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The Disappearance


FICTION by Vivien Anderson, 5th grade
Inspired by the book Run by Maleah Woods

Chapter 1: The Break Out


Mom was whispering to grandpa. She sounded worried, "What if he comes back, what if he tries to take them?”

“Don’t worry, he won’t find them,” whispered grandpa worriedly.

What did they mean, were we in danger?” I thought to myself.

The next day at school everyone was talking about how a dangerous man from prison broke out and how their parents were all super worried.

“Hailey!”my friend Ruby yelled.

“Yeah,”I said.

“Have you heard about the break out?” she asked.

“Yes, what about it?” I responded.

“They say he’s coming this way!” she exclaimed.

After school when I was walking home with my two little sisters and my brother, I thought to myself, "Why is this such a big deal? It’s just a jailbreak?” When we got home, mom was making dinner and grandpa was watching the news like usual. Mom said, "How was your day, Haily?”

“Good, everyone was talking about this prisoner that broke out,” I responded.

Mom’s eyes widened, and grandpa turned around and looked at me.

“What?” I said.

“Honey please get your siblings and bring them down here. Oh, and pack their bags,” she said.

“Ok...wait, why?” I asked.

“Just do it!” she yelled. “Ok...ok,”I said.

When I was upstairs, there was a knock at the door. Mom ran to the door and yelled “Run! Run out the back door quickly!”

I took my siblings and ran while mom was holding the door. Grandpa ran with us and yelled “Run to the neighbors!” and then he ran back to help mom. We heard the door smash just as we arrived and the neighbors rushed us into their car. Then right before the door of the car closed we heard mom’s scream.

Then we drove off.


Chapter 2: The Safe House


My siblings were crying, and I was worried. “What's going on?” I asked.

“We’ll tell you about it when we get where we're going,” they said.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“Somewhere safe,” they responded.

The car was quiet, my crying siblings were asleep because all the crying wore them out. I was fighting my tears. “What happened to my mom? Was she dead?” I wondered. We arrived at 3:00am and it was pitch black outside. They took us in this old building. The building was hidden deep in the woods. “Tell me what just happened,” I commanded, trying to sound brave.

“Ok, Ok. It’s a long story….."


Chapter 3: The very long story


“So here's what happened, your siblings were just born and the police called:

"Mrs. Johnson?”

“Yes?” Your mom answered.

“Your husband is in prison for murder,” they said.

“What? But he would never do something like that,” she said.

“I’m sorry Mrs. Johnson,” they said.

“What should I do?” she asked.

“You have to live in the witness protection program, and if anything happens, especially if he breaks out, send your kids to the neighbors right away."

"They told us her situation and we agreed to take you to our safe house if anything happened,” the neighbor explained.

“But I don’t even remember my father,” I said.

“We know. I knew your father and he was a good man. I think he was framed,” stated Mr. Harley the neighbor.

Mrs. Harley's phone rang, it was mom. “Hello?” the neighbor said.

“I’m ok he’s after the kids he knows where you are,” mom said before it cut out.

There was a knock at the door. "Run!" yelled the neighbors, so me and my sibling ran into the forest just as the door smashed.

I was lost.


Chapter 4: Lost


I was out of breath. I sat down on a log. I was tired, and I haven't eaten in several hours. Everything went black. I woke up, me and my siblings were still in the forest. It wasn't a bad dream, it was real.

We kept going because there was a bad storm coming in the distance. We had to find shelter and quick. After many hours of walking we stumbled upon an old abandoned house that was unlocked. We went inside and it started to pour outside.


Chapter 5: The Storm


I walked inside and my little sister complained, "It’s so dusty.”

My little brother was crying. My other little sister was coughing.

I opened a window and checked the cupboards. I found lots of canned beans and canned fruit. I took it out and opened it and fed it to my siblings and I ate too. I wiped all of the dust off the bed, couch, and chairs. I put my siblings to sleep, and I kept guard until I finally fell asleep. Bang! I woke up, had he found us? Then I heard a tree crack. And a big thud. I looked outside a tree had trapped us in!!!


Chapter 6: Trapped


“We have to keep going,” I think to myself.

I wake my siblings up and look for another exit. “The windows!” I remember. I took a can of beans and smashed the back window. I grabbed some food and stuffed them in my sister's backpack that we had packed right before dad had arrived. I crawled out the window with my siblings.

