The blue 1980 Chevy Caprice moved along Interstate 40 headed west. Peyton, riding shotgun, was securely fastened in her seatbelt. Just as Derek had promised, they had left that same day, shortly after packing a few belongings and essentials. He had been anxious at first, insisting that Peyton ride tied in the trunk for fear she would try to escape. Calmly she had eased his fears and gave him her word that she would be good. Indeed she had been. She had something to prove to him. When they stopped for gas and food, she put on a thin jacket with a hood to mask her identity. She was quiet and cooperative, keeping close to Derek at all times. He had even trusted her to go the bathroom alone, while he waited outside the door. It had been a quiet trip as the minutes turned into several hours. Peyton sat with her body turned slightly away from him facing the door. Her head rested on her arm as if she had been sleeping for most of the seven hours but she had been doing anything but. Peyton was awake and alert, silently making a plan.

"We're coming into Knoxville," Derek yawned, speaking of the city in Tennessee. "Maybe we should stop and get a motel."

Peyton felt her heart thump.

"That's fine."

"We'll get something right off the 40 and rest, then we'll get back on the road tomorrow."

She shifted nervously in her seat.

"Can we stop at a store?"

"No."

"Please."

Derek exhaled loudly.

"Why do we need to stop at a store?"

"Because, because, um I wanted some snacks, you know, for, for later."

"We already have food packed."

"I…I know but I thought we could get some beef jerky and sunflower seeds so we'd have something to munch on when we're lying in bed watching TV."

He looked right at her and she half smiled at him, a step up from the looks of disdain she usually had for him.

"Alright," he ran his fingers through his hair. "Okay, if that's what you want. I'll buy you some snacks."

"Thank you," she said quietly as he took the next exit.

"The Family Inn, that looks like a good place," he noted the motel as he pulled into a gas station across the street from it.

"It looks nice."

She anxiously waited as he filled up the tank before he led her by the hand inside the store. Out of the corner of her eye, Peyton kept watch on the Ladies' Room.

"Get whatever you want," he instructed.

She went about picking up various snack foods here and there as she piled all of them up on the counter for payment.

"I have to use the bathroom," she announced.

Derek pulled her to the side.

"You just used the bathroom."

"But that was hours ago," she rubbed her middle. "I'm sorry but I don't feel very good."

"Hold on, we'll be at the motel in a few minutes."

"It can't wait that long. I have to go now."

Derek's eyes darted around as he breathed hard.

"I don't know…"

"Please."

"Look, Peyton, I don't know if I believe you. I don't know if I can trust you. What if this is a trick?"

She looked right in his eyes.

"It's not. I promise."

"Peyton…"

"We've been on the road for over seven hours. We've made stops along the way. If I wanted to escape or scream or tell, don't you think I would have done it when we were still in North Carolina?"

"But…"

"I didn't want to at first. I didn't want to be here, I didn't want to be with you but you told me it was our destiny. Together forever, right? Well, that's my life now so I guess I'm just gonna have to get used to it."

He stared into her green eyes. He loved her with all his heart and he desperately wanted to believe her.

"Do you mean that?"

"Yeah."

He pulled her close and kissed her lips.

"Okay. I'm gonna go pay for this stuff. Use the bathroom but make it quick. I'll be waiting for you."

She nodded and slowly walked to the restrooms, disappearing behind the door. Her heart sank. She had eyed a woman around her age headed for the restroom when they first entered. Peyton figured that was her chance. But in the time it had taken her to convince Derek to let her go, the woman had used the facilities and left. Cursing to herself, Peyton had no choice. It would look suspicious if she all of a sudden no longer had to use the bathroom. So she went in and leaned against the sink, trying not to break down. Less than a minute later, the door swung open again and in walked a younger girl who appeared to be around 11 or 12. She went inside the private compartment and closed the stall door as Peyton's heart began to race. Patiently she waited for the girl to finish, hoping someone else would walk through those doors but it was of no use. It was just the two of them and time was running out. If Peyton wanted to make her move, she'd have to do it quick.

"Hi," she tried to smile.

The girl made a face as she washed her hands.

"Hi."

