"He'll know that was a bullshit excuse Rose. Abe's the one who set up the car for you. Do you really think he doesn't know the windows are protected?" Christian looked at me accusingly.
"I need to stop. It won't be long, I just need a shower and a change of clothes. On the off chance we do have someone who follows us, I don't want to give them the opportunity to catch up."
I had a death grip on the steering wheel as I flew down the back road. I was eager to put as much distance between us and them as possible.
"You really think anyone will come after us?" Christian sounded skeptical and a look in his direction confirmed it.
"I think it's always a possibility. This is my third time disappearing now, just trust me." I turned on the radio trying to prevent any further discussion on the topic. I wasn't in the mood to talk any more than necessary.
Luckily Sparky took the hint and settled in for the long haul.~~~
We were running low on gas so I decided the next town would be fine to stop in for an hour or so. Christian had fallen asleep somewhere between the first few towns we drove through. I didn't want to wake him up until it was absolutely necessary though. He looked so peaceful sleeping and I figured at least one of us should get some reprieve from the heartache.
I pulled off into the first little motel the town had to offer, on the off chance it was the only one. I left the car running as I went in to get a room and was pleased to find that they accepted cash. The name I'd signed was 'Christina Mazur', praying Abe and Christian wouldn't mind the alias too much.
Before getting back into the car, I pulled out my phone to update Abe. He picked up in the middle of the second ring.
"Where are you?" Abe's voice, though businessy, held a hint of worry.
I smiled a little before answering, for a man who'd been MIA for most of my life he sure did step into the paternal role easily. "Mifflintown, we're going to stop here for a while to sleep and refuel."
"Make sure you keep an eye on the time…" Abe was silent for a moment before releasing a long sigh. "Will you-"
"Not yet." I interrupted him, guessing where that line was about to go. "I need some time to- you know what? It doesn't matter right now… Will you be at the airport?"
"No, I'm currently tending to some work outside of the country." His voice had gotten a little stiff.
"Right work…" I said drawing out the vowels. "Sure old man… On a serious note… Thanks for helping..." I kicked at the loose gravel around my feet.
"Anytime kiz." I could hear the smile in his voice before the call ended.
A knock from inside the car against the glass window startled me. I quickly turned around and had a firm grip on my stake. I relaxed and rolled my eyes when I realized it was just Sparky, whom I had startled back. While still chuckling, I motioned for him to roll down the window.
"What's up buttercup?" I asked with a grin.
"What the hell was that about?" Christian asked with a frown.
"I was talking with Abe." I answered plainly before walking around the car and getting in.
Christian was silent as I drove across the lot, closer to where our room was. Bottom floor, door on the outside, and closest to the exit that led back to the highway. I was playing it cautious, but better safe than sorry.
The hotel was older and clearly worn down on the outside. The building was an off yellow with a red roof that matched the room doors. The outside trim was a dirty white and red and I didn't have high hopes for the room we were about to enter.
I had to slide the key card in and out of the reader several times before it clicked open. Motioning for Christian to wait by the door so I could do a quick look around. He rolled his eyes when I checked under the double bed that was in the room and behind the couch.
The interior mirrored the outside, with its red and yellow theme. All complimented by matching floral furniture and bedding that probably should have been left in the 80s when the place likely opened. The bathroom looked clean enough and I relaxed my shoulders a little.
"All clear." I said to him popping back out of the bathroom. "Get some sleep, I'll take the couch when I'm done." I said as I motioned for him to move to the bed.
I grabbed the go bag I'd left at the door and went back into the bathroom. After several attempts to close the door all the way to lock it, I sighed and gave up. It was highly unlikely that Christian wanted to be in here at the same time anyways.
I turned the water to as hot as it would go, in hopes of sanitizing the shower, and let it run for a bit before I entered. The water hadn't been as scorching hot as I'd have hoped for as I ducked under the shower head and let the water run over my skin. Just as I had finally relaxed and shut my eyes, unwanted images of Dimitri and Lissa flashed through my mind.
What I couldn't tell is if I had been sucked into Lissa's head,if it was a flashback from earlier, or if it was just my own imagination torturing me. I sunk to the bottom of the tub and pulled my knees up to my chest. Tears mixed with water as I tried to contain the silent sobs that wracked my chest.
