Andy fumbled with the seat adjuster as she shoved her face between her knees facing the wall and feigned sleep. All under your careful instruction of course... of course. Minutes ago she'd given a bus card to the driver, before that she had tracked down the nearest greyhound, and before that she'd wrenched herself out of the sewer. But now, heading north to Milwaukee on a bus full of suspicious-looking people, no one would notice a random unaccompanied minor of fourteen years apparently trying to sleep. The more we change mode of transportation the better. We'll want a boat as soon as we can get to the river, but Chicago authorities have likely closed off the ports in the city. Would you like to resume story time? No. I know about the Egyptian creation story; I want to hear the one with Black Adam, and you, using my body, and where I was asleep…somewhat. Fine, woman-Stop that bullshit-have it your way. But you'll have to explain a few things afterward, due to my distance from earth in recent years. Whatever. Someone is coming.
"Excuse me, is this seat taken?" A slender Asian boy who was older than she was indicated the seat next to her. From his voice, he could have been Japanese. No, it isn't.
"No, it isn't." He sat down next to her and opened a laptop, launching a game program of some sort. Andy put her feet on the floor, sitting stock-still, realizing it's going to look even weirder trying to sleep on a bus, after not having been woken up. That was a rookie mistake right there. You should have taken a second. Just… start from the part where I pass out. You can get to the rest some other time.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o -o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o -o
It went exactly as planned, contrary to our expectations. I was spreading out into the body of the single human being who met the all of the qualifications. Sitting up, I skipped the predictable exploration of my new vessel and addressed the one who put me in it.
"You play a convincing doctor, you know." I'll admit, I hadn't had a pleasant conversation in more than a few centuries.
"I know." And that was it. I sometimes wonder if all mortals are this boring.
"At any rate, I need to know about the plan. What's the current punishment for mass murder?"
"Illinois has no current capital punishment status. The court could probably get away with a lethal injection. I'm sure the public would go for it."
"Perfect, where do the parents work?"
"One is currently in a school at the corner of East side and South side. The other is in an office building. We don't need to worry about him. I've got a minion in the force who will kill him when police approach him for questioning."
"Then all I need to do is cause some serious trouble. How many miles away is this Durham?"
"Durham is in North Carolina. Your best bet is to sail around Florida after reaching the Gulf of Mexico. You'll need a boat after escaping prison. This city is on a river."
"Tell me about the girl."
"Her name is Andromeda Popolos. She's 13 and 10 months old. As requested, she's a mythology student. She recently suffered a dog bite on the arm. Also as requested, nobody knows her. She just moved to Chicago. I really couldn't have found a more qualified subject."
"How did you get the moon disk in her wound without her complaining? This is pretty damn painful." I moved slowly towards the window and unlatched it as I asked this of him.
"I told her it was West Nile Virus." I admit I let out a snicker here. "I told her the moon disk was Selenium." That was even better, but I didn't make a sound as I crawled out the window. I could faintly hear his final sentence as I closed it behind me.
"I always thought they should have named the element after you."
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o -o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o -o
Andy didn't care whether Khonsu realized she was crying or not. It's not like he would stop telling the story if it hurt her. She hadn't eaten in six hours, certainly not slept, he forced her to run even when she was in control, and there was no end to his verbal abuse. So that is just it. My parents were just instruments to you? You kill them to prevent me from pleading insanity? They are not alive to tell the police I would never do such a thing in my right mind? You're grasping this more quickly than I thought you would. Now if only I could get you to get a better grasp on our many magical powers. I do not want to talk to you. You don't, do you? Andy expected him to launch into yet another condescending speech inside her head. The god was totally silent. You know what? Be that way. Andy looked over at this guy's computer and considered making conversation, if for no other reason than to see if Khonsu would blow up at her. Looking around the vehicle, she noticed a road map in the pocket of the seat across the aisle. I guess I could just steal it when I get off. No one is going to care. In a few minutes, Andy noticed the road signs seemed to indicate they were drawing close to Milwaukee. Not a single police officer has stopped the bus to check the passengers. I am a wanted mass murderer, and I could pretty much sleep soundly all the way to safety. Wait, where am I trying to go, anyway? Khonsu! What is this about Durham, North Carolina? Khonsu? Whatever. As the greyhound was slowing down for a stop, Andy stood and snatched the road map from the pocket in front of an empty seat and walked to the front of the bus to see if Lawman was waiting at the bus stop to arrest criminals. She saw no one. Before all of this happened, I would have been happy no one caught me. But in light of all that's happened, it is kind of depressing.