It was still raining.

We had to find a gas station or somewhere safe with adults. We kept going, we finally found the road. Fortunately, there was a gas station. A woman at the cash register offered to help, and before I could answer my sister said,”Ok!” I didn’t really trust this lady. Why was she being so nice? I declined anything she offered, and didn’t talk to her that much. My sister was telling her everything. I had to shush her before she said any personal information like our last name. Or where we lived.


Chapter 7: The Strange Lady


The lady let me use a charger to charge my phone. When it was charged I realized my dad could track me so I turned it off. I asked what her name was and she hesitated then said, "Ummm…. It’s...It’s….umm…oh, yeah, Blair."

“Why had she hesitated to say her name?” I thought to myself.

Someone was calling her on the phone. She stepped outside while I snuck and listened out an open window.

“I have them, it’s just the oldest girl. She won't let her sister share any information. And she’s so stiff,” Blair said on the phone. There was some mumbling on the other end, but I couldn’t make out what it said, then Blair said,”Ok, I will keep them occupied until you arrive.” There was some more mumbling. “I’m sure it’s them,” Blair responded. Then there was some more mumbling. And then she hung up.

“We have to get out of here," I thought to myself. Blair entered the gas station.

“Thank’s a lot Blair for everything, but we have to go,” I said.

“Why?” my little sister said.

“Yeah, why?” Blair said.

“We just do,” I responded, dragging my siblings by the hand, but right as we left Blair called someone.

”They're on the run!” she said.


Chapter 8: The Chase

I ran while I dragged my siblings by the hand. “Stop,” my siblings yelled, but I couldn’t, and I wouldn’t stop. They were chasing us. We were in the middle of nowhere and there were no cars in sight.

Finally, we saw one.

They stopped, and they rolled down the window.

It was Blair! I gasped in horror. I ran with my siblings and ran. I ran into the forest. I heard someone.

“Hello?” I asked worriedly. It was a female voice. “Who are you?” I stuttered.

“Why, I’m your friend,” said another female voice. Then Blair stepped out into the light. I gasped. Then another figure stepped out. “Hello. I am Charlotte,” the figure said. She had brown, wavy hair and she was tall. “What do you want?” I asked.

My siblings were crying, and I heard running footsteps.

“Stop!” A man yelled.


Chapter 9: Dad

“We meet again, old friend,” said Charlotte.

“Leave my kids alone,'' yelled dad.

“Why, you killed my kids,” she answered.

“I already told you that wasn't me,” dad answered.

“Then who was it?”said Charlotte.

“It was Charles,” said dad.

“My husband?” she asked. “My dead husband.”

“Yes.” answered dad.

Charlotte rolled her eyes.

“I was there when it happened, he was shaking and drunk. I didn’t know what to do. So I started to dial 911. His kids were there and they didn't know what to do. He pulled up the gun and said stop. I couldn't, so I ran and untied them. He shot me in the shoulder. He shot the kids and then he said, “You betrayed me for my kids so you will pay,” and then he put the gun in my hand and pulled the trigger. By then the police arrived. They took me and put me in jail for the rest of my life,” dad said.

“You’re just making up a story for me not to kill your kids,” she said, but while dad and her were arguing, I realized we had a chance, a chance to escape! I grabbed my siblings hands and ran.

Blair chased us and was followed by Charlotte and dad.

I ran to the street. I saw a car, I signaled to the car, and they pulled over. I jumped in with my siblings. “Lock the doors and go!” I yell.

“Ok, ok.” the man said. We drove and drove.



Chapter 10: The Car Chase


“Ok, little lady. What is this all about?” the man said.

“Ummm, I'm running from criminals,” I answer. “Bad people are chasing us!!!” my little sister yelled.

“And you're like, what, 10?” he asked.

“I’m 13 for your information."

“Ok, ok. Where to?” he asked.

“Umm. 6739 North Parkside Drive, that’s my grandparents house,” I answer.

“That’s far away. Can you pay?” he asks.

“Sure, does a twenty work?” I ask.

“Ok, but you have to pay for gas,” he answers.

“Fine,” I say.

Later, another car was trailing us! “Speed up!” I yell. It's a car chase. Soon two cars are trailing us. One was dad and the other was Charlotte and Blair. We finally lose them. “Phew!” I say.

