HIDE

Penny nearly stepped out and waved at the police, feeling like her ordeal was almost over.

That feeling passed very quickly.

Penny didn't know which rumors about the police were true, but she did know that every single rumor was bad. She couldn't think of an adult who trusted the police, especially the few police officers she had met off-duty. RPD was, by all accounts, one of the most corrupt organizations in the nation.

So Penny hid.

Fortunately, waist-high hedges were in fashion in this neighborhood. Most parts of the city were dangerous slums with high fences, but in this area Penny just had to jump over a hedge. Security systems wouldn't trigger unless she moved towards a house.

She sprinted toward the nearest yard, did a quick look for dogs, checked that she wasn't about to jump into some lady's prized flower bed, and vaulted over the low hedge.

Penny thought about her options while the police passed through the area. On one hand she was exhausted, lightly injured, and maybe feeling the effects of the beer. On the other hand she was athletic, near home, ashamed, and feeling some adrenaline.

She didn't want to call her father and Emma still wasn't responding. She might be seen by a couple of people if she ran for it, but she could also see dangerous situations from some distance away.