hank lies unmoving.


The two brothers and I run out of the gas station into the pouring rain as Sean says. "Come on, come on!" Then we climb over the property's fence, and continue running. "Shit!" I said as we look around to see nothing but trees. "Where are we going?!" Daniel asked us as Sean and I look around. "Watch out! Over there...Let's go..." Sean said pointing at something off in the distance.


"I dunno..." Daniel said unsure but Sean gestures for Daniel to come forward, and when he complies, we start running towards a parked car, which turned out to be Brody's. Sean and I begin banging on the window once we arrive, causing Brody to startle. "Whoa! What are you doing out here, man? You almost scared the shit out of me." Brody said as he wipes the fog off the rear window of his car, then partially opens the back door and leans forward.


"You guys okay? You don't...look okay." He said as he looks between us. "That asshole...at the gas station...went fucking crazy...tied me and (y/n) up in his back office...I swear..." Sean said, pleadingly. "Please! Help us!" I said, with fear in my voice. "Guys, say no more, I believe you, okay?" Brody said as he opens up the back door and goes for the driver's seat. Sean pushes Daniel into the back then he gestures for me to climb in after Daniel. I get in and sit next to Daniel as Sean shuts the door behind me.


"Shit's crazy out in the woods. Get in! You too. Hurry up, before he catches us..." Brody said as he gets into the driver's seat then unlocks and opens the passenger door for Sean, who immediately climbs in. Brody takes a quick look at Sean before pulling the gearstick and heading towards the highway, driving off into the night.




"Damn, that is crazy...And I thought I was having a shitty day...I knew that guy was sketchy..." Brody grumbles as he drives in the rainy night. "Did he mess with you, too?" I asked him. "He started to earlier, but I bought too much stuff. Just to piss him off..." he replied then he looks over at Sean. "Welcome to redneck land...This ain't Seattle no more." Brody replied. "Yeah...My Dad said there are more bigfoots out here than Mexicans..." Sean said and I chuckled a bit.


"No doubt. People out here...are more scared of you and your little brother." Brody said. "This is nuts." Sean mutters. "Well, don't let it faze you, little dude. You're going to meet some amazing people on the road, too." Brody said just as I heard a yap. Sean must've heard it too cause both he and I look over at Daniel, who was sitting behind me.


"Err...uhhmmm..." Daniel coughs as he hides something under a black blanket. "What's under the blanket, munchkin?" I asked him but he doesn't reply as he acts like nothing weird was happening. "Come on, we're not stupid." Sean said, annoyed.
Daniel tries to look innocent but then reveals a dog, which makes Sean sigh. "Daniel..." he groans. "What? We saved her! We're heroes!" Daniel said and Brody laughs. "Yeah...Guess we are." Sean said.


"So...What should her name be?" Daniel asked. "Hey. Your dog, your choice." Sean said and Daniel smiles. "Oh cool! Let's see...How about...Mushroom? She totally looks like a mushroom!" He says and I chuckle a bit. "Yeah, that's pretty cool..." I said. "Not much of a girl's name though." Sean pointed out. "Who cares? I'm sure she loves it. So do I." Daniel said. "Alright. Mushroom it is then!" Sean said, defeated as he turns back to face the road while I shake my head and smile. "Thanks, big brother! See, Mushroom? You have the best name ever now!" Daniel said as he pets the dog.
"And our weird dysfunctional family is complete." I said, jokingly, and Sean chuckles as he shakes his head abit.


"Nice! I feel like I just witnessed history! You're on your way to becoming official road warriors, my dudes." Brody said. "Sounds like you've been on the road for a long time?" Sean said.


"Long, boring story short...I come from a family with money but...no soul. I took off after school and never looked back...Now I write stories for zines and websites, do podcasts...protest. Try to make some positive change. Whatever..." Brody replied. "Wow...So you're like all...political..." I said to him. "Everything is political, (y/n)." Brody said as he looks at me through his rearview mirror.


"Man. That sounds cool...but don't you ever get kinda...lonely?" Sean asked him. "There's a big difference between alone and lonely." Brody said. "Yeah...and you probably meet a lot of people out here..." Sean said. "That's right...the unseen side of America." Brody said as he reaches over and turns on the car radio, and a soft indie folk song starts playing.


"Hey, no matter what, I just try not to get cynical. Otherwise...I'd be like my family...End of the day, we have to watch out for each other, right?" Brody said as I hear Daniel yawn. "Yeah...You did watch out for us...Thank you...Seriously." Sean said and I nod at him. "Yes, thank you. We appreciate it." I said and I look over and see that Daniel had passed out, the dog curled up against him sleeping as well.


