By the time we left the secluded paradise, it was close to night. Beautiful shades of pink swirled in the sky and remains of once massive fluffy clouds were scattered across the sky slowly. The whole scene reminded me of the time when I was back in the hospital after being stabbed and looking out the window. I thought that I'd never see the sight again, I was envious of those who lived around here, who were able to just step outside their door and look at the sky. I learned that we were in the middle of Colorado somewhere. I turned back to see David and Brooke on separate ends of the back of the van. Before we left the two got into a fight which was so loud that it penetrated through the metal so I was able to hear every word that was being said; most of it about me. Brooke wanted to know what happened, David was telling her to drop it – not even he knew what had happened. And I wanted it like that.

We drove onto a main highway and then slipped into a city of course undetected. Brett drives and then switches with Seth halfway through and then we finally stop.

"Where are we?" I ask.

"Tribune, Kansas," Seth replied.

I looked out to see a typical urban city, there was really nothing to it. People were still outside walking around but possibly not as many as there would have been if it were daylight.

"We need a place where we can crash for the night and then leave in the morning," Brett said.

"Not to mention a place to eat," David added and Seth agreed.

"First lets go find a hotel."

We drove around for a bit until we managed to find a cheap looking motel, it practically screamed hiding place for beat up runners but it was all we could get. Brett went in and paid for the rooms (two) and then brought back the keys.

"Brooke and David to a room and then the three of us to another," Brett explained passing the key to Brooke. "We'll be beside each other so just knock if you have a problem."

Brooke nodded and then the siblings left to go off to their room. I looked back at Seth and Brett then looked back at Brooke but she had already gone into the room. I sighed and followed Seth into ours.

The room was a regular room size with two twin beds, a coffee table and a bathroom. In the bathroom was a small tub, a grungy looking toilet and a small sink that had a semi-working tap. On the table were a lamp, a bible and two empty chairs near the entrance.

We did rock paper scissors to figure out who would get a bed to themselves and it turned out to be Seth who took the one closest to the door. I sat in one of the chairs near the door and the placed my head in my hand. I was exhausted. Brett noticed and came over.

"You alright mate?" he asked.

I looked up and then solemnly nodded in response. Seth came up from behind him and in hand was the first aid kit. At first I wanted to tell him off but I knew that Seth meant well so I allowed him to check me.

The bruises were still there and seemed to have grown instead of decreased. The cuts were still rimmed with red and some even had puss in them which Seth got rid of with rubbing alcohol. The cuts on my stomach were still closed except for one that was open at the corner seeping clear fluid. The cuts on my legs were the only ones healing up fast along with one of the ones on my hand.

I watched Seth work and wondered where he had learned to do this kind of stuff but I wasn't really up for conversation so I let it slide. Brett took the first shower while Seth did up the stitch that popped.

"You're going to have to use a wash cloth to wash your body," Seth explained snipping the find thread with a tiny pair of scissors. "Getting the stitches wet will cause damage to the stitches."

I nodded and then watched him get up to get ready for his shower. Guess I'm taking mine last.

Later on I turned on the tv to see what was on: news, sports, some mild entertainment, kid's stuff and a marathon of CSI: NY. I turned the tv onto one of the news stations and they were talking about the escape that Brett, Seth and myself had performed only two nights ago. I immediately shut the tv off. I didn't want to listen to anything more about myself, it was getting really tiring.

"Jason."

I turned to see Seth out of the bathroom and in fresh clean clothes. His hair was still wet so it was all flattened against his head.

"You're up."

I got to my feet and then walked into the bathroom, closing and locking it behind me. I placed the plug in in the tub and then turned on the water then added soap. I waited until the water was at a right height and frothy with soap bubbles before taking off my shirt. I winced as the fresh stitches pulled and then threw my shirt to the ground. I dipped a washcloth in the water and then proceeded to clean myself. I wiped up the excess water with my fingers before the droplets made it to the stitches and the proceeded to wash my lower body. Once I was done I knelt close to the tub edge and then started to wash my hair. It was difficult and I did bruise my elbow on the tub edge letting out a string of curses that had Seth and Brett banging on the door but far more than that it was okay.

I dried myself and then wrapped a towel around my waist and picked up my shirt from the floor. I stood up and turned to see a mirror in front of me. I stopped. I walked towards it and then examined my upper body. I only managed to get it from a first person view but now I was able to see it from another person's perspective.

Practically my whole chest was decorated with stitched up cuts and bruises, my forearms made me look like a cutter and the blood bruise under my chin where one of the men had struck me with a hammer looked almost as fresh as it had been from the day it happened.

I wanted to smash the mirror. That wasn't me – it was someone else but as I stared on I couldn't help but think yes, it is me. There was a knock at the door and I opened it slightly.

"Fresh clothes," Seth said handing me a bag. "We're going to burn the ones we previously had on."

I nodded and silently handed him the dirty clothes and then took the other ones. Before he could say anything I closed the door and then locked it. I put on the clothes and then looked at myself again in the mirror. I had definitely lost weight during the duration of the escape, my hair had grown out and the stubble was growing out more each day.

Once finish I walked out of the bathroom and then sat on the bed completely bored but glad to be resting. I leaned back into the pillows and sighed with content before drifting off the sleep.

A/N: A certain someone is going to be in the next chapter and the hint is in this chapter. Spitfire47