Sorry for the delay in updating! But school has started and everything is crazy! I'll try to update this story more regularly but school is in fully swing so I'll see what I can do. Again, thank you to everyone for reading and for those who reviewed! You make me happy! (Btw, if I didn't mention your name previously and you reviewed, it's not because I don't love it, it's just that sometimes I can't view all the reviews) That's enough from me, on with the story! Enjoy!
The sound of her own feet pounding on the pavement filled her ears. She ran until her body could take no more. Her lungs screamed for air as she doubled over, gasping for oxygen as she gripped the side of a building, barely holding herself up. She must have looked insane, dressed in only a hospital gown, exhausted beaten up and practically hysterical. The sound of sirens screaming towards her jolted her out of her state of delirium. Survival instincts kicked in, and feeling another rush of adrenaline Sydney looked up at the building she was clinging to. St. John's Cathedral.
She trudged up the shallow steps, leading to the enormous wooden doors. She pulled open one tentatively, peeking in, after nervously glancing behind her. Finding it empty, she entered. A wave of cold air wafted over her, causing her to shiver in the omniscient silence. Her heavy breathing filled the church, her eyes sweeping over the space, huge arched ceilings dominated the building, an ornate alter stood at the front of the church, accompanied by a large crucifix that hung on the wall above it. She glanced to her sides, seeing only confessionals lining the walls but was relieved to find some small offices to her right. She immediately strode to the office and felt almost elated when she saw a petite woman working behind a computer. She entered quietly and before the woman could react, she brought her elbow down on the woman, rendering her unconscious. She breathed apologies and felt temporary pangs of guilt shoot through her for doing such a thing in a church.
Her body tired, she managed to swap clothes with the woman, along with taking her credit card and driver's license. She ripped the large bandage off her forehead, not wanting to see what lie beneath it as she searched through the woman's purse for some make-up. She winced when she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror of a small compact. Using a liberal amount of concealer, she was able to masquerade as a normal person. Actually as Patricia Sandberg. She awkwardly swept her ragged hair up in a ponytail, as one of her hands was in a cast. She took a deep breath and pain echoed through her entire body. She dreaded the moment the morphine would eventually wear off. She moved to the doorway of the small office, ready to make her escape when the sharp sound of footsteps resounded through the vacant church.
She searched the room frantically for a place to hide but then realize her recent activities would be dreadfully obvious considering the unconscious woman lying in front of her desk. She stepped into the hallway, coming face to face with a priest. Not knowing what else to do she quickly knocked him unconscious, her body protesting with each movement. She watched as the old man crumpled to the floor before her eyes. If she weren't already going to hell, now she would be for sure. Still full of panic she rapidly made her escape, exiting out the back of the large church.
She had made it to the airport, and had purchased a one-way flight to O'Hare. Her freedom was delivered on flight 4932, yet she was still imprisoned as she stepped off the plane four hours later.
~~~***~~~
She had flown to nine states in the past four days, assuming a new identity each flight. She had stopped using credit cards, now only using cash. She was exhausted. Her body felt the most weary and pained in the past four days than she had her entire life. She knew she didn't look much better. Sleep was a luxury, only awarded on long flights to nowhere. Her mind seemed to buzz as she was hopped up on painkillers. Actually the strongest thing she could find was Advil in the airport convenient store, but she had already used an entire bottle.
Entirely fed up with her escape, and confidant the CIA could no longer track her, Sydney found herself at the MSP airport in Minnesota. She trudged through the terminal, wondering what her life had become. She was tired, she needed relief. She followed a throng of people out the door and found herself at a bus terminal. She looked up and saw a large greyhound idling before her. She looked up at the lights in front. Chicago. She boarded without hesitation, immediately falling asleep as she took a seat. She slept the entire eight hours until she hit Chicago.
~~~***~~~
Acrid smoke permeated the air of the nightclub. The heat seemed to trap it as it hung over a crowd of people, hovering in the center of the dance floor. Neon lights flashed through the cheap club as music pounded, reverberating off the walls. Women dressed in little clothing clung to guys as their bodies grinded together. Felecia elbowed her way through the throng of pulsing people, forcing her way up to the bar.