When we arrive, I pay the man, and me and my siblings run inside

“What a surprise!” they say. “Sorry for barging in unexpectedly but some very bad people are following us and we need to hide,” I say. “Ok, follow me,” my grandma said. She took us into the woods and led us to a shed. She opened a secret panel and we climbed down a ladder.



Chapter 11: The Underground Layer

Grandma turned on a light. It was a huge room. There were two wooden chairs. We sat down. “So who's chasing you?” she asked.

“It’s a long story, but someone named Charlotte I think and her friend named Blair are chasing us,” I responded.

“Oh, I knew Charlotte, her husband grew up with your dad. So they came over a lot,” said grandma.

We heard footsteps above us.

Someone was coming down the ladder.

We hid, then the person turned around. It was dad! “I lost them, and dad told me where you were. I also helped him lock up the house and barricade it,” said dad.

I got out of hiding. I didn't know what to say. “Um, hi.” I say.

“You grew up so fast,” he responded.

“Daddy!” yelled my siblings.

“Hi!” Daddy exclaimed. “You’re so big!” he said. Then we heard the door open of the shed. “Oh, no they found us!” said dad.

“Quick out the back door!” yelled grandma. We all ran out the back door that was in a hill! Dad got out then he lifted me and my siblings out. Lastly, my grandma exited.


Chapter 12: The escape


We jumped in the car while grandma called the police. We drove to the station. Mom, the neighbors, and our grandparents were there, also grandma was there. But where was grandpa?

“You are all in the witness protection program. Mr. Johnson, you have a trial next Friday. In the time, you can be with your family, but we will have a police officer watching you at all times,” said the detective.

“We arrived at the house just as Charlotte and Blair left. So we missed them. But the good news is that we found your grandfather unconscious and we brought him to the hospital and he is well now,” said a police officer.

"You are all still in a lot of danger though,” said the chief of police as he walked into the room.

“When can we leave?” asked mom.

“When we catch Charlotte and Blair,” The chief answered.

There was one officer who was on the phone a lot and he kept glancing at us. He volunteered to watch us and bring us to his house. The chief didn’t agree because he wanted us at the station, but he agreed to let the officer watch us because he trusted the officer, but I didn’t.

Dad pulled me close and whispered in my ear. “We have to keep an eye on him.”

When the chief left the officer kept glancing at us. I watched him as he unlocked his phone. I watched his fingers type the code. I watched very closely and I could see the numbers he typed. When the officer finally left the room I didn’t hesitate. I grabbed his phone and put in the code. It worked!

I looked at his texts. It was horrifying.

The first person I saw he was texting was Blair! His second conversation was with Charlotte. And his third was with both of them.

I read the texts “Did you get them” texted Blair. “No, the chief won’t let them out of the station.” the officer texted back. “Well then sneak them out,” she answered to his text. “Can’t. Too many security guards,” he texted back. “Fine, then convince the chief” she texted. “Fine, sometimes I wonder why I help my sisters,” he responded.



Chapter 13: The Escape


I was shocked. I knew I didn’t trust him. The man came back into the room.

“I’m Max, what are your names?” he asked with a smile.

“Hi, ummmm can I get some air please?” I asked as kindly as I could.

“Sure,” he responded.

Wait, why would he let me go so easily? I thought to myself.

I walked outside and looked around. There were no cameras!

This wasn’t a regular prison, there weren't even any prisoners! Or none that I know of, I thought to myself. I walked back into the station, but when I entered nobody was there. I walked outside again but there was still no sign of life. I looked around, but nothing. “HELLO!!!” I yelled at the top of my lungs.

I walked and walked and then I smelt something burning. It was getting stronger and stronger. My throat started to ache, my lungs started to burn. My eyes started to water. It was a fire! And it was coming right at me! I had to get out of there and fast.

I ran and ran until finally I saw a town, but there was nobody in it. Where was everyone? I thought. I was exhausted. My body needed food and water. I went into one of the little stores and there was food! I found the faucet and started to drink. I think I outran the fire. I’m going to explore and try to find something helpful, I thought.

I walked into a nearby store and nobody was there, so I just took some food and some bottled water. I also bought a backpack for my things and a sleeping bag. I left $15.00 to pay for the items, even though nobody was there. I put the items in my backpack with my money. I left and I kept walking until I saw a cabin, and it had smoke coming out of the chimney! I ran to the house.


