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Prologue One
Parker
Seven years old:
“Mommy, take me with you. Please!” I beg, hanging onto my mom's pant leg for dear life. She places the last bag in the trunk of her car and turns to me.
“I can't, baby, not this time. I’ll be back for you, okay? Just stay here a little longer,” she tells me, shutting the trunk and walking to the driver's side. I try to hurry and jump in the backseat, but my dad catches me.
“You think you can take my son with you? You got another thing coming, bitch. You can leave, but he ain’t going nowhere,” my father says, holding my upper arm in a bruising grip. I beg and plead to go, knowing it's going to be worse if I stay, but I can't just watch her go… but that’s exactly what I do.
My mother doesn’t even glance my way before getting in the driver's seat, turning the car on, and pulling away.
“Useless bitch. You know she lied. She ain't never coming back. She left you here with me because she knows you’re a piece of shit, too. You’re a problem I have to deal with now,” my father seethes as he slaps me hard across the face.
After watching my mom leave, something inside me combusts. I bring my leg back and kick him square in the junk. He goes down to his knees, and I take off into the woods behind the trailer park. The woods go on for miles and miles, and I keep running, not slowing down until I know he won't follow. I know I’ll eventually have to go back home, but I don’t want to. I want to run away, chase after my mom, and leave this place. Instead, I walk, hoping to get lost in the woods. Maybe a family will find me, worry about me, and take me in. Then I could be a part of something real. I would probably ask them to take my friends in too. None of us have good home lives. It's so unfair. We are good kids.
I head toward our clubhouse, knowing I’ll have to go back eventually. Alec will probably have the crew on a search and rescue mission or something by now, and it’s not fair of me to worry them like this. I turn and see a familiar road. I’m miles away from home, but it won't take me too long to find my way back if I follow the road.
Just before I step out of the tree line, I hear what sounds like crying. Someone is in the woods, and it sounds like they are upset. I look at the road again before deciding to find the source of the sound.
When I see a girl about my age sitting on a rock crying, I know I have to help her. Maybe she’s lost and can't get back home. She looks like she could use some help. I won't leave her like my mommy did me. Something could happen to her in these woods. I’ll get her home safe, then I’ll face whatever punishment dad has for me.
