My Entry into the Finish the Story Contest - WEEK #42!

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We are back at it again with the Finish the Story Contest This week there an extra reason to go check out the post. @banannafish team with the help @crowdmind has a new contest/game coming to steem. "Quest in the Realms" and it's 30 steem prize is coming. So check out the post and also vote in the comments for your favorite ending. This week I played within the 500-word limit. It was hard and I had to change my ending a bit. I hope you enjoy what I came up with. Thank you to @gaby-crb for the start to our story this week.

Kayla
by @gaby-crb

Kayla’s boots hit the ground. The dry earth scattered into dust clouds as she strode across the front of the house. Manny was late again.

The harsh sun beat down against her brown skin. She looked off into the distance, the heat haze sat above the plain, rippling the sight of the far off mountains.

She lifted her arm, checking her watch. The sun reflected across the scratched screen. She ran her finger over the deepest scratch. It had still worked after her accident.

A young boy came hurtling out of the front door and blindly ran straight into her. The force knocked them both to the ground.

She fell hard. Her limbs scraped against loose stones and the scorched dirt.

“What in the devil are you playing at?”

She got up quickly, patting herself off in the process.

The young boy sat still. Tears rolling down his dirty cheeks. He coughed as he struggled to breathe, the fine dust getting into his lungs.

Manny stepped onto the veranda and placed his hands on his hips. His shirt hung open and his hat tilted on his head.

Kayla shook her head at the sight of him. She had known Manny her entire life but she was always surprised to see him so relaxed at his home.

“This your boy Manny?”

“Aye, that be Thomas.”

“He make yer’ late then?”

Manny walked down the front steps and helped his son up. Thomas took the offered hand reluctantly.

Kayla chuckled to herself.

“Better bring him with us. ‘Bout time he learned the family trade.”

Manny and Thomas followed Kalya towards her truck. The truck smelled of licorice and sawdust. The engine rattled into life. Thomas slid into the center. His eyes still pooling with tears.

Manny opened up a hip flask, taking a sip. He growled as the harsh liquid hit his throat. He passed it to Kayla, she drank as she drove across the open land.

“What them tears about then?”

She asked as she passed the flask back.

Manny laughed. “He got a clip round the ear for talking cheek to his mother, didn’t ya’ boy?”

Kayla gripped the wheel tighter as the truck bounced over the rough terrain.

“Well, that seems rightly deserved then. Ya’ don’t talk like that to your ma kid, ya’ just don’t.”

The truck swayed as the tires followed the grooves and tracks of the land. Thomas was the most affected by the force, having spent very little time in vehicles of any kind. He watched as the truck traveled through a river, unaffected by the water.

Manny lit up a cigarette and tilted his head back as he exhaled. The smoke filled the air quickly, Thomas started coughing.

“Quit it will ya manny. The kid got weak lungs or summit’?”

“He’s a weaklin’ alright.”

Manny laughed as he clapped his son on the back.

Kayla could see their destination start to form out of the heat haze. The sun would be down soon. She looked down at Thomas just wondering he if he would be any help.

“We should be there soon Manny. I hope for a better find tonight kid”

Candy and Firecrackers last time had been a disappointment. And she had had that accident. It was getting dark Kayla was ready to go.

“So what’s the kid going to do?

“He is going to follow you, needs to learn how to open the doors.

Kayla hesitated but Manny was right Thomas could help them search more cars.

They watched as a guard passed by and made their move. Kayla could see Thomas seemed upset.

“Thomas go with Kayla now.”

Quitely they climbed up to the top of a car and reached the vents. She opened it and slipped through the opening. Thomas followed as Kaya looked around.

“He wants me to replace you”

Kayla stopped and turned to look at Thomas.

“I don’t want to help him get rid of you”

Kayla felt at her watch that deep scratch. He said it was an accident. But she had wondered. Manny had changed so much these last few months. Manny had told her he didn’t know she fell off. She had to walk out to the road and call him to get him to come back.

“Kid not sure what you are talking about”

“We are going to leave you behind today to get caught. I want to leave him behind instead””

Thomas told her the plan. She agreed. She wasn’t sure if he was telling the truth but if Manny didn’t set off the alarm then they would all make it back. If he did well then Thomas was right and she had no problem leaving him here.

The truck was almost loaded when Manny made his move. He asked Kayla to give Thomas the keys to go start the truck while they finished up. The two of them headed to get the last crates. When they saw a guard was coming and just like Thomas said Manny made a loud sound and headed for Truck

Kayla followed both angry and sad. As they reached the truck she ran to the driver's side while Manny went for his passenger's side. She opened the door at jumped in.

“Thomas what the fuck!!!?

Manny was pulling on the door but it was locked. Thomas didn’t look at his dad. Kayla could see the flashlights getting closer. She hit the gas and pulled away hearing Manny yell.

They reached Manny’s house. Kayla left him with a few crates even though he didn’t want them. Before she left she had to ask.

“Why help me, kid?”

“I was helping myself.”

Kayla drove off she had to get out of town for a while till this all blew over. She hoped the kid would be okay he had walked a bit taller going into the house.