“Hey Ryder. What are you in here for? If you don’t mind me asking.” said Sean. I put down my fork and looked at him.

“Nothing, you wouldn’t believe me if I told you and i’m used to that.” I told him. His expression didn’t change.

“Try me, I’ll believe you.” That’s when I knew I had made a real friend. His eyes shown it all. After breakfast we walked out together. Sean was extremely grateful to have a friend around. He was very animated, jumping around as we assembled. I’d have to answer his question when their are no eavesdroppers.

“Listen up men!” Somebody is going to be punished today.” said the General. The boys started talking. “Someone has stolen my files. The secret classified ones that you all know the punishment for.” He walked straight at Sean and me. He scowled at him. What did he ever do? The General felt his back pocket and pulled up a folded bundle of papers. He waved it in front of Sean’s face. What! I looked at Sean. He looked back, terrified.

“Listen up men!” Somebody is going to be punished today.” said the General. The boys started talking. “Someone has stolen my files. The secret classified ones that you all know the punishment for.” He walked straight at Sean and me. He scowled at him. What did he ever do? The General felt his back pocket and pulled up a folded bundle of papers. He waved it in front of Sean’s face. What! I looked at Sean. He looked back, terrified.

Sean was pulled up onto the platform. He was stripped from his shirt and was chained to the poles. I pushed to the front row. The General took out a whip and I flinched. Sean screamed bloody murder. I pressed my hands to my ears. After the second lash I ran onto the platform. I knocked the General over and broke the chains. I snatch Sean’s shirt and we bolted. He gasped.

“Why’d you, why’d you do that for me Ryder? You’ll get in worse trouble than me!” I pulled him into the woods. Poor kid was scared. I held his shoulders still.

“Sean, you would have done the same. I’ll explain why I’m here once we get to safety.” I said. “Trust me, this is my speciality. My entire life I was running. This is a piece of cake.” We took off again. This time no one was following us, except.

“Hello?” I called. I saw someone hide behind a tree in front of us. “Show yourself!”

“Stay here,” I walked slowly to the tree. Anticipation building. Footsteps followed behind me. I sighed. “Sean” He took my arm. He put a finger to his mouth. Oh, no, not now! Before i had a chance to tell Sean what’s been happening to me the scene once again changed. Sean freaked out.

“Where are we?” He screamed.

“Let me figure that out.” I said. We were in another cafeteria, but it was in a school. Teens were sitting at the tables. Outside the windows I panicked. My enemy was staring right at me. One of the guys evilly grinned at me. “We’ve got to go!” I grabbed Sean’s arm and we ran out the door and into the courtyard. The students screamed as the machine guns started firing at me. Now here’s sort of my life.

“Who are these people?” cried Sean.

“Guys that have been chasing me for eleven years. Keep your head down.” We stopped behind a car. We kept quiet as people get in it. I tensed, where were the guns. No gun shots and no footsteps. All I could think of was to jump in the back of the truck with Sean.

“Come on,” I opened the back of the truck and we hid in there. My heart stopped when I heard the driver.

“Where is Kenneth! I can’t see him!” I slapped myself. Boy, this wasn’t going to be my day was it? Sean’s eyes went wide. Could he speak? He was petrified.

“Now, now what Ryder?” asked Sean. “ What happened exactly?”

I sighed.

“I don’t know. I don’t know at all. Shh.” Then the scene changed again once again. Oh joy. Now what? I opened the truck door. Behind me it disappeared. We were in a forest, another one. It looked like the California Redwoods. Giant trees towered above us. It was beautiful. Sean eased up and looked around.

I tensed up as I saw movement. A leg shadowed behind the thick brush and hid behind one of the Redwoods.

“Hello? Who goes there?” I called out. A head popped out followed by a gir.. She looked a year ago, maybe 16 years old.

“Who are you?” asked the girl.

“I’m Ryder. This is my friend Sean.” I said. The girl walked up in front of us. She held out her hand.

“I’m Change. Change Chance.” She had brown, dark hair wrapped up in a loose ponytail. She had brown eyes. She looked as nice as me when I met Sean. She seemed exactly like me actually.

“Nice to meet you. Do you live out here alone Change?” I asked.

“Yep, I lost my parents when I was five. Been out here ever since.” said Change. No kidding.

“I’ve been on the run since I was six. Just like you but I’ve got insane guys on my butt everyday.” I said. I looked around. The time seemed to make it to nightfall already/ It was time to start a fire. I grabbed twigs and leaves and ignited them into a smoky fire. I’ve never felt so lucky in my life. Just by the look of Change she didn’t want to be alone anymore. She would be with us. How could I have found two great friends like this in one day? From the changing universes, that’s how. There’s a new one I’ll thank the goons for. I was poking the fire as Sean And Change and sat down on the log with me. Sean knew it too. I marveled at the sound of that. FRIENDS. Then I thought of Ryann, what about her? I know the Head Quarters of those freaks are keeping her under wraps from me. Maybe anyway. I should make a plan that would release her.