"Um, my name is Peyton. What's yours?"

"My mom told me not to talk to strangers," she tore off a piece of paper towel and tried to brush by Peyton.

Peyton grabbed her arm.

"Please listen to me…"

"Ow, lady! You're crazy! That hurts! Get off of me or I'm gonna tell my dad!"

"No, no, no", Peyton knelt down. "Please don't do that. I didn't mean to scare you, I just need your help. This is so, so important."

The girl saw tears forming in Peyton's eyes as she softened and backed away.

"What, what do you want?"

"Do you have a cell phone?"

"Outside in our van, why?"

Peyton closed her eyes, trying not to cry. More than anything she needed a phone but the little girl did not have one. She desperately needed to make a phone call. In the car, she had already decided not to call 911. If police converged on them, Derek would no doubt panic and all hell would break loose. He'd surely try to make good on his murder suicide plan. It was too risky but she was in serious trouble. In a bind, there was only one other person who had been there for Peyton and never let her down.

"Please listen to me. I am not crazy even though it probably looks that way. I'm just in a lot of trouble and I need help. I need you to send a message for me. Can you do that? Please."

"I, I don't know. You're weird."

"Here," Peyton reached in her jeans and handed the child a wadded up 20 dollar bill. "It's all I have. This is so important. Please."

"20 bucks to send one text message?" the girl asked. "Easy money. What do you want me to say and who do I send it to?"

She reached in her tiny pink purse and pulled out a pen and mini notepad.

"Oh God, thank you. Thank you so much."

"No offense, but if you don't hurry it up, my mom will be in here looking for me."

And Derek would soon be looking for her.

"Okay. Text these words. Peyton, Knoxville, first exit, Family Inn, Derek. You got that?"

"I guess. Peyton, Knoxville, first exit, Family Inn, Derek."

"Alright. The number is 910-555-1161."

"Got it," she finished scribbling it down.

"Please don't forget."

"Relax, lady, I won't."

"Thank you. Thank you so much. You don't know it but you're saving my life."

She shrugged.

"Whatever. 20 bucks is 20 bucks."

"You can't tell anyone," Peyton warned her. "Not anybody in the store, not even your parents. Don't say anything about talking to me. Just send that message as soon as you can."

"Okay," the girl nodded as she walked out.

As soon as she exited the rest room she ran into a cute, tall, blonde guy wearing a wife beater.

"Hey, kid, is someone in that bathroom? A tall, pretty blonde with green eyes wearing a Led Zepplin shirt."

"Yeah, I saw her."

He leaned in closer. He was cute but there was something dangerous about his eyes.

"What was she doing?"

The girl didn't miss a beat.

"Washing her hands."

Derek nodded and let her go and a few seconds later Peyton emerged.

"About time," he grumbled. "I thought I was gonna have to come in there after you."

"Sorry," she forced a smile. "You, um, ready to go?"

He put his arm around her.

"Let's get out of here."

They walked to the car, bags in hand and a few minutes later they were at the Family Inn. Derek paid for the room in cash and Peyton thought she would lose it when he registered them for a single room with a king size bed, under an assumed name. Taking only the bare minimum from the car, they headed up to the second floor, room 206.

"It's um, it's a nice room," she offered.

"You like it?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"Oh Peyton," he hugged her. "See how great this is? See how much better things are when you aren't pouting and starting fights? We're happy, baby and it could be like this all the time. Think about it."

The only thing she was thinking about was the fact she had left her fate in the hands of a 12 year old girl.

"Yeah…"

"I love you, Peyton Sawyer. I've always loved you. Do you love me? Huh? Do you, Peyton?"

She closed her eyes as she felt his lips on her. She knew what was coming next and she dreaded it more than ever. She didn't know if she could do it again, handle him on top of her, touching her, forcing himself inside her. But she had to. Peyton had to be strong and get through it. It's the last time, she kept telling herself over and over again.

"Yes," she looked up, avoiding his eyes as she lied and told him exactly what he wanted to hear.

"Then show me," he seductively whispered. "Show me how much you love me, Peyton."

She closed her eyes and willed herself not to cry, not to throw up.

It's the last time…