Runaways (Orphans 5)

"Good idea," I said. We got in and I drove up to

the gas pumps, filled the tank, paid with Gordon's

credit card simply by slipping it into the slot on the

pump, and then drove away without looking back. "This is it," Crystal said, pointing to a road on

our left. It looked poorly maintained.

"This? Are you sure?"

"It's what he told us," she said. "First left turn

after the restaurant."

"Okay," I said, turning. The road was chipped

and cracked and after only what seemed like a mile or two, was nothing but potholes. I had to slow down considerably. "This can't be right," I said. "No wonder

it's quiet, it's unused."

"I'm sure this is the road he pointed out,"

Crystal said. "It's what he told us," she repeated and

then, as if they could hear her, the three motorcyclists

appeared, two crisscrossing right in front of us, the

other, with the ponytail, riding alongside. I had to

stop. The two cyclists in front of us stopped, parked

their motorcycles right at the front bumper, and got

off.

"What's going on?" I demanded, my voice

quaking.

"I see you took my advice on your shortcut,"

Paulio said. "You girls must be in a big hurry." "So?" I said. I hoped he couldn't hear my voice

shake.

"So you're on a toll road," he said with a grin. "What?" I started to smile, but one of the other

two opened the door on Raven's side and leaned in. "Hello again," he said. He was short and stocky

with light brown hair and blue eyes, a thin mouth and

a round jaw with pock-marked cheeks and a bulbous

nose. "Nice hair," he said, reaching in and touching

Raven's ebony strands. She pulled away from him. "Don't touch me," she cried and we could see