Wandering
"Thank you, Sir," Robyn droned in a flat tone, "So generous." It was obvious she didn't mean her words but the man didn't care as he finished his bank transaction and instantly handed over the healthy wad of notes to her.
Honestly; she thought she'd feel bad about doing this, but the man she'd targeted was well off and at a lack of better description he was a dick. He was cheating on his wife and leaving her at home with the children while he splurged on himself and what ever woman happened to be the flavour of the week.
At least this money would be going to a slightly better cause, "Now, this good feeling will continue and have you going home to your wife and confessing everything to her, after that you will return to your old scummy self in time to witness the consequences of your actions!" She nodded and with that the man turned and headed off on his merry way home. "What a dick!" She then grumbled as she stuffed the wad of money onto the pocket of her dressing gown and made her way to the shops.
Robyn got her necessities in record time. She'd only hit two shops, a clothing retailers and a chemist. Her next task was a place to stay and the woman who had just finished serving her had helpfully given her directions to a cheap enough hotel.
Robyn stuffed her bag of new bought toiletries into her new back pack holding her clothes and zipped it up. She was slinging the bag over her shoulder when she noticed the security guard step in her way of the door.
She guessed seeing someone on the security camera wearing hospital attire while wandering around the store would cause the guard to investigate. Robyn would have saved herself the trouble had she changed the moment she'd gotten clothes, but she wanted to be clean before she put them on. She did treat her feet to a pair of flip flops though.
"Ignore me!" She smiled to the security guard and he did just that.
He'd come over to question her. Obviously due to her appearance and despite having witnessed her on camera pay for the items from his store he was still sure she may have stolen something. But with a sudden look of confusion he looked about as a thoughtful frown came to his face while Robyn wandered off.
It was that feeling of walking into a room and suddenly forgetting what you'd gone in there for- that was what the security guard was experiencing and he may remember the encounter, he may not.
To Robyn's pleasure the hotel had been both easy to find and cheap. She'd asked for a short two night stay as she was sure once she got to the police station the following day things would turn around for her.
The first thing she did once she got to her room was unpack her bag. She pulled the tags off her new clothes and folded them neatly. They were simple and plain clothes, a pair of cheap jeans, the kind that were a tight fit but stretchy and comfortable, two loose fitting black tops, a grey hoodie, black slip on trainers that she had to admit were ugly but cheap, a pack of underwear, a value bra, and a pack of socks. All plain, all cheap, and nothing stood out.
A frown came to her face when she looked back to the bra. It was the most unattractive garment she'd ever bought her assets and she had to apologise to them. The trainers she had hope for, sure they weren't fashionable but the tag said they had a memory foam insole and she was a fan of comfy foot wear.
Next she gathered up her few toiletries and moved them into the bathroom ready for the shower she was looking forward to.
A deep sigh of relief deflated Robyn's chest as she sat on the edge of the bed in a towel. Being clean felt blissful and she simply sat a moment to enjoy it.
Her thoughts ruined her moment when they pulled her back to how she'd gotten into such a state and before she could mull over the whys, she tried to distract herself. She didn't want to go there, but as she opened up the new pack of underwear her throat started to grow tight and tears welled in her eyes.
She was alone now.
With out bothering to change into anything she climbed into bed with her towel as her night wear and curled up to cry.
Why was she this way? Why hadn't her father told her the truth?
Her family moved around a lot, three years tended to be the maximum they'd ever stay in one place. Robyn had always assumed it was because of her father's job, but now she realised- she never knew what it was he did for a living.
Her ability was a secret, her mother and father had always pressed that she should never tell anyone, and that she should never use it. They were the same with her little brother, but they never explained why. Her childhood was happy, although unsettled with all their moving, but as far as she could tell it was normal. She'd never suspect they were anything but a normal family, she never thought they had been on the run for all her life.
Questions only arose when Robyn got older and she wanted to move out, stretch her wings. She had things she wanted to do, a life she wanted to live and she couldn't do that while nested in the safety of a family that up and went every three years.
Robyn didn't understand her family's reluctance and she most defiantly didn't understand the emergency plan.
They had a code word, and the moment she heard it, no matter how or what context it was in she had to follow a very strict set of instructions.
She remembered the grave look on her father's face as he handed her over a large brown envelope and the actions she had to take; write down all the numbers you need then turn your phone off and leave it behind. Go to the designated meetup. Wait for no longer than an hour. If no one is there to meet you or arrives within the hour then leave and open the envelope- follow the instructions.
It was an odd and worrying conversation, but it was never explain. Robyn didn't know what the reasoning was and no matter how much she asked she was never told.
After some time she forgot about the conversation and the envelope- her life was back to being fine and ordinary.