Here’s a really cheesy scene, I apologize so shut up.

“Hey, Ryder.” asked Sean. “Do you think we’ll be friends for a while?” I smiled.

“Yeah, I need friends.” Change nudged me and laughed.

“Don’t single me out boys, Ive been alone my entire life.” We laughed, we all haven’t had a good laugh in a long time. I saw it in their eyes. It was like Kindergarten ya know? When you meet someone for the first time and you have an instant best friend. I have two of those.

We fell asleep fast. I was the first up. Ugh, I was groggy. Change and Sean were on either side of me. It was dawn. Brilliant splashes of red, gold and orange caressed the Reds.

“Wake up Sean. Remember we’re still in a strange place. I have a plan to get us to the HQ of my pursuers. Like it would work. We need them chasing me up close so I can see where they’re coming from.” I said.

“What why?” I shut my eyes and sighed.

“They have my sister Ryann. I want her back. It’s been eleven years. She would be twelve now. That’s right, If she’s alive she grew up with them.” I said, daggers stung my heart thinking about Ryann. I held back tears. Change and Sean was still absorbing what i just told them.

“These guys captured your sister?” asked Sean. I nodded. I didn’t want to think about it anymore. We have to get to the nearest city or town. Those goons should spot me soon enough. Without warning I started walking. Before I made another step change stopped me. I turned to her.

“What?” Change looked at me like I was dumb. She started climbing the nearest Red. Yeah right, it would take a year to climb up there!

She was out of sight within the minute. Wow. Then she shouted “I see a town! It’s a little far.” Yes, that’s awesome Change. She climbed down and jumped, rolling around in the leaves and sprung up.

“Let’s go.” We followed her through the woods. She knew exactly where she was going. A half a dozen miles later the town came into view. It was very busy. Cars soared over the streets beeping at us. Three vans came into view behind me. Here we go again. I started running down the sidewalk. Just as suspected the vans sped up. Change and Sean noticed and ran after me. I looked back. A few of the men jumped out and tackled them. I stopped running.

“Hey!” I yelled. Change and Sean were being dragged into the van.

“Very good. Just as planned.” said the head of the Operation Kill Ryder Kenneth. OKRK. He eyed the young girl next to him in confinement. She was crying.

“What do you mean!” she sobbed. “Stop trying to kill him!”

“My dear girl. I won’t stop. We’ve found a weak spot. It’s his new friends we forced him to meet.” He said. “Don;t you see Ryann? This must be done.” Ryann sobbed in her tied up chair. She was angry.

“Leave my brother alone!” She growled. The head laughed at her. He walked over to her.

“He has no chance, dear one. This whole organization is dedicated to killing her brother. Ryder Kenneth must die.” He told her. Ryann looked away from him and back at the tv screen showing Ryder’s struggle. She’s never seen him before now but resemblance showed. She knew he was her brother. She knew he tried to save her when she was little. She wanted to see him in person. The head slapped her.

“Look at me when I’m talking to you!”

“Get off me!” cried Sean. He was about to get into the van, more like dragged. I jumped on the guy making him lose his grip. Sean ran out of the way to join Change. I double kicked the guy into the van. I motioned to take his gun and aim at the driver when he stepped on the gas. I laughed and waved then took off after them.

“Come on! This is my plan!” Change and Sean ran after me. They were both conditioned runners. Good. They were surprised to see me jump on the top of one of the vans. I held on as the van sped around. One of the men aimed his machine gun at Change. I shook my head and leaned down. I grabbed the gun before he shot her and took it in my possession.

“Oh no you don’t.” the guy noticed me and probably told the driver because they were heading straight for a thrift store. Oh great. The van crashed through. I fell off and fell onto the glass and gravel.

“No!” squealed Ryann. “Ryder!” She shut her eyes. Was he really gone? All she saw was him falling off the truck. The head just laughed.

“They’ve done it. After 11 years the delinquent Ryder Kenneth is dead.”

Ow, what happened? Oh yeah, the thrift store. I was on the ground. Change and Sean were running to me.

“Ryder, are you alright?” asked Change. She was the first one to reach him.

“To be honest I don’t know.” I said. Sean ran and helped me up and we walked out to the road.

Ryann’s face lit up at the sit on the screen.

“Ryder’s alive!” She squealed. The head growled at the camera.

“No! Your brother shouldn’t have survived that!” He slammed his fists on the keyboard. Ryann couldn’t believe his luck. He might actually be able to save her after all. She wished she had memories of him but she lived in this facility her whole life.

“He’ll save me. He’ll overthrow you.” said Ryann. “Just you wait.” She was confident. She turned to the screen. SHe believed in him. She had faith in him.

“That’s a great idea, Ryann. I’ll let him come to you, then I’ll finish it myself.” said the Head. Oh no, what has she done! Did she just sentence her brother’s death?