Street lamps were buzzing by in streaks of amber-colored light. The hum of the highway drummed in Ray's head as her eyes cracked open. She realized her face was pushed against the backrest of the seat and her cheek was prickly from the pattern of the fabric.

She turned her head slightly and pulled her knees closer to her body. Still dizzy, she tried to focus on the figures around her. Two men were crammed into the back seat with her, with the original four in front. When she saw the driver, she felt nauseous. Clenching her eyes tight, she went back to sleep.

"Hey, hey! Get up. Time to go get some grub."

Someone was slightly shaking her shoulder. Ray opened her eyes and saw Mack's large hand retreating and his door opening. Suddenly the door she'd been leaning on flew open and, balance lost, she fell out of the car and landed on hard gravel.

She cursed and felt someone help her up, grabbing her shoulders and pulling her to her feet. It was Mack and Cab, and they brushed off her back. She winced suddenly and reached up to touch her cheek; a thin line of pain burned up and she hissed.

"Damn, sorry about that. Thought you were buckled in. You ok?" Cab asked apologetically.

She nodded and rubbed her head. "One hell of a wake-up call. Where are we?"

"Some diner south of the Minnesota state line. We're just here for breakfast. Hungry?" was the answer.

Shrugging, Ray coughed once and followed them inside. Just as they sat down – her, Mack, Cab and Buster – she realized someone was missing. When she remembered who it was, something in her felt a little happy that he didn't come in with them. Another part of her wondered where he was.

"Elwood's in the bathroom," Mack explained, reading her mind. "What happened back there? One minute you go running off into the woods, all half-cocked, and the next he comes back and tells us to go pick you up. You narcoleptic?"

Ray shook her head. "No."

"Then what?"

Her silence didn't invite further questions. So they decided to let it go. "You like pancakes?" Buster asked, breaking the awkward silence.

She sighed and stood up. Making her way back towards the restrooms to freshen up, just as she was about to push open the Ladies' Room door Elwood stepped out of the Men's Room. They locked eyes for a moment, but Ray's momentum carried her all the way into the bathroom and thankfully the door swung closed behind her.

She hung in the balance a moment, then her legs almost gave out and she caught herself on the sink. Breathing heavily, she stared at her reflection in the mirror.

So that's where I get the height from. And the skin. And the nose.

Lisa Banning, for all her physical beauty, had rather fair skin and a small, pointed nose. And she never made it past five-foot-seven. Ray had always had the knack to tan easily and not burn like her poor mother in the summer months. And she hadn't been five-seven since sixth or seventh grade, five years ago.

What am I saying? Am I actually comparing myself to him? Stop thinking that way! He's not-…he's not anything. Just a criminal.

She took a deep breath. Pushing herself back on balance, she washed her hands. Licking her dry lips, suddenly she tasted blood.

Snapping her gaze up, her eyes beheld the thin cut on her cheek that she'd received not ten minutes before. Why hadn't she seen it a minute ago in the mirror? The blood wasn't much, but it had traced a crimson line down her face and ended at the corner of her mouth.

Grabbing a towel, she wiped off the blood and washed the wound, wincing a bit at the soap's sting. But soon, all that remained was a small pink mark, a tiny slash in the skin. It would heal fine. And it would just be another pearly line.

Ray came out of the bathroom and made for the table. Upon seeing the four men now sitting there, perusing the menus, she subconsciously searched for any excuse not to return. Suddenly she saw a pay phone to her right and went over, dropping fifty cents into the slot.

She dialed and let it ring. The other line picked up and she sighed.

The voice was exhausted and worried. "Hello? Banning residence."

"Mom?"

Lisa Banning let out a short cry of relief. "Ray? Honey, I was so scared! Where are you? Why didn't you come home? They said you were kidnapped! Are you ok?"

Ray shook her head to herself. "Yeah, I'm fine. I'm a little south of Minnesota. Not sure where exactly."

"But why?"

"Mom, don't be mad, but…I took a sort of road trip."

"What!"

"It's not with Casey or Victoria. I…went by myself. Just wanted to see the sights."

"Well, I don't support it, but I can forgive you. When are you coming home?"

Ray looked down the aisle at the men, now getting their drinks. The waitress set down an extra glass of water at the table where Ray had been sitting.

"I'm not sure."

"Do you need money?"

"I might be alright."

"Well, if you need to, you do still have my credit card. Just…use it wisely, please. And come home soon."

Ray paused. "Yeah, Mom. I will." She was about to hang up when her mother spoke again.

"I love you, honey. Be safe."

The girl bit back tears and kept her composure. "Yeah. I love you, too."