John Pov
Alex and I had slept in an alley. We ain't going back to our apartment because there was no doubt that the guard had caught our faces and asked around.

And there was no doubt that the police were definitely following our tracks.

And there was no doubt that the one lady in that hotel room called the cops for 'breaking and entering'.

"Hey. We should get moving. Maybe get to Phoenix. It's about two hours by car so if somehow we can..catch a train or something, we'll be out of the city." Alex said.

"But Phoenix is densely populated. Might get spotted with so many people lookin' for us."
I noted.

"Yeah but it'll be harder to find us. Even though there is more cops in Phoenix, it would take longer."
Alex told me.

I nodded slowly. We pulled out a pack cigarettes and started smoking one.

"You..
you seriously stole cigs instead of food you dumbass?"
I pretty much deadpanned.

He shrugged.
"Not exactly."

He took another drag of his cigarette and pointed near my feet. I glanced down and saw a bag of stolen food next to my own.

"Oh."
I muttered.

"Hey lemme get a drag of that,"
I said holding my hand out.

He raised an eyebrow, but took it out of his mouth nevertheless.

I started taking a drag of it but my breath caught in my throat when I saw a police car slowly drive by the alley. Alex let out a puff smoke.

I coughed, dropping the cig.
"You're bad at this." Alex muttered.

I didn't stop coughing as I pointed to the slowly emerging cop car.

"Shit!"
Alex hissed, grabbing the bag and starting to run.

"No! Don't run! Stay fucking still! Hear that?" I asked.

Alex stopped in his tracks and listened. "They sent a helicopter on us?!"
He whisper shouted.

I glanced back the cop car. I grabbed my own bag and jumped into the first garbage bin I could find.

Alex did the same.

"This was a bad idea.
We shoulda ran.
We shoulda ran.
I'm good at running."
He said.

"Shut the fuck up!"
I whisper shouted.

"We should get outta here and run."
He whispered.

"You're getting more stupid by the second!" I whisper shouted.

I heard him groan and shift a trash bag.

"I think Imma throw up."
Alex muttered.

"Don't you dare throw up Alex."
I hissed.

"Imma do it-"

"No.
No.
Alex stop-"

I was cut off by the sound of Alex retching.

"God fucking damn it Alex." I groaned.

Alex coughed and snickered.
"This isn't fucking funny!" I whispered.

"What the fuck Richard??" He said, then going back to vomiting.

I gagged and covered my ears.
God it smells
so bad.

I heard the helicopter get scarily close to us. "Oh my god. Oh my god." I muttered, still covering my ears.

Alex continued to throw up. I hit his back and muttered, "Stop it!"

I heard a couple of men, whom I can only assume were police, walk down the alley. I heard them stop outside the trash can.

"Alex if you value your life, please try to stop vomiting." I whispered angrily.

He coughed a few times and scurried next to me. "F-fuck." He hiccuped, grabbing his stomach.

"Shh," I hummed, rubbing his back. "H-hurts." He groaned.

"I know. But the cops are outside so shut the fuck up while you still can."
I whispered.

He shifted and mutter something, but I didn't catch what he said. I felt my breath hitch when I heard the trash can rattle, and the cops muffled talking.

I honestly think I had stopped breathing in honest terror.

Please don't open the trash can.
Please don't open the trash can.

"I don't wanna go to prison again.
I want to go home." Alex whispered.

I couldn't bring myself to say anything. I felt tension building up in the pit of my stomach.

It felt like I needed to puke but..
didn't?

I don't know.
That weird feeling you get when you're scared started to happen to me.
Not necessarily a panic attack but..
just utter fear and disbelief I guess. 

Then the worst thing that could've happened,
happened.

They opened the trash can.