It feels like I've been in this car forever, and I'm exhausted; driving down highways for hours gets incredibly boring, incredibly quickly.
I groan after looking at the clock on the dashboard, realizing that I've been driving for almost seven and a half hours. That is by far the longest I've ever driven without stopping at all.
Luckily, I've just passed into Idaho, and the road signs let me know that the first town I can stop in is called Fruitland. After a few minutes, I can see the town in the distance. It's incredibly small, but I am grateful to see a Wal-Mart.
Now, in normal situations, I would never, ever shop in a Wal-Mart. But desperate times call for desperate measures. And one time I read that Wal-Marts let people park their cars in their parking lots overnight and sleep in them. So it looks like that is going to be my best option.
There are no cars in the parking lot as I pull in, so I park the SUV in a spot that is not too close to the front, but also not right by the street. With a sigh, I turn off the GPS and place it in the center console.
I unbuckle my seatbelt and hop out of the car, before quickly getting right back in, but in the backseat. I groan, knowing that even though the seats are made of nice leather, it's no bed.
Praying for a miracle, I get on my knees and look in the trunk, hoping for some sort of blanket. When I first started driving, my instructor taught me to always have a blanket in my car, just in case I got stranded in a snowstorm.
Amazingly, I guess Noah and Garrett learned the same thing, because there are a few blankets thrown in the trunk, as well as several pairs of clothes and shoes. I grab two blankets, using one for it's intended purpose and the other as a substitute pillow.
Thankful for the black tinted windows that the SUV has, I get comfortable, before slowing falling asleep.
~*~
When I wake up, I feel absolutely horrible. The only way to describe it is like when you wake up from a nap and you have no idea how long you've been asleep, or who the hell you even are.
I sit up, running a hand through my luckily not too messy hair. Looking around, I see several other cars in the parking lot now. At this point, I'm starving and don't have any money with me.
I decide to move back up to the driver's seat and check the glove compartment, since that's where I usually keep my wallet. I'm overjoyed when I open it and find a large wad of cash inside. Quickly, I count the money and find over $500.
"Jesus Christ, how rich are these people?" I mumble. I don't know what werewolves do to get money. Do they even have real jobs? Maybe they just use their scariness and strength to rob people. I shudder at the thought.
My stomach rumbles, and I know I need to eat something. I run my fingers through my hair a few times, trying to look as presentable as possible before hopping out of the car. I make my way towards the entrance of the Wal-Mart. Once inside, I go directly to the food section, knowing that that is really the only thing I need.
I pick up a few bottles of Vitamin Water, some chips, a couple apples and some beef jerky. Once I think I've got enough food, I immediately make my way to the cashiers, wanting to get back on the road as soon as possible, for fear that Braxton may find me. By now he must know that I'm gone, and I assume he's already looking for me.
I place all my food on the counter in front of the cashier, who is a girl that looks like she's few years older than me. Her nametag reads Grace.
"Good morning, how are you?" she asks me, as she picks up a Vitamin Water to scan.
"I'm good," I reply, "How about you?"
"I'm alright. Are you passing through?" she questions. "I've never seen you around before."
"Yeah, I'm heading back to Colorado. I was up in Washington for a short vacation."
Grace nods, smiling. "Cool. That'll be $14.72."
I hand her a twenty. "Okay this is kind of a weird question, but what's today's date?"
"It's July 29th," she replies, handing me my change.
My eyes widen at her response, but I try to play it cool.
"Thanks," I reply, grabbing the bag of food.
"Have a good day!" Grace says.
"You too!" I respond, before heading back out to the car.
I get in quickly, locking the doors as I set the bag on the passenger seat.
I groan, putting my head in my hands. July 29th? I was supposed to be home on the 25th! Have my parents filed a missing persons report for me yet? They've got to be worried, since I haven't told them that I would be late getting home.
I shake my head, and try to focus my thoughts on getting back first. Braxton could still find me while I'm out here.
I turn the GPS on, start the car, and get back on the highway, heading towards Colorado.
~*~
After a long twelve hours, I'm finally back in my home state. As I get closer and closer to Denver, I feel joy flooding through my body. Once I get home, I can go back to my normal life, and focus on getting into a good college. All I want is to just forget about this big mess, and never have to deal with werewolves again.
My heart is racing from excitement as I finally reach my neighborhood. I type in the passcode, the gate opens, and I drive through, thankful when I see no one following me in my rearview mirror.
Once my house comes into view, I breathe a huge sigh of relief. I park on the street in from of my home, because I have no way of opening my garage door without my car. A tear comes to my eye when I remember my wrecked Mustang. I'm totally going to sue Braxton for that.
I make my way to the front door, and ring the doorbell repeatedly. When no one comes to answer it, I realize that my parents are probably gone; after all, they both work super long hours. I go around to the side of our house, and jump the fence into the backyard. I immediately head to the outdoor kitchen and take the spare key hidden inside the grill. I unlock the backdoor, put the key back, and head inside.
