Chapter two.

I don't know how long I had been running for. All I know I that with each step I take is a step away from that horrible house.

With every car that drove past I ducked into the nearest alley way or open shop. I had no clue as to what the time was. It was getting dark and the rain that had started a while ago had me soaked to the skin and frozen to the bone. My knees were raw and my stomach rumbled with hunger, but I had learned long ago to push away those pangs.
I stopped briefly on the sidewalk to catch my breath. It was the wrong moment to stop. I was bent over, taking in big lung fulls of air, when a lumber truck hurtled past, straight through a large puddle at my feet.
I didn't have time to react. Freezing cold water saturated my already sodden clothes and the air I had taken in was pushed from my lungs.
I was a few octaves away from screaming. I released a frustrated growl and shouted a few choice expletives at the retreating truck.
My guitar case slid from my shoulder and I gave up all hope of ever getting out of this place. I was cold, wet, hungry, dirty and tired. I was sick to death of this god awful place and I had only been here less than a day. I sloshed my way over to a bench , dragging my tattered case behind me. I sat down heavily and bought my knees to my chest, wrapping my arms around them.
I was hunched over, shivering in the cold and wet, when it suddenly stopped raining. Or at least it stopped raining on me.
I looked up and a giant rainbow brolly was being held over my head. I looked round and saw it was being held by one of the largest men I had ever seen. "I have a large bowl of hot soup with your name on it." He grinned. I shrank back, not because of his smile, as it was not leery in any way, but because I knew all too well the threat strangers pose, men in particular.
"My name's Felix, Felix McCarty. My wife Tanya and I live across the street. We saw what happened with the truck." His smile didn't falter, despite the fact that I still had not uttered a word to him.
My mouth hung open and I probably looked like the Home Alone kid when he comes face to face with his elderly neighbour for the first time. I felt like I should be running away screaming, but there was something in this strangers smile that put me at ease.
"Not a talker, huh?" Felix spoke again. "Did you lose it after shouting all those colourful words at that truck?" He shifted on his feet and waved up at a window across the street. I glanced up and saw a younger middle aged woman looking over at our exchange. "Okay, I can see we're not going to get anywhere. At least take this brolly, we have plenty of others an it looks like you need it more than we do right now." He offered me the umbrella handle and when I didn't reach out to take it, he frowned a little before wedging the handle between the slats of the bench. "Remember the offer still stands."
I watched bewildered as Felix jogged back across the road towards his home. It wasn't long before I saw his silhouette appear in the lit up window. He was shaking his head at Tanya and they both glanced back out of the window at me. He hugged her and the retreated away from the window. probably off to enjoy their nice hot soup, in their nice cosy home, in nice comfortable chairs, where it's dry and warm and not raining.
Goosebumps rippled across my skin, making me shiver and tuck my knees closer to my chest, despite my ribs' protest.
It was no use. I had zero body heat. While I was no longer getting rained on, I was still in soaking wet clothes on a bench outside in the cold.
Yeah, I'm a case of hypothermia waiting to happen.
I glanced up at the McCartys window again and Tanya was there looking at me. She waved me over before opening her window and yelling; "We're not going to eat you, ya know! Get over here before your soup gets cold. You'll catch your death out there." Her voice carried off into the night, almost drowned out by the constant rumble of thunder overhead.
The first flash of lightning lit up the sky and the desolate street below. I realised I was sitting beneath - what could essentially be - a giant lightening rod. Not a good idea. The second flash had me hightailing it across the road, brolly forgotten and sodden denim chaffing my skin.
I cautiously made my way up to Felix and Tanyas home, the linoleum squeaking underfoot as my boots slipped in the water dripping from my clothes. The apartment door was slightly ajar, letting a sliver of yellow light filter out into the hall. Stepping closer the small of hot vegetable soup invaded my senses, making my mouth water and stomach clench in hunger.
It was deadly silent, save for the pitter-patter of rain against the windows. I nudged the front door open wider with my foot and peered in through the gap. A long hallway stretched out in front of me. The walls were a light wooden wainscoting at the bottom and a pale yellow wallpaper with a small flower pattern adorning the top half. The carpet was a dark ochre colour, which worked well with the walls. It made the home feel warm and inviting.
The muffled sounds of a t.v gameshow floated out of an archway at the end of the corridor. "Hello?" I waited a little while before venturing into the flat. I knocked on the door and spoke a little louder. "Hello?!"
Felix appeared in the arch, a broad grin spread across his features. "Tan, heat up the soup. We have a guest."
A short red head appeared just behind Felix. She had a sense of familiarity but I couldn't put my finger on it. She gave me a warm smile and slipped past her husband. "Felix don't let the poor girl stand there shivering. Invite her in and get her some towels." She called behind herself, as she disappeared into their kitchen.
"Well come in then." Felix chuckled. "I promise we don't bite."
I swallowed down my fear and opened my mouth to speak. No sound came out but my stomach gave the loudest gurgle known to man. I promptly closed my mouth, wrapped my arms around myself and flushed all shades of pink. Felix looked shocked but he soon broke out into raucous fits of laughter. "Oh my goodness. You sound just like our son after football practice. Come on in, make yourself at home." He wandered off into another room and returned moment later with two large, fluffy white towels. "Here you go."
I gingerly took the proffered towels and hastily began to scrub at my hands and face. The only visible areas of skin I felt comfortable ever showing. The less skin you show on the streets the less attention and hassle you receive from drunks late at night.
