I sat huddled in the corner of my closet, praying that they wouldn't find me. If only I hadn't told Tyler about my problem. I knew I shouldn't have trusted him.

I could hear the man break into the house and begin rummaging around downstairs, searching for me. I sucked in my breath and drew my knees in closer to my body. After a quick moment of thought, I realized what I had to do. I hastily moved out of the closet and over to my window. In one swift movement, I pulled it open and leapt out onto the roof.

The man was getting closer. It was now or never. I slid down the side of the roof and jumped. I glanced over my shoulder at the house and began to run.

Once I felt I was far enough away, I sat on the ground against a tree, trying to catch my breath. Once my heart rate was back to normal, I closed my eyes attempting to forget about everything.

"Ty, they're both gone," I panted. I had run straight to his house. I had to tell someone and he was the only one that I trusted.

"What are you going to do?" Tyler asked.

I sighed. "I don't know yet, but you have to promise not to tell anyone!"

Tyler stared at me wide-eyed. "I promise, Ari."

I hit my head against the tree.

"But he didn't mean it," I whispered.

I opened my eyes again. Obviously closing them wasn't helping me overlook the past.

I was in the forest for at least a couple hours, and it was starting to get dark. I got up and slowly began going though the forest, jumping at every sound I heard. Finally, I reached the hedge that separated my house from the forest. I peered through the leaves to make sure the van was gone.

It wasn't, but the man seemed like he was just about to leave so I kept watching.

"We couldn't find her anywhere," I heard him say.

"Keep looking," replied his partner.

I sucked in my breath. "Please don't check here, please, please, please don't check here," I mentally pleaded.

"What are we doing?" a voice asked.

I stifled a scream. I slowly turned around a saw a boy who looked about my age standing behind.

I put a finger to my lips and continued watching the men.

"I give up," one of them commented. "We'll keep looking tomorrow."

They then got into their van and drove away.

I breathed a sigh of relief, and then turned to see if the boy was still there.

He cautiously looked one way, and then the other. Then, in a low voice, questioned, "Is it safe to talk now?"

I nodded.

"Great!" he smiled. "I'm Jace."

"Arianna," I responded.

"How old are you?"

"Twelve," I replied. "How old are you?"

"Thirteen," Jace said. "So, what are you doing out here?"

"I would love to tell you, but I really can't."

"That's alright." Jace was silent for a minute. "Are you spying on someone?"

I shook my head.

"Who were those men? Do they live there?" he asked.

"You ask a lot of questions," I answered.

"You avoid a lot of questions."

"You could say that," I replied.

"Maybe we could hang out sometime," Jace suggested.

"Yeah, that would be fun."

Jace grinned. "See you later."

"Bye," I called, as he jogged away.

I pushed through the hedge, resulting in few scratches, and ran to my house to get some food.

I tried to pull the door open just to find out it was locked.

After twenty minutes of struggling to get onto the roof, I made it to the window and realized the men must have shut and locked it.

I was surprised that they didn't think to search the woods or anything. If I were them I would have assumed that I left the house due to the fact the window had been wide open.

Too scared to move, I sat shivering on my roof. I was exhausted, but I refused to allow myself to go to sleep, for fear of the men coming back.

I made it until morning without sleeping. I was frozen, but at least they hadn't gotten me yet. They never would.

"What are you doing up there?"

I looked down and saw Jace standing on my driveway staring up at me.

"I live here," I replied.

"Why aren't you in your house? You look cold," he observed.

"Just a little," I lied.

Jace motioned for me to come down.

I stiffly got up and walked to the edge of the roof.

"Don't worry," he murmured. "If you fall, I'll catch you."

I jumped down. "Thanks," I replied. "But I've done this before."

"So why weren't you inside?" Jace asked.

"I was locked out."

"Your parents locked you out?" he exclaimed.

I sat in the hospital waiting room. Hoping, praying, that she would be alright. A million memories flooded back. I had been in this exact spot one year ago.

"Arianna," began my mother. "Your father, he," she paused. "He didn't make it. I'm sorry Ari, but, he's gone."

This couldn't be happening. My mom couldn't die too. She was all I had left. All I could do was hope for the best, and wait for the doctor to come out of that room and tell me, "Your mom will be fine."

I kept clinging to the thought that she was going to fine, that nothing would happen.

Then, the doctor came out of the room.

I stared at him with hope in my eyes, waiting for him to tell me everything was going to be okay.

"I'm sorry, but your mother has passed away, Arianna. Arianna?"

"Arianna!" Jace's voice cut through my thoughts.

"What?" I asked.

"Your parents locked you out?"

"No my, my mom didn't come home last night."

"So you were outside all night?" he questioned.

"Well, yeah," I replied.

Jace took off his jacket and wrapped it around me.

"Thanks," I whispered.

"Come with me," he said.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"We're going to my house so you can warm up."

"But I don't even really know you," I responded.

Jace lifted my chin so I was staring into his face. "Arianna, I know I don't know you that well yet, but I promise I would never do anything to hurt you. Please, I just want to help you. I'll make sure you're safe with me."

"Okay," I replied. "I'll go with you."

Jace smiled. "Good. Come with me."