Then the code word was sent.
Her blood ran cold as a chill of fear swept over her, bringing with it the memory of that odd conversation.
Robyn woke early in the morning to the guest in the room next door yelling. Their slurred voice seemed to be attempting a song. It was terrible.
She sat up with a frown and rubbed the sleep from her swollen eyelids. Her hair was messy from where it had dried in an odd way and her bare shoulders had picked up a chill from not having anything to cover them.
She slid out of bed and let her towel drop off her before finally changing into some clothes. She stepped into the bathroom and winced at her reflection. Sure she was clean but she still looked awful. It was clear to see any sleep she had gotten hadn't been good to her.
She turned the facet on and held her hands under the cold stream of water before pressing her chilled fingers to her puckered eyelids.
She took a few calming breaths and ran her wet hands over the rest of her face before turning of the tap and checking the mirror to see if that had improved her face. It hadn't.
With a sigh she tried to smooth out her dark hair into a more sensible look, working her fingers through her locks to get the worst of the knots out. She'd forgotten to get a brush and hairbands which didn't help the task.
Her stomach twisted with hunger and it's sounds of protest was quick to follow. She hadn't eaten anything in a while and she hadn't picked up any food either.
She was sure there'd be a convenience store or fast food joint that either had early opening hours or was open twenty-four hours and so she slung her hoodie on and put her room key in one pocket and the money in the other before heading out.
Most people wouldn't want to go wandering out when it was dark, especially some where they'd never been before, but Robyn felt more at ease. There was a security in the thought that no one would be specifically looking for her at such unsociable hours.
She wandered around rather aimlessly. She was distracted enough by the need of food that she'd forgotten the bigger picture. She was on the run and needed to get to anyone that would listen and help her. The police was her best bet but she didn't know where she was let alone the closest police station and even then she wasn't sure if it would be safe for her to just walk into one.
Would someone be expecting her to do that and be waiting for her?
She lifted a hand to her head with a frown before taking a look at her surroundings. She was on some quiet street that lead away from the centre of the city. She thought it would be better to avoid the more commercial areas with their security cameras and crowds.
"Why did I leave the hospital?" She questioned to herself with a whine. If it wasn't for that utterly weird man she probably would have stayed there. But then again she didn't know who was in that car that came screeching to a halt out side the hospital. Maybe it was nothing, but was it worth the risk?
With a sigh, Robyn stopped outside a small convenience store, the sky was lightening with the morning sunrise but the store was still closed. The sign said it opened at six in the morning but she had no clue what time it was now. Cupping her hands next to her eyes, Robyn brought her face close to the window and squinted at the clock on the wall.
"Half hour wait isn't too bad," She decided as she stepped over to a single metal bike rack and perched on it.
She twiddled her fingers and looked about the empty street as she waited. There was a cat sat across the street giving her the eye and after a few glances towards it she then went to sit on the curb and tried to tempt it to come over.
"Store not open yet?" A voice asked and she jumped.
Robyn peeked behind her and at the young male loitering by the door of the shop, "No, it opens at six." She spoke softly. She took in what it was he was wearing, simple and nondescript clothes like her; just jeans and a hoodie only his was black. But where as her clothes were new and clean his were the opposite. Robyn couldn't tell anything else about the male, he had his hood up and kept his back turned to her.
"That's alright," He spoke casually with a shrug before taking a few paces back from the glass door.
Robyn narrowed her eyes in suspicion and tilted her head a little to try and see beneath his hood but his actions stalled her.
From the pocket of his hoodie he brought out a large rock and threw it at the door. The glass shattered and the hooded figure ran to the door and kicked the rest of the glass through while Robyn sprung to her feet. "What are you doing!?" She yelped in fright but he was already in the shop.
Robyn had never experienced anything like it first hand and could only gawk through the window before she looked both ways up the street for something anything that could help.
Maybe she should go find a phone box and call the police? She thought but a small light caught her attention in the shop. She looked back to the window and could see a door from inside had been opened and there stood an alarmed looking elder lady.
Robyn's heart fluttered in fear for her and her body was jittery in the struggle of moving towards or away from the shop.
Sound and movement to her left caught her attention and she looked towards it. There were two teens, one pushing his bike with an empty delivery bag hanging from his shoulder while his friend squinted through a yawn as he walked beside him. They both paused when they saw Robyn.
Crashing from inside the shop caused all three to look in the window in horror. The intruder had grabbed the older woman and was yanking her around the shop. "Call the police!" Robyn shouted to the teens before ducking through the hole in the glass door.
"Open the register you hag!" The hooded male bellowed as he threw the elder lady towards the cash desk.
"Hey!" Robyn called with a frown but held her hands up in placating manner to show she was unarmed.