"Looks like your brother crashed hard." I said and Sean looks over and smirks. "Oh...good. He always goes right to sleep in cars..." he said as he turns to face ahead again. "Yeah, and feel free to do the same, you two. I won't take it personally..." Brody said to Sean and I. "What about you? You okay to drive?" I asked him. "Oh yeah. This...is my favorite time to drive...Traveling by night is kinda...mysterious..." he said and I smiled then began to yawn. So I lay down, curl up and felt my eyes go heavy as they shut.






North Oregon Coast


3 Hours Later


Brody had parked the car at a scenic view cliff-side overlooking a small busy town called Arcadia Bay. Sean was off in the woods, using the bathroom, while I was sitting on the hood of Brody's car and he was leaning against the passenger door. Both of us were staring down at the town as Sean, who had his hood pulled up to his head, walks back over to us then resided the empty spot between Brody and I.


"Man. Look at that...Oregon is like the edge of the world..." Brody said and I smiled. We sat there in silence then Brody let's out a sigh. "Hey, listen...I know what happened with you and your brother in Seattle..." he admits then he looks over at me and said. "And I know that you are a runaway. Your foster family is looking for you." I scoff at this. "Yeah, just so they could trade me for a better kid." I grumbled. Brody nods then turns to Sean. "Do you want to talk about it? It's your call, no pressure..." he said.


"I...I don't even know what happened...It was so fast..." Sean said, his voice cracking a bit. "It was all my fault...Daniel wanted to play zombie and...of course I told him to get lost, and...Our asshole neighbor was picking on him and I freaked out...So Dad came out to help...Somebody called the cops and..." then Sean begins to tear up. "They killed my Dad in front of me...It's all my fucking fault. All I had to do was play with Daniel...and Dad would still be alive...I fucked up my whole family...and now we're alone." Sean admits then he breaks down and cries into his hands. Brody hugs Sean by the shoulders while I get off of the hood and go and stand in front of Sean.


"Hey, it's gonna be all right...Take a deep breath..." Brody said as I go and hug Sean, who actually hugged me back. His face was buried in my shoulder, his cries and sobs muffled, while I hug him tighter and run my hand up and down his back, in comfort. "Listen, it's not your fault. You don't have control over all this stuff." I said as I get him to pull away from my shoulder, so that I could look at him. "She's right, Sean. You can't blame yourself for everything that happens in this world. You're gonna be okay, Sean." Brody said as Sean walks over to the banister and looks out towards the town.


"How? Wish I could go back to my town...Even if it was boring like that one...At least I'd have friends...family...a home...I used to bitch about it so much...Now I've got...nothing." He cries as Brody and I walk up to him. "What is sure is...that's the past. But you can't look back now..." Brody said to Sean as he points towards the town.


Then he puts an arm around Sean then his other arm around me then turns us around to face the car and points at Daniel, who was still asleep. "You three have got each other...and you have to move forward..." he said to us. "Why...?" Sean asked him. "You may not see it but...What you and your brother have is the most important thing. He needs you. And you need him. And both of you need this girl and she needs you two. I can tell he doesn't know what happened. Sean, at some point...you're gonna have to tell him." Brody said.


"I know...(y/n)'s even told me....I just have to find the right time..." Sean said to him. "Take it from me...the sooner you can address it, the better." said Brody. "Yeah. I'm gonna do it next chance I get. It's just...It's not gonna be easy..." Sean said once Brody removes his arms off of us and I place my hand on Sean's shoulder. "It's never easy to give someone news like that, especially to a young kid. But I'm gonna be right there with you and help you every step of the way." I said and Sean smiles then nods at me.


"So then what's your plan? Where are you going?" Brody asked us. "Good question..." I said as I look over at Sean. "I was thinking...Get out the country...Fuck it...Go down to Mexico, you know?" Sean said, shrugging. "Damn. And I thought I was the long-haul traveler." Brody chuckles.


"Should I go back? To Seattle? Maybe I can try to explain everything...What happened..." Sean said, uncertainty in his voice. "You should do what you think is best. If going to Mexico seems like the right thing to do...Then so be it. You're going in the right direction." Brody replied.


"You have family there?" I asked Sean. "Maybe...We don't even have family in the US...Except for grandparents we don't see anymore..." he replied. "What about your mom?" Brody asked. "No. No way. She's...out of the picture." Sean said, quickly, and I could tell that his mom was a touchy subject. "But Dad...He always talked about this plot of land he owns in this little coast town. Puerto Lobos..." Sean said.


"That's a pretty cool name, so it's gotta be great." I said with a smile. "So you've still got a long ways to go." Brody said and the three of us stand there in silence before Brody speaks again. "We've shot the shit long enough. Time to hit the road..." he said and he starts to climb in the car while I take one last look at the heritage plaque.


Welcome to Otter Point


ARCADIA BAY


ESTABLISHED 1895


I smiled at this then get into the back of the car. Sean shute the door behind me and get into the passenger seat and Brody drives us away. "Listen. I'll drop you by a motel. In a couple of hours. You guys could use some time to yourselves." Brody said as we head out.

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