Tanya re-appeared from the kitchen and gave Felix a disapproving look. "Don't make our guest stand in the doorway," she pushed past him. "Go and keep your eyes on the soup. I'm going to take this young lady to the shower room. She's freezing!" Tanya had taken my hand and almost jumped at how cold they were. "Don't let it over heat and don't eat any!" She shouted over her shoulder as she pulled me along behind her. "In you go." Tanya pushed me towards a huge glass shower. "Take your time. I imagine it's going to take a while to get your icy bones all warm again. You're welcome to use any of the soaps and shampoos. Just give me a shout if you need anything." Tanya gave me a warm smile and was gone.
I stood stock still for a moment trying to absorb everything. I shivered in the cold tiled room as I glanced around. Everything screamed 'woman' in this shower room. There was a large oval tub in one corner, the entire rim littered with candles. On the double sink counter, the surface was crammed full of lotions, scrubs, creams and make-up. The towels, like the two Felix had given me, were large and fluffy and a flower pattern adorned every other tile on the walls.
A knock on the door made me jump. "Miss?" Tanyas voice called through the wood. "I don't hear any water running, are you okay?" Without answering her, I hurried over to the large shower and turned on both taps. Not knowing if the sound of running water would deter Tanya from coming in, I locked the door before taking - or rather peeling - off my clothes. I refused to look at my frame in the mirror. I was thin. Painfully so. Bones protruded through skin where they shouldn't. Steam from the shower enveloped me like a warm blanket and my body ached for the heat I knew the water would bring.
Without further hesitation, I stepped under the water. The scalding heat taking my breath away momentarily and burning my raw knees. It wasn't long before the shivers subsided and the goosebumps died away. I was finally warm again.
I reached for the first bottle I could find. Freesia body scrub with patchouli and lime. I flipped the lid and sniffed the contents before pouring a liberal amount onto my palm and scrubbing my body with it. Tanya didn't provide me with a washcloth and I really don't fancy using whatever it is she has hanging on the wall. It looks like it belongs on the Great Barrier Reef rather than be used to clean someones back, sack and crack!
I pinched a disposable razor and I thankfully no longer resembled a yeti. It was when I washed my hair that I realised just how filthy living it rough makes you. Never in my life have I seen water that colour come from someones hair. It was like the silt that comes up when someone dredges a lake. I think I washed my hair three times before the water ran clear.
Once I was thoroughly satisfied that I was clean, I turned off the water and stepped out of the steam filled shower. I bundled myself up in the large towels Felix had handed me earlier and noticed a purple bathrobe was in place of my soggy pile of clothes.
WTF? I was pretty certain I had locked that door!
I rushed over and checked the handle, yup still locked, I rubbed at my eyes and face, yes definitely awake. Where the hell are my clothes?
Panic set in. I paced the bathroom after searching every available nook and cranny. My clothes had simply vanished.
I looked at the bathrobe with narrowed eyes. I reluctantly slipped it on, only because sooner or later I had to leave this room and I didn't fancy wandering around in a strangers house in not much more that a towel. I tied the belt as firmly as it would go and unlocked the bathroom door. I checked the towel and robe once more and slowly inched the door open.
The hallway was deserted. I could still hear the t.v playing in the living room. I slid from the bathroom, keeping my back as close to the wall as physically possible. I crept along at a slow pace towards the aroma of hot food. My bare feet making little to no sound upon the soft carpet. I poked my head around the corner of a doorway. I could hear the soup simmering on the stove top, but the under cupboard lighting cast everything in weak pale light and thick black shadows.
"There you are!" Tanyas voice from behind me made me jump and yelp. "Sorry, I thought you heard me." She looked apologetic as she walked around me into the kitchen. "Come, your soup is ready." She flicked on a switch and the small kitchen was bathed in light. "Here we go. Take a seat and I'll dish you out a bowl." Tanya directed me to a little four seater dining table in the corner of the room.
I moved my table setting so I didn't have my back to the entrance and I wasn't stuck in the corner with no way of escape. Tanya came over with a steaming bowl full of hot vegetable soup and a plate of warmed rolls. "Would you like anything to drink? We have soda, juice, coffee, milk, water?"
"Soda, please." I mumbled out.
"Ahh so she does speak!" Tanya teased as she retreated to the fridge to grab me a Sprite.
"Where are my clothes?" I asked between mouthfuls of soup soaked bread roll.
Yes, I'm eating like an animal but I'm starving, so screw you.
"I took them." She said as she placed the Sprite down on the table before taking the seat across from me. She waited for me to continue eating before she spoke further. "I'm sorry and I should of asked but I thought you would like warm dry clothes to change into once you were done with your shower. I cleaned them and they are in the dryer as we speak." She looked a little guilty. I guess I couldn't be mad at her, she was trying to be nice after all. I couldn't exactly put wet clothes back on.
"How did you get them?" I swallowed my mouthful. "I had the door locked and everything."
"It's a two way lock. Can be opened from outside the room as well as inside. I suffer from epilepsy, so if I was to have a seizure in the bathroom Felix would be able to get to me."
"Why not just leave the door unlocked?"
"Because neither my husband or son have a habit of knocking and there are some things that I'd prefer them not to see. Plus Emmett usually has a lot of friends over." Tanya smiled at the mention of her son.
Emmett, such an old fashioned name. Well I suppose everything else seems to be making a comeback, why can't old names too?
"So honey, are you going to tell us who you are?" Tanya asked with a sly grin.
Oh I see where this is heading. You clean me up and feed me up before tossing me to the wolves. No way am I falling for that old trick! "My name's Iz.." I was abruptly cut off as the front door banged open and loud voices started calling out.
"MOM? I'm home! Edward's here too!" A huge man mountain lumbered into the room followed by the guy from the coffee shop. Both of them stopped in their tracks as they saw me at the table.

Let me know what you think lovelies.

Any of you have any thoughts on what could of happened to Bella yet?