"Stay out of this!" The man barked at her before giving the older woman another shove to encourage her around the counter.
"Why are you doing this?" Robyn asked, trying to keep his attention and hoping to stall him enough.
She could see him give a slow roll of his head in annoyance, "Why don't you use your imagination!" He clipped sarcastically.
That was a good idea. Robyn thought. She was good at illusions, tricking the eyes was what she preferred but she also didn't want to force the intruder to lash out. "There is no need for you to shove that lady around!" She decided to bide her time as she crept closer.
The man groaned and finally looked towards her, "Look, do-gooder, why don't you step out side and mind your own business?" He suggested as he took a gun from the waist band of his jeans and held it up.
They locked eyes and Robyn concentrated. He was weak minded and easily stressed, she could see the reasons for why he was doing what he was doing but she had no sympathy for him. One face floated around the fore front of his mind. It was of a tall and aged man, but he seemed strong and stern with more lines created on his face from scowling rather than smiling. He was a serious and old fashioned man and there wasn't not one memory of this man that didn't bring an edge of fear. Robyn could hear the man's voice, his voice was gruff and hateful as he spat out his thoughts on the hooded male, 'You're pathetic!" He growled 'To think you're my son!'.
Slowly Robyn moved from where she'd originally been stood but the man still looked at where she had been. "You're pathetic," She shook her head as she circled around the isles.
"The fuck you just say!?" He bellowed as he stretched his arm out and pointed the gun.
"The truth!" She answered.
"Say it again!" He dared, but his hand shook when he took that step closer to her double he was seeing.
The elder lady looked about in confusion, she could see Robyn sneak around the isles and was confused as to why the hooded intruder was pointing his gun else where. She looked over as Robyn waved her to come towards her, but shock had her frozen to the spot.
Robyn licked her lips as she thought on adding to the illusions. The man had loads of fears and insecurities she could play on, but the most prominent one was the image of that stern looking man and judging by the memory- his father.
"I said, you're pathetic!" That gruff voice spat and all colour drained from the hooded youth's face. "Look at you!" He continued and the intruder turned.
His hands started to shake and his gun lowered as he stared at the image of his father stood behind the cash desk he was trying to rob.
"P-pa?" The hooded man uttered.
"To think you're my son!" The tall man spat in disgust, giving a single shake of his head.
"Hey, miss!" Robyn whispered to the elder woman and again gave her another wave but when the woman still wouldn't move she quickly rushed forwards and grabbed her by the arm, taking a quick look to the intruder to be sure he was still distracted before dragging the older lady with her.
"The man has a gun and he's crazy, he's just waving it around and shouting!" The teen on the phone outside panicked, trying to grab his friend away from where he was holding his phone up to the window to record the action.
"Oh! The shop owner is safe! The other woman got her!" He updated the police.
"Can you get out this way?" Robyn asked as she shoved the woman towards the door she'd entered through. The elder woman didn't answer but she gave enough of a bob of her head for Robyn to take it as a nod.
The moment the woman was gone Robyn closed the door and shut of the stream of light that had once been flooding through.
"H-hey?" The male called out in confusion. "How are you over there?" He pointed at her with his left while raising his gun in his right to point to the other woman he could see.
"Who the hell do you think you're pointing that thing at!" His father's gruff voice bellowed and the hooded man looked in the direction of his gun, and where he had seen Robyn he now saw his father.
"No," The intruder muttered in disbelief, looking from the one stern man stood across the shop and to the other behind the counter. "This, this isn't right?" He murmured, "This isn't real!" He started to panic as he backed away from the two men as they started to close in on him, yelling at him like he was a boy again.
The gun switched between the two illusions, the hooded man having forgotten about Robyn and not realising he'd nearly backed up into her, "How are you still holding that, doesn't it burn?" She whispered from behind him and only then did the man realised the gun was engulfed in flames.
He released it with a wail of pain and fanned his hand to rid it of the burning feeling. He screamed some more as the pain refused to leave his hand, he couldn't get the flames to go out no matter how much he waved his hand or tried to smother them.
"Just give up, it'll all go away then," Robyn suggested. She was feeling more confident as she forced the feeling of fatigue and the man sunk to the floor sobbing.
She watched him curl up and cry for a bit before she dared to move. She crept around him and swiftly kicked his gun out of reach and turned to take him in. He remained on the floor and shook with his tears and horror.
"You reap what you sow." Robyn then huffed. She felt bad she could reduce someone to such a quivering mess as that, but he'd made choices that had brought him to where he was now, just like she had.
She was here now because she couldn't stand up and fight. She was here now because she always did as she was told. She ran.
That's not what she wanted anymore, she wanted justice for her family.
No- she wanted more than justice.