Chapter 3
Where To Go Now?
'Ugh... my back...'
Immediately, AJ was greeted with a big pain in her back. Her head hurt on each spot, as if someone hit her on the head with a sledgehammer. Her eyes felt like they were dry, they were stinging. Her body was cold.
With her eyes half-lidded, AJ looked around her. An alley. A narrow stinky alley, with some small graffiti tags here and there on the walls. Garbage was littered everywhere. Right then, AJ saw what served as her bed for that night. A big cardboard box, covered with damp spots. So that's what explained the pain in her back. Her bed back at the clinic was a king's bed compared to this. The folded flaps must've acted like the sheets.
The sun shined brightly and the temperature must have raised when she was asleep. She felt a trickle of sweat running down her temple. She tried to stand up; which was painful because her legs had been bent in an uncomfortable position all night long. But even when she got up, she still was in pain. Immediately, she felt a sharp pain in her feet. AJ sat down in the box and looked underneath her right foot. The once white sock was now crimson red.
So much for escaping.
Where they still looking for her? With that thought, AJ got up again, but now faster. She knew she managed to get rid of them when she was on the run, at one point they had given up the chase. She remembered running from the clinic all the way to a nearby town, which wasn't that far away, luckily. Even though her escape went smoothly (despite stepping into the glass), she forgot one important thing.
Money.
Without any money, she couldn't stay anywhere. There was no motel, hotel or inn around here, so her only option was to spend the night in this alley. It was almost morning when she managed to fall asleep.
Maybe there was a reason why they stopped chasing her. Did they call the cops...? The chance was big.
AJ had to get out of here, right now. She had to escape this stupid little town and travel to some place where she would be safe. But where was this town? During her drive to the clinic, she was so angry she didn't even pay attention to the signs at the highway or anything. She could've been all the way on the other side of the United States for all that mattered. But she would find something, she told herself. As long as it was safe.
First, she had to get rid of her outfit. Walking around in a white t-shirt, white pajama pants and blood stained socks would raise suspicion for everyone. And it would be easier for the cops to find her. AJ looked around. Maybe there was something in the trash that would cover up her clothes. Not the most hygienic idea, but still...
AJ got out of the box and opened a trash can. With her hand, she moved away the trash while she was digging. Rotten pieces of pizzas, packages of food... so gross. But then, she found something. Underneath all that garbage, she found a long leather coat. The leather was stained with filth and it was worn-out, but it was useful. Wrinkling her nose with disgust, AJ put the coat on.
So much for escaping.
It must've been early in the afternoon.
AJ got out of the alley and started exploring the town. There was a bakery, mechanic store, flower shop and some antique stores. Quite a boring town; she wouldn't like to live here. But then, something caught her eye.
A fashion store.
Looking through the store's big window, AJ looked at the clothes. They weren't really special, just plain clothes, but it was something. A plain black t-shirt and a pair of jeans caught her attention. The only thing she had to do now was to buy them, but she didn't even have a coin in her pockets.
AJ guessed she had to do it the risky way.
She walked into the store as calm as possible. A young woman from around her age, who was standing behind the cash desk, smiled at the escaped patient. 'Good afternoon!' she said. 'Hello.' AJ replied, giving a quick smile and nodding. She walked towards the planks with the jeans on it, looked for one which was her size and took it off. Then she grabbed a black t-shirt and quickly walked towards to the small and only fitting room in the store. During her little shopping, she noticed that the woman gave her a strange look. Maybe it was because of that dirty coat. But didn't matter; she would get rid of it anyway.
In the fitting room, AJ put on the jeans and t-shirt. God, it felt so good to wear normal clothes again after three months! She decided to leave her old clothes behind. But there was still one problem; the woman was still standing behind the cash desk. If she would run away with her new clothes on right now, she could maybe catch up with her, which could be easy because of her injured feet. She peeked behind the curtains of the fitting room. The lady was gone, probably went back to the storage room. AJ sighed in relief.
This was her chance.
AJ ran out of the fitting room, through the store and out the door. Immediately, just like she expected, the alarm went off. 'Hey! Come back!' she heard the lady yell. But there was no way in hell she would come back. The pain in her feet was killing her, but AJ had to move. She planned to run back to the alley and hide in the box again. With her heart pounding in her head and her feet hurting like hell, AJ ran back the same way were she came from. She could hear the siren of a police car in the distance. The lady in the store must've called the cops. Shit!
Just when AJ was getting close to the alley, a light-blue van with big rust spots stopped next to hear. When she ran past it, the driver's door opened.
'Hey! You!'
AJ turned around. Behind her, she saw probably the most unhygienic man she had ever seen. He wasn't really that old, possibly in his thirties. He was really tall, had long curly black hair and a long black beard to match his haircut. He was wearing a trucker's vest, a shirt that probably hadn't been washed in months and ripped jeans. It made AJ's skin crawl.
'Don't worry.' the man said. 'I am no cop. But I can get you some place safe, if you come with me.'
AJ's brains started to work in rapid speed. This man didn't look really trustworthy, he didn't look very hygienic and she really didn't want to know what was in the back of the van.
But then again, if the cops got her, she would be send back to the clinic and that was the last thing she wanted.
'Well? What are you waiting for?' the man asked.
AJ had to make up her mind.