My house is just as I remember it, and as clean and boring as it is, it's still home. And being home feels really nice. I drum my fingers on the granite countertop in the kitchen, wondering what I should do next. And then I hear my mother's voice from upstairs. She sounds mad, like she's yelling at someone. Maybe the police, for not finding me yet, I hope.
Quickly, I run upstairs, towards my mother's office. If she isn't at work, that's where you'll find her, so I know that that is where she is.
I open the door to her office to see her sitting at her desk on the phone. "Mom," I breathe, relieved to see a familiar face for the first time in what seems like forever. "I'm okay, I'm home."
I'm about to tell her all about what has happened, when she holds up one hand, signaling me to be quiet.
"I don't care! You need to find me something that is going to get that video thrown out!" she yells, and I realize she must to talking to someone about one of her cases. It always seems like she is a lawyer first, and a mother second.
"No! I don't want any more excuses! Don't you dare call me again until you have an idea that I'm going to like!" she hangs up her phone, clearly agitated.
Finally my mother turns to look at me. "Look, honey, I am in the middle of a very important case, so we need to make this quick. What do you need, money?" she asks, pulling out her wallet.
"Um..." I stutter, taken aback by her response. Did she even realize that I was four days late coming home? Did she even care? "I... you didn't notice I was late getting back?"
I see the annoyed look on her face already, even though she does put some effort into hiding it. "Late getting back from what?"
I can feel tears welling up in my eyes. I have always known that my parents are pretty shitty when it comes to caring about me, but I really thought that they would notice their daughter going on an out-of-state trip, and not returning when she said that she would, with no word from her whatsoever.
I could have died and they probably wouldn't have even noticed. Hell, would they even care?
My mother's phone rings again, and she goes back into lawyer mode, not that she really ever left it. "Listen, I have something important scheduled right now, so if you need something, call your father," she says, before answering the phone.
I stare at her in shock for a few seconds, before I turn and walk out of her office, unable to restrain myself from slamming the door behind me. My earlier relieved mood has completely evaporated, and I have never felt so alone.
I run downstairs, as tears fall from my eyes. All I know is that I can't be in this house right now, so I head back outside and hop into the SUV. I step on the gas, and speed away from my house.
In my messed up state, I contemplate on where I should go. My first instinct is to go to a friend's house, but I really don't want to ruin their day with my problems. Then I think of the perfect place.
After another hour of driving, I'm in the beautiful Rocky Mountains, which have been more of a home to me than that house for the past few years. I park in a small dirt parking lot, just off of one of the winding mountain roads, grateful to see no other cars around me.
I walk the short trail to what I've always called Lookout Rock. It's a large boulder, sitting on one side of a mountain, with some of the most beautiful views in Colorado. It's always been my thinking place, where I go to get away from everything.
As I sit admiring the view, I try my best to calm down, and not think about how messed up my life is. I focus on the fact that I'll be in college soon enough, and I won't have to live with my parents anymore. The idea sounds so amazing.
I'm finally feeling better when three words make my heart race once more. "Hello pretty lady."
I shoot up to my feet, and turn around, only to come face to face with Damien, and the two guys who were with him outside the mall. It sounds crazy, but I'm even more terrified to see him than I would be to see Braxton.
I swallow, realizing that I have nowhere to go: they're blocking the path back to the parking lot.
"I don't think you know how excited we were when we heard that Braxton's Luna ran away," Damien says with a sinister grin on his face. "Did he finally tell you the truth, is that why you ran?"
I nod, slowly inching to my left, hoping that I will get an opportunity to make a break for it. I'd rather take my chances in the woods than with these creeps.
"Just... just let me go," I mumble, trying to stay cool. "I promise I won't tell anyone about you guys."
Damien his two minions laugh at my words. "You think that the reason why Braxton's been holding onto you is because he doesn't want you to tell anyone about us? Are you sure that he really told you everything?"
"Yes!" I snap, annoyed. "I want nothing to do with him!"
"Perfect," Damien says, a malicious grin forming on his face.
We stand in silence for a minute before I've finally had enough. "If you're going to kill me just get it over with!" I yell.
The trio laughs again, but this time, I can tell their attention is diverted from me, if only for a moment. I decide that it is probably going to be my only chance, so I take off in the direction of the trees. But before I can even make it ten steps, Damien is in front of me, grabbing onto my upper arms roughly.
I struggle in his hold but it's useless, and painful, as he tightens his grip. "Oh, we're not going to kill you," Damien assures me. "We have something much, much better in mind."
Before I'm even able to fully process his words, something heavy hits me on the back of my head with a lot of force. Dark spots take over my vision, and the last thing I feel is my body getting thrown over Damien's shoulder, before everything goes black.
~*~
The picture above is Shiloh Fernandez, who plays Damien.
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I really hope that you all liked this chapter; we are really starting to get to the good stuff!
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- Nina