Chapter 14: The Cabin

I knocked on the door. “Hello, anybody home?” I asked. I heard someone grunt then stand. I knocked again.

“I’m coming, I’m coming,” he responded.

He opened the door, and to my surprise he looked younger than I imagined he would be. He looked about 50 or 60 years old. He was slender and he looked like he was annoyed. “What do ya want!” he grunted.

“Where is everyone?” I asked.

“What do you mean by everyone?” he responded.

“You mean nobody lives here!” I asked surprised.

“I have lived here for as long as I remember and nobody has ever lived here,” the man said.

“What happened?” I asked.

The man sighed, “Come in, I’ll tell you.”

I walked in, it was an organized, cozy cabin. I sat down in a chair in front of the fire. It started to snow outside.

“Want some hot coco and a blanket?” the man asked.

“Sure, thanks” I responded. Finally he sat down.

“Ohh it was a long time ago. Something strange was happening. People would go out into the woods and disappear, and they would never return. One by one they ventured out to find their lost loved ones. And they too became lost. My family disappeared, too. I tried to go after them but my brother pulled me back and told me to stay here and he left and never returned. Several years later I got married and we had 5 children, 3 boys and 2 girls. But one day the kids ventured off into the woods. And my wife went to go look for them but they all disappeared,” the man said. He was sad.

“I’m so sorry for your loss.” I say.

“It’s ok,” he said.

“Thank you for all of your help and warmth,” I said. “But I better get going,” I added.

“No, no stay, it’s awfully cold outside,” he said.

“Ok but I better go in the morning,” I said. I couldn’t turn down his offer, after all he was really nice.

“Thank you, I like your company,” the man said.

“No, thank you,” I say.

“I will prepare you a bed,” the old man said.

“May I please help you.” I asked.

“You’re so kind,” he said.

Later that evening the old man gave me some delicious chili. The next morning I ate breakfast with him. The old man gave me a new backpack with food, a blanket, pillow, sleeping bag, and water inside. The old man wished me good luck and told me to visit. It looked like the forest fire stopped, so I continued to walk. I walked until it was dark.

Then I created a fire and a makeshift shelter out of sticks. I ate and then slept.


Chapter 15: Teddy

The next morning I found a stray dog sniffing at my feet. I sat up and felt the dog's neck for a collar, but there wasn’t one. The dog was surprisingly friendly and let me pet him. The dog followed me, so I fed him some of my food.

“What’s your name?” I ask him.

He licked my face and wagged his tail. He was about 3 months old. He also looked like a golden retriever.

“I’m going to name you Teddy,” I say. He immediately was excited when I said his name. “You’re such a good boy!” I exclaim. He licked my face and wagged his tail again. Then he started to roll around in the dirt. I laughed and then remembered that I needed to keep going. So I continue to walk and Teddy follows.

A few hours later, dark clouds started to roll in. A thunder storm was coming and we had to find shelter. I kept walking until I found a cave. It wasn’t a deep cave though, so I found some dry sticks and made another fire. I got my sleeping bag out and my pillow. I got out my blanket for Teddy to lay down on right next to the fire.

Crack! Boom! Crash!

It started to rain. Teddy was scared of the lightning and thunder, so I moved the blanket closer to me, so I could pet him to let him know he was safe. The next morning Teddy was still next to me. It was lighter now so I could see more. I looked at Teddy, his leg was bleeding. He lay there looking up at me asking me for help. I tore off a piece of my blanket and dunked it in my water. Then, I laid the piece of the blanket around his wound. Then I tore a piece of one of my loaves of bread and gave it to him. He stood up and walked out of the cave with a limp. I emptied one of my backpacks and put the blanket in it.

“Teddy!!!” I yelled. Teddy came in limping. I picked him up and put him in the backpack. He stuck out his tongue. I put the backpack on backwards so he could lick my face or get my attention if he needed to. I put on my other backpack with all of the supplies on my back. We walked, and walked yet again. But this time on the third mile we ran out of water. Teddy began to whine and cry as if the world was ending. Ten minutes later I stepped in something that was wet and soggy.

It was wet soil! And when the soil is wet that means water is nearby!


 

Vivien Anderson wrote this story is because she loves to write. And she tried to write a new genre. She is a singer, an animal lover, and has a kind personality. She loves to help others. In the past she wrote stories about pets, adventures, and life. And she has so many stories in her head to share with others!

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