Arthur drives along the highway, completely focused on the road ahead of him. Megan and Ben are in the back either reading a book or playing a video game. They seem quite content with the exciting trip… trouble is, Arthur doesn't have a destination in mind.
Every time they hit a bump, he prays his children don't hear groaning or the loud thud of the body in the back. Arthur had to think things through, but his mind is so overwhelmed that he can't focus. Basically, he abducted a woman whom he plans to get pregnant and his children, who are oblivious to the reality of what their father has done, have been kidnapped. He knows once Gwen wakes up, the cops will be looking for him and his children, he had to get over the state border before that happened. He also needed to change his appearance so at least he wouldn't be recognized.
He pulls off another interstate and they are cruising along with trees covering them on both sides. The leaves are changing colour.
"Look at the colours guys," Arthur says, trying to distract himself and his children. "Look how nice they are."
"Pretty," Megan says. "Look at the orange!"
"Daddy?" Ben asks.
"Yeah, buddy?"
"Why isn't Mommy coming?"
"I told you already," Arthur says. "She has to work this weekend."
"Can we talk to her?" Ben asks.
"N-Not right now, my phone is buried in my bag in the back and she can't have her phone on during surgery remember?"
Ben nods.
"She'll call…" Arthur says. "Or I'll call her and you can say hi."
"But who will read me a story?" Ben asks. "Or sing my song?"
"I will," Arthur says as confidently as he can.
"But I want Mommy to," Ben says.
"We'll see what happens okay buddy?" Arthur says, trying to drop the subject.
"Okay," Ben says, going back to his video game.
They are quiet for a little while.
"Daddy?" this time his daughter is asking the questions.
"Yes, baby girl?"
"When will we get there?" she asks.
"That's the thing about road trips Meg, we don't really have a destination, at least not yet. We'll go to the water parks, but half the fun is enjoying the trip and seeing what we can see."
"What about school?"
"Don't worry about school, your teacher won't miss you for one day if we get back late, don't you fret."
Megan keeps looking out the window, watching cars go past.
"Daddy?"
"Yes?" Arthur says in a huffed breath, getting a little annoyed with the questions.
"Where are we going to sleep?"
"In a motel, or would you rather sleep in the car next to Ben and his slimy thumb?"
Megan's face twists with disgust at the thought of her brother's thumb.
"How about we listen to the radio?" Arthur suggests, trying to keep the kids quiet for a little while so he can think things through.
A news station buzzes to life on the dashboard.
"And yet another day of unsuccessful searching for missing Boston resident Emma Swan, who was abducted two weeks previously from a bar downtown…"
Arthur quickly changes the dial to a good music station and lets it play.
…
They eventually come to the state border that will take them from Massachusetts into Connecticut. Arthur sits, waiting patiently and nervously for his turn in the long line of cars waiting to cross over. The sky is slowly getting dark and Arthur knows he's going to have to be as calm as possible.
When he pulls up, a border officer comes to the driver's side and Arthur rolls down his window.
"Where are you headed, sir?"
"We're hoping to hit the local water parks in Connecticut for a family road trip."
The officer peers into the back at the two children who are close to falling asleep.
"Any chance of smuggling illegal aliens, sir?"
"None at all, it's just the three of us."
"Mind if I check your trunk?"
Arthur swallows heavily and his heart races. He knows this is the end, he's going to be caught. The man will open the trunk and see the unconscious woman bound and gagged. He regrets everything that he did as the officer made his way to the back.
"Is there a way I can get this open?" the officer calls.
Just then there's a screech and loud bang. Glass seems to shatter everywhere, Arthur practically ducks, thinking it might be a gun shot. The officer's radio crackles to life.
"Joel, we need your help, just had a bad car crash. Someone is trying to smuggle drugs and they hit the guard rail."
"I'll be right there."
Officer Joel comes back to the front.
"You're free to go, drive carefully please,"
"Thank you, sir, have a good night," Arthur says. He tries to act calm and collected, but inside he's doing somersaults.
They didn't find her! His insides are jumping for joy. Oh happy day, I take back everything I said.
