Caught (The Runners) by Logan Rutherford Page A

overgrown hedges in the front of the
house, and the steps leading to the door were chipped.
    “I guess this is the place.” Seventeen said,
and he walked up to the door. He rang the doorbell, and heard
ruffling noises from the inside, the sounds of locks clicking and
sliding from the came from the door. The door opened, but a chain
lock stopped it from fully opening. A face emerged from the crack.
“Whataya want? It’s Two ‘o’clock in tha mornin’!” Said the
voice.
    “We’re very sorry to disturb you, sir.” Said
Fifteen in a very polite and gentle voice. “But you see, we were
told to come here by some person. We don’t know who it was, but if
you let us in, maybe we can discuss some things?”
    The door slammed shut. They heard the sliding
of a chain, and the door opened again, fully this time. “Come on
in,” said the man.
    He led them through a small entrance hall,
and into a large living room. The living room was painted gray, and
had two black leather couches up against the wall facing a large
TV, and entertainment center. “Please,” he said motioning to the
couches. “Sit down.”
Fifteen and Seventeen sat down beside each other on one of the
couches. The man sat on the opposite one. “What’s your name?”
Seventeen asked.
    “My name,” the man said as he sipped a cup of
coffee that he must have been drinking before they came in. “Is
Felix, and I am similar to you, but not quite the same. You see, I
am what am called, a Keeper. You see,” he said standing from the
couch. “I watch over this place, this safe house. This is a place
where no harm can come to you; a place to think, to recuperate, to
make plans, but most of all, a place to devise ways to bring down
Kappa.”
    Fifteen and Seventeen stared at him silently.
The thing that stood out most in Fifteen’s mind was that she
finally knew the name of the people that took her family. She knew
the name of the people that took her family. She knew the name of
the people that she despised.
    “So,” Seventeen said in a shaky voice. “Kappa
is their name.”
    “Yes.” Felix said.
    “Do you have a number?” Fifteen asked.
    “Sorry?” Felix said with a puzzled look on
his face.
    “A number. Marcus – who I am guessing is the
head of Kappa – called me “Fifteen”. What did he call you?”
    “Oh, yes. Of course, I am number Six, but
around here, we don’t go by numbers. We all give each other names!
We shall come up with names for the both of you over
breakfast.”
    “We?” Seventeen asked.
    The phone rang. “Yes, we. There are three
other Runners here. You shall meet them tomorrow. But now,” He said
quickly as he walked over to the staircase and motioned up it.
“It’s time to get some rest. We will answer all the questions that
we can tomorrow. You,” He said pointing at Seventeen. “What’s your
number?”
“Seventeen.” He replied quickly.
    “Go up the stairs, down the hall, last room
to your left.” He turned to Fifteen. “You will be right across the
hall from him. Goodnight.” And he disappeared into another
room.
    Seventeen went up the stairs, walked to his
room, and collapsed on the bed where he was greeted by sleep, and
nightmares.

Chapter Three
     
    Seventeen looked at the clock next to his
bed. It was Five ‘o’ clock in the afternoon of the next day. After
killing two people, possibly blowing up a few others, breaking into
a library, being arrested, and going across the city to arrive
here, he deserves some un-interrupted sleep.
    He sat up, and looked around the room. On the
white walls were vintage guitars, and picture frames with a
different family in each one. He swung his feet of the side of the
bed, and walked to a dresser that was in the corner. He opened the
drawers, and pulled out some jeans, and a white V-Neck T-Shirt.
Then, he went to take a long, hot shower.
    After the shower, he got dressed and went
down the stairs.
    “Ah, there’s the sleeping beauty!” A boy of
about 15-years-old