Chapter 12: Trading Times

"I'm going with you" Divia said standing in the doorway. Zac sighed, "No, you're
not" he said with slight frustration in his voice. Divia had been edgy for hours, ever since he said he was ready to leave. "I AM so!" Divia said through gritted teeth. Her blue eyes flared and her pale hands shook. He could see her bending.
"Look, you're too young to go. You're only fourteen years old."

Divia boiled, she wanted to go. She needed to go.

"But you were only thirteen when you met her and gave her your angel and ring! I am not too young! I am strong!" then in a lower tone "and I'm going with you, even if it's the last thing I do"

Divia pulled an olive green book bag with a shroom patch on it. She was ready to go out, to find the running life.

"Do you have everything?" Zac said to her stepping into the fading sunlight. Divia nodded. They both stepped into the sunlight.

"Okay, there are rules to go with me. First off, I am NOT a babysitter. Second, I will not go to pull you out of a mess with the police if you get into trouble. Alright?"

Divia nodded and trotted along happily, glad she had gotten her way. Together they strode with the sunset behind them.

"Where's the flashlight?" Zac asked. Divia grabbed it from her pack and held it up. Zac grabbed it and switched it on. A yellow beam broadcasted their place of camp across pine trees. "Turn that off, I don't want the whole world to see where we're staying tonight" Divia said as she searched through her backpack. Zac obediently turned it off and the area turned black. They stretched out beneath the stars and were soon asleep.

**-Across the Nation-**

Taylor sighed but smiled. He wondered where his little brother was. His parents had no idea that it was both his and Zac's idea to look for Alanis. They just knew that Zac had disappeared one night and never came back. They had gone to the police several times and Taylor had even seen his brother's picture on some missing children posters. They had listed him as a runaway or possibly kidnapped and even cut his hair for the picture. Taylor laughed at it all. He knew his brother was okay, wherever he was.

'Be strong, brother,' Taylor thought, 'your girl is out there somewhere and you're going to find her. I know you are.' Then Taylor chuckled and thought 'May the force be with you' Then he went to help his mother with supper.