I dug my nails into my arms trying to get ahold of myself. It wasn't the time or place to fall apart, not yet, not with Christian right in the next room. I hadn't realised I had broken the skin until I saw the water going down the drain take on a shade of pink. A few more deep breaths and I retracted my fingers before standing up on shaky legs. I sped through the remainder of the shower, unwilling to close my eyes again.
I dressed in a pair of jeans and a long sleeve black v-neck. I pulled on my black vans and then threw my wet hair up into a messy ponytail. As I was cleaning up the bathroom, I debated on throwing away the clothes I'd been previously wearing but decided against it. They'd be fine after several cycles in the wash with actual hot water, and if that didn't work… setting them on fire would be fun. Once I was ready, I exited the bathroom to find Christian sitting upright in bed watching tv.
"Couldn't sleep?" I asked settling onto the edge and tossing my bag against the front door.
"Not really. How was your shower?" He asked keeping his eyes on the loud tv.
"I didn't get to practice burning in hell, so I guess it could have been better."
The corner of his mouth twitched. "I could've taken care of that for you, still could."
"Maybe next time Sparky." I shifted off the bed and settled into the couch. "Do you want to shower before we head out again?" I joined him in staring at the old box tv.
"After the high praise it just got from you? Definitely." He replied sarcastically.
I rolled my eyes and peeked at Christian as he gathered his things. After watching him also struggle with door and settle for cracked, I tuned into what he had left on. Forensic Files, really Sparky?
I spent the next five minutes channel surfing only to settle back onto what Christian had been watching, Forensic Files it is then...Just when it was getting to the part of who the killer was Christian came out of the bathroom looking a little more revived. Just a little.
Christian was dressed in an almost identical outfit to myself, but he was wearing all black and a band tee. His raven hair was still damp from the shower and it clung to his forehead in a boyish way. His skin was less ashen and eyes weren't as vacant. Unlike when I had exited the bathroom though, he was also accompanied by dramatic swirls of steam.
"Good shower?" I asked, keeping my eyes on the tv's subtitles.
"Oh, the best." He replied sarcastically before covering his whole head with a towel. "What's next?"Christian asked with the towel still covering his face.
"Well from here, we're going to the little diner across the street." As if on cue my stomach grumbled. "From there... the next gas station on the way to Philadelphia International."
Sparky pulled the towel off his head. "Where are we going?"
"That's a good question." I said finally looking away from the tv at the commercial break. "I don't actually know. Abe didn't say, and I have been a little too preoccupied to ask. It's an international airport, so possibly anywhere."
"How are you-" Christian started.
"I honestly doubt you want to answer that question any more than I do." I said hitting him with my best attempt at a bitchy glare.
I didn't really have it in me to feel bitchy though. There was nothing I currently wanted more than to roll up in a ball and cry myself to sleep. However, I was too scared as to what I would see when I closed my eyes. Which was probably why Christian hadn't fallen back asleep when I was in the shower.
"Fair point." Christian said as he gathered up our bags. "Lets go get some food then."~~~
"Three cheese omelette, sausage and bacon, with home fries please; and if I could have a pancake instead of toast that be amazing." I placed my order with the server and then sipped on my coffee as Christian gave his order.
The girl hadn't bothered to look at me as she scrawled my order down but was now giving Christian her full attention. Doe eyed and all, it was sweet really, but Christian didn't even bother to look up.
"I'll have the roast beef sandwich with fries please." Christian said as he handed over our menus.
The young girl tucked the menus under her arm and scrawled out his order before giving a perky "Right away, sir." and bouncing off.
I fetched my phone from my pocket to updated Abe. This time, after Sparky so politely reminded me, I was able to ask about our destination. It didn't do much good though.
"Best not to say over the phone, I'll instruct the pilot to fill in that information once you arrive." I relayed the text message to Christian.
"If he wasn't your father Rose, I'd say that sounded suspicious." He narrowed his eyes at me over the brim of his cup before taking a long drink of water.
I shrugged and we fell back into silence, toying with our cups as we continued waiting for our food to show up.