Chapter 1: On the Road

---------------------------

Music blasted from the stereo, the windows were rolled down and the cool night wind was refreshing. She loved driving at night; there weren't as many people on the road. She loved the feeling of just her, the car, the road, and a full tank of gas. There was a peace that driving brought and that feeling intensified at night. It made her feel more alive, which was contradictive in itself but that's how it made her feel.

Looking down at the dash, July saw that she was getting low on gas and would have to pull over soon. She quickly passed a sign that stated gas and lodging three miles ahead. At the speed she was going, she soon ate up those three miles and took the exit. She pulled into a lonely and quiet gas station and began the routine of filing the gas tank.

Her eyes were getting gritty with sleep, her eyelids becoming a little heavier as each minute passed. July saw a decent hotel down the road that had their vacancy sign on. Finishing quickly, she got back into the car and started driving down the road, parking in near the front of the hotel. Tucking her wallet into her back pocket, she grabbed her bag and jacket, and got out.

At the front desk a short and plump woman was enthralled in a late night show on the small television set. She looked friendly, kind of like that aunt that was always giving you a hug and pinching your cheek. July cleared her throat, signaling her presence. The woman jumped and turned her head, her brown eyes wide with fright.

"My goodness, you scared me," she said with a sigh of relief.

"Sorry I didn't mean to," July said apologetically.

"It's all right dear. Now what can I do for you?" she asked, sitting up and getting down to business.

"I wanted to get a room for the night." July came closer to the desk and set her bag down on the ground, draping her jacket over the top.

"Are you by your self or are there other people with you?" she asked typing on the computer.

"Nope just me."

"So a single for just tonight, right?" the woman asked continuing to type on the computer without looking up.

"Yeah, how much will that be?" July took out her wallet and opened it up.

"Just $50 for the night." She handed the lady the money and took the key she offered in return, the large plastic rectangle attached that had a bold fourteen on it. "Your room is on the ground floor on the left side of the building. Check out is at noon."

"Thank you." July grabbed her bag and headed back outside and to the left. The room was near the very end of the building and she contemplated moving her car but decided against it. It was probably safer near the front anyways.

She opened the green door with a gold fourteen on it and blindly reached her hand out to the side. She flicked on the light to reveal a small single room. The bed had a dark brown comforter and next to it was a nightstand holding a lamp and a clock, which stated it was three in the morning. The walls were a creamy white and the carpet was a deep forest green, the color hiding whatever stains might have been on it. It was surprisingly nice for the price she had paid.

July closed the door and threw her stuff on the table were a small black television sat. There were two other doors, one turned out to be a small closet and the other was a medium sized bathroom. She opened the front window to let some air into the room but made sure to keep the curtain closed against the impending sun.

After brushing her teeth and turning on the lamp near the bed, she sluggishly changed into some pajamas, and then turned off the main light and dead bolted the door. Peeling back the sheets to the bed, she climbed in. The bed was soft and cozy, the linen cool against her heated skin. She turned off the lamp and flooded the room with darkness; the only light was the glaring of the red digits on the clock that now read a quarter after three. Turning so she was laying on her side, she cocooned the blankets around herself and drifted off to sleep.

---------------------------

tbc…