You won’t believe how EXCITED I AM for these last three parts! AHHH! All the previous parts have been LEADING UP TO THIS and afkjlshfasd I really hope you enjoy it!!

Lalala previous parts if you missed them or need a refresher I’m pretty sure you’ve read them all if you’re reading this but if not here you go:

Prologue
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7

And another quick refresher from part 7:

He laughs through his tears and swipes his hands over his eyes right before we jump at the words shouted next.

“Police! Open up!”

And without further ado!

Issa’s POV

All three of us share horrified glances.

Only one thought races across my mind.

Run!

Connor is the first to dash out of our hiding spot as fast as he can.

He zooms out the side, climbing over various contents of the shelf.

I scramble to my feet and run after him as fast as my legs will carry me. Lexi finally relents and joins the crowd, following suit.

Then Connor presses the garage door button, and we’ve really started the cat-and-mouse chase now.

The garage door opens, its loud hinges squeaking as we zoom through the space it creates. We duck under and dart out.

Then we streak across the empty driveway, police at our heels.

My stomach churns as I run. Running from police is never a good idea—but I’m not letting Connor get caught and taken away.

I dive and roll behind a wooden post, and all three of them follow me.

“Guys!” I hiss, stopping in my tracks and turning to them. “Have any of you ever watched spy movies?”

“We watched Cody Banks 2 over and over again back in May, but I don’t see what that has—”

I cut Lexi off. “Split up!”

“Oh.”

Three police officers continue the chase on foot, and we burst out to split up, streaking down the street almost as if our lives are on the line.

We part our separate ways, and I hope I can get one of the policemen to chase me instead of Connor.

I continually wince at the pain in my ankle, thanks to Emma, but don’t dare stop for anything. Connor is on the line here.

“Stop, kid!” The policeman behind me shouts.

I’m not stopping for anything! When is he going to get that through his head?

I dive in some bushes and clap my hand over my mouth to quiet my pantings.

The policeman runs by, and I smile to myself.

As he turns the corner, I push myself deeper into the bushes, praying with an urgent fervency like never before that they won’t find Connor.

Connor’s POV

I streak in the opposite diqrection of Issa and keep my eyes on the prize. I focus in on the end of the street in front of me and pump my arms and feet as fast as they will go.

The policeman behind me shouts at me to stop, but I don’t. I’m not going with him.

I turn a sharp corner and wince at the pain rippling through my ankle and lacing up my bone. It continues up my leg as I run, but I don’t dare limp for fear that’ll slow me down.

“Ah!” I cry when I trip over my throbbing ankle and faceplant on the unforgiving concrete. I wince as my knees and palms are skinned but pull myself to my feet without a second to spare.

“You can’t run from me, kid! You know that!” The policeman shouts, gasping.

I don’t answer as I continue sprinting. Does he not get it? I am not slowing down for anything. His threats are not enough.

I begin to pant. I don’t think I’ve ever run this fast before, but I feel exhilarated and hyped up on adrenaline like the night I escaped from Miami Boarding School for Boys.

It’s hard to believe I’m running from a policeman, though.

“I don’t want to have to taze you, kid!” My policeman pursuer shouts.

Tazer? Nobody said anything about a tazer. This doesn’t sound like it will end well.

I turn around and realize I don’t know where I’m going. What in the world am I doing?!

Lexi’s POV

I’m in amazingly fit shape. I’m a gymnast, after all. Why do my legs feel like jelly? I don’t want to break every rule. I don’t want to be running from the law.

I’m not a criminal! I can’t take this!

I stop running immediately. I turn to face the policewoman chasing me, and she slows down once she nears where I’ve stopped.

“Where are they?” She gasps.

“I’m not going to lead you to them,” I say. “I’m not on your side, either.”

“Life in the gray area is never good,” the policewoman says as she grabs my arm. “You can’t be double-minded all the time.”

“But I don’t want to betray my friends!” I cry. “Nor do I want you to take Connor away!”

“Connor?” The policewoman repeats. “Connor DaCosta? Did you see which way he went?”

I lick my dry lips. “Please don’t take my friend.”

“Sorry, kid. I have to. Which way did they go?”

“I’m not going to tell you!”

The policewoman looks at my eyes and glares a little. “You need to make up your mind and stick to a decision.”

I swallow the lump in my throat. My heart thuds nearly out of my chest.

“Okay. I’ll make a decision. And stick to it.”

So I do.

Issa’s POV

What is Lexi doing?! She’s talking to that police officer like she’s her friend! This is terrible!

I emerge from the bushes and look around of any sign of my police-officer pursuer.

He’s nowhere, and I smirk.

I am so smart. I totally led him right past me. He was so fooled.

I scream as strong police arms grab mine and pull them behind my back. “Where’d he go, kid?” He asks. I kick the policeman as hard as I can, and he yelps. “Kid!” He grunts and then sighs. “You have to tell me where he went.”

“No, I don’t,” I say, struggling from his grip. Of course, I can’t break free.

“No, you won’t,” he says with a grin. “You won’t have to. Because there he is.”

To be continued… in HOTH Season 3, Part 9!

DUN DUN DUNNN. COMING MONDAY.

What do you think happens to Connor?

P.S.

13 days left to enter and claim as many bonus entries as you can for my free American Girl Create-Your-Own doll giveaway!