"Hey, we got another out in the back." She yelled at the bartender as her hand motioned towards a back room of the club. The man looked up from behind the counter, sweat covered his body as he looked at her with annoyance.
"Eh, what are ya gonna do?" He replied apathetically. There was nothing they could do. There was always a group of regulars that came to the club for other intentions than dancing. He poured a drink as he looked back at the woman. "Anyone dead?" He questioned loudly over the obtrusive music.
"No." She replied as she took a seat on a stool. He handed her a drink and she looked up to him gratefully. "Thanks." She said, downing it in one gulp. Felicia turned on her stool and watched the crowd before her. She was manager of this place, Eddie, the bartender owned it. She watched as the bodies mingled before her. She checked her watch, 3:24. The club closed at four. She couldn't wait to get out of here. She stayed at her perch at the bar and watched as things wound down.
She ran her hands through her brown hair, hating the way smoke seemed to cover it. She closed her eyes momentarily as she let her thoughts wander a bit. She opened her eyes again and glanced at her watch again. 3:53. Close enough. She was closing. She ushered the few remaining people out the front door, onto the cold streets. It was winter, and a few flakes of snow wandered through the door. She watched as Eddie cleaned up and the bouncers grabbed their jackets and headed home.
This was her least favorite part. Getting the people from the back room. Most of them still there were passed out, or else too zonked to realize what was going on. She made her way to the back, relieved to only find two remaining people. One man, probably about 22 or so was awake, and was standing up, seeming to be lecturing an imaginary audience. She spoke to him as she led him out the door, as he stared at her with wide eyes.
She went back in and found the other. It was a girl. She was huddled in a corner, knees up to her chest, hugging them tightly against herself as she rocked back and forth. She glanced down at her, a small sense of pity forming for the girl. She had blonde hair, though obviously dyed as its dark roots protruded. She eyed the girl's arm. Heroine.
She called out to Eddie to come get her. She was a regular; she had been for about a month now. Every night she'd come, and stay until they closed. Every night Eddie would carry her out the door, leaving her on a bench close to the building. Every night she and Eddie would lock up, and the girl would be mysteriously gone. Felicia sighed. This stuff wasn't her responsibility, it was their choice to use. She didn't advocate it but hey, she needed to make a living, and the group of addicts always provided business to the club.
Sydney awoke, her heart pounding rapidly. Her eyes were swollen as she attempted to open them. The first thing she felt was the heat. She was always hot. She shifted and found herself on her bed. Her body amongst the cool white sheets. Her throat was parched as she unsuccessfully tried to swallow. She groaned as she took a breath and lifted herself from her bed, taking in her surroundings. She blinked and her head throbbed, the soft whirring of a broken fridge seeming to make way to much noise. She finally forced herself up as she sat upright on her bed. She blinked again as she tried to remember the previous night, but she came up blank. Every morning she'd wake up in her apartment, not remembering how she had gotten there. The last memory would always be of her standing on black pavement, waiting to get into the club.
She glanced about her apartment. It was almost bare, save for a bed, a chair and a small kitchen- all in one room. She forced herself out of bed as her legs felt like stumps beneath her. She rubbed her face, trying to bring herself out of her state as she made her way to the tiny bathroom and splashed cold water on her face.
Sydney looked in the mirror, and saw a stranger looking back at her. She was blonde, her hair cut short. Her face looked old and ragged. She was thin; her eyes seemed to stick out abnormally from her gaunt face. She brushed her teeth and downed some aspirin that lay on her sink. She turned and stared at the reflection. It frightened her. She felt fear rise in her chest, as she slunk to the floor as thoughts of him invaded her mind. Her shoulders started to shake, her breathing labored as she gave into her tears. Sobs wracked her body, the sound of her own distress causing pain in her head as her crying amplified. The bottle of aspirin suddenly fell from the sink, making an unbearable racket as it clattered loudly on the floor, pills rattling inside of it's plastic body. Sydney lowered her body fully on the floor as she grabbed the bottle of aspirin and hugged it to her chest. She curled up in a fetal position on the dingy tile, studying the dirty grout between each tile before she shut her eyes tightly. Her body shook from her tears as she called out his name. But no one was there to hear it.
TBC……
Review! If you feel so inclined to do so :0)