Arthur continues into Connecticut, feeling great relief. The police didn't find him and he's miles ahead of the cops searching for Miss Swan.
"Daddy I'm hungry," Megan whines from the back.
"We'll eat soon baby girl, I promise," Arthur says happily.
They go for a few more miles until they pull into a great looking diner. They had the usual greasy foods and special treats. Also, nearby was a motel that they could spend the night in.
He pulls into the restaurant parking lot and goes inside.
He spoils the kids, allowing them to have burgers and fries, as well as milkshakes. The kids eat happily and tell their father about their day. They try to ask more questions about the water parks, but Arthur keeps telling them it's a surprise. He uses the money he stole from his wife's purse to pay for dinner.
Afterward, Arthur takes the kids over to the motel. He gets one room with two beds and free cable. He uses his wife's credit card to pay for it.
Thank God for tap technology, he muses to himself.
He opens the door to the room and lets the kids hop onto one of the beds. He lets them each pick their own, he would sleep on the couch… if he did any sleeping. The kids are excited and they jump on the bed to express it. Arthur brings the car around into the furthest corner of the motel parking lot and opens the trunk.
To his relief, Emma is still unconscious. He checks her pulse and her neck, which is badly bruised from his attack. She also has bruises along the side of her face where he hit her. It's hard to believe that it was just a few hours ago when he basically packed up his life and moved across state borders. Arthur covers her in another blanket, then grabs the bags and re-locks the trunk.
He brings in the bags.
There's an indoor pool at the motel and he allows the kids to go swimming. He sits on the deck watching the two children splash one another and swim around like little ducks. It breaks his heart thinking about what they are involved in. He wants the perfect life for his family, he wants happy children, a wife, and a spacious home. His wife has now betrayed him, but how long could he keep his secret? How long would it be until his children suspected something?
After the swim, Arthur has the kids dressed for bed. Ben wants to be read to, but Arthur tells him he should do a few errands to get things like toothbrushes, so he lets them watch TV. He locks the door and heads to the nearest convenience store up the road.
He immediately springs into action. He buys a few razors; he figures it's better to shave his face and head then trying to dye them. He buys some candy bars for the kids, a screwdriver, bottles of water, beef jerky, a map of Connecticut, toothbrushes, some beer, some medical supplies and a few other essentials. He pays for the everything and then heads back to the motel.
The first thing I need to do is get rid of my license plate. He thinks to himself. That'll be one of the first things Gwen will report.
Arthur looks at several of the other cars parked in the lot and selects one that looks really similar to his, but with Connecticut plates. He quickly and swiftly does a license plate swap with the screwdriver he bought.
He then re-opens the trunk. He places a new ice pack on Emma's throat and puts some water nearby for her, even though she couldn't reach it. He then re-locks the trunk.
When Arthur returns to the room, to his great relief, both kids have fallen asleep while watching TV. He turns it off and tucks both his kids into bed, kissing them both and turning off the light.
He then brings the rest of his supplies into the bathroom.
He takes a long, hard stare at himself in the mirror, the dark eyes glaring back at him.
Maybe I am a monster…? Arthur thought to himself. Those cold and unforgiving eyes… the unkempt face and wrinkly clothing. Anyone could fear him. He's made some bad choices, but who hasn't. he may have gone too far sometimes, but it was to benefit his family.
It's for the good of the kids. Gwen took so much from me, why can't I have something for myself for a change?
Arthur takes one of the razors and slowly begins to shave his head. He cuts himself a few times, grimacing in pain, but very slowly… he becomes someone else. He looked like a military cadet or James McAvoy in that new thriller movie. The many with 23 different personalities.
He wasn't like that mentally ill man… at least he wasn't going to kill Emma and turn into a monster. She had a purpose and unlike the character, he had a family and friends, and no split personality. He was a sane person. He was doing what was best for himself and his kids.
Arthur then flushes all his hair down the sink and shaves the scruffy beard he's growing. Once he's done, he goes into the little kitchenette and spreads out the map in front of him.
Where can a wanted man and his children go?
What do you think is going to happen next? Thank you for the follows and reviews.