A New Life Series - Starter Kit

by Samantha Jacobey

  A tall girl, at least six foot, he could see she was lean and fit, too, with curves in all the right places. Blue eyes, long dark hair, but with a brooding face. If they had not met before and he learned she was a whore, he might have liked to know her.

  Shifting slightly, he thought about her not having spoken to him since the bus that morning without purpose, and he began to grow uneasy about the strange girl he was now in league with. She had a keen eye, and missed nothing that went on around her. She was also strikingly beautiful, and he wondered if the picture Eddie had sent him had been faked.

  But it couldn’t be fake. The kid at the music store had informed him about her gruesome scar that covered her left eye. That’s how he had known for sure this was the girl from his past. Watching her steadily, she suddenly looked straight at him, her eyes narrowed as if she were displeased with him, causing his stomach to do a summersault.

  Laughing out loud, he stood and lumbered over next to her, triggering her to drop her feet to the ground and sit up properly on the bench. Reaching inside his jacket, he produced the map, and unfolded it. Focusing, he kept his tone civil, “So, you have any idea where you might like to look?”

  She glared at him for a moment, then taking the side of the map, pulled it between them so they both could view the page. Without a word, she used a long finger to trace the line of I-20, from Fort Worth, headed west, until it hit the smaller town of Abilene. Then sliding it south, she went over the smaller highways that led between Abilene, San Angelo, and the border. Somewhere along the way, she would find where she belonged.

  Nodding again he folded the map and looked at her with questioning eyes. “Don’t you ever talk?” He had not meant to insult her, but her lack of conversation had begun to wear on him. “I mean, I realize we’re not friends, but we don’t have to be enemies, either. You can talk to me. I swear I don’t bite.” He smiled encouragingly, but she stared back blankly with no response.

  After a moment, she broke her eye contact and leaned back away from him to watch the doors again. Clearing his throat nervously, he tucked the map back inside his jacket and stood up to walk around, realizing this would be a long road if she continued her icy disposition.

  When the time came, the couple climbed onto the bus, each of them putting their bags under their seat before sitting. Again, Tori sat on the inside with the window to her left, which Michael found a comfortable position, as he could observe her more easily without drawing suspicion.

  Removing her jacket, she spread it across her lap, and he could see the collection of scars that dotted her right arm as it brushed against his. Peering down at it, he made out the remains of what once had been cuts, scratches, and perhaps even cigarette burns on her skin. He also noticed the tone of her muscles; definitely fit.

  His gaze slid a little to the left, and he could see down her shirt. After a moment, he realized he was looking at the spot where the bite mark had been on her left breast. He had, more or less, forgotten about it until it wasn’t visible, having gotten a good look at it the night Red had fucked her.

  Studying the location, he could trace the outline of the makeup that she used to cover the eyesore. He considered her reasons for doing so briefly before he raised his gaze to find her staring at him as he gaped at her cleavage. Her face like stone, Michael could feel the flush rising up his neck as he had been flat busted ogling her breasts.

  Turning his eyes back to the front of the bus, he shifted anxiously in his seat, and they rode in that fashion for several minutes. Feeling uneasy and a need to explain himself, he finally glanced back and forth between her angry eyes and the road ahead.

  “You know,” he began softly, “I never actually touched you that night. That night you were with Red.” He paused for a moment, not sure how else to describe it. “You passed out after he finished with you, so I covered you with a blanket and left you there.” He looked down at his hands, pressing the palms together nervously, waiting for her to process the news.

  “Why didn’t you?” she asked, her voice quiet, innocent.

  He looked back at her and could see her eyes were wide with disbelief. All of a sudden, he couldn’t tell her the truth. He hadn’t touched her because she was dirty; a whore. Michael had only been with two women in his life, and he had loved them both. Somehow, he didn’t think knowing this would make the girl next to him feel any better, so he lied.

  “I just didn’t want to.” He shrugged for effect. “I’m not really into that whole, nasty sex thing, you know?” He let the words drop with a nod, hoping he had spared her feelings. He hadn’t. She knew exactly what he meant.

  Turning back to the window, she scowled into the darkness. She didn’t care if he looked down her shirt. He had chosen not to touch her, and she liked that. I don’t wanna be touched anyways, and if he ever changes his mind, I’ll kill him.

  Small Towns

  The couple scarcely spoke to one another as they worked their way from Dallas to Fort Worth. They had decided to do a bit of shopping, as Michael had no possessions with him other than the clothes on his back and a dead cell phone. Purchasing another backpack, he filled it with two changes of clothes, a package of cotton briefs and a bag of socks.

  Tori approved of his choices, telling him noncommittally, “At least you can travel light.”

  Her words made him smile for a moment, but he felt odd when he realized this. Yeah, like I need your blessing, he mentally challenged her, wiping the tiny grin away for good measure.

  Boarding another bus, they made the short ride to Abilene in the middle of the day, arriving before dinner time. Eating at a small local dive, she announced they would pick up some bedrolls and hike the rest of the way south.

  Late in the year, fall was setting in, but the warm climate had been one of the reasons Tori chose Texas for making her home. It didn’t get very cold down south, and if it did, it didn’t last long. Having grown up in temperate Brazil, this was important to her, and Michael agreed with her logic.

  They spent the night at another motel, enjoying showers and repacking their gear more evenly between them. He tried to take the lion’s share of the load, but Tori wouldn’t have it.

  “I can carry my own weight,” she insisted in a cross tone.

  He got the impression she only had two moods; angry and pissed. Why she didn’t ditch me when she had the chance is beyond me, as she obviously didn’t like him, or anyone for that matter. She’s a damned enigma.

  Studying her while she rearranged her pack, it occurred to him she may have worked out a plot for him. Something to use me for. He knew she was deceitful and would never let on what her plan was without a purpose.

  He was discovering winning arguments with her was damn near impossible as well, as she was easily the most stubborn woman he had ever met. Preparing for the night, he chirped in a cheerful voice, “You take the bed; I’ll take the floor.” He lost that argument also, and felt a bit put out about it as they settled down to rest.

  Lying in the dark, he could make out the outline of her back as she crouched in the corner. He could tell from her breathing she had fallen asleep. Man, I don’t get this bitch. Or what the hell Henry, or anyone else for that matter, ever saw in her. She never speaks without a reason, never just talks. She never smiles either, unless she has something up her sleeve.

  Rolling onto his back, he covered his face with his hands, and then pulled them down to stare at the ceiling. Tomorrow, they would hike out of Abilene and head south, down the state highway. And he would have to listen to her silence. God, it’s maddening. Soon, Michael drifted off to sleep as well, his mind still restless as he dreamt.

  When he awoke the next morning, Tori was already dressed and washing her hands, having applied her makeup first thing. By then, he had seen the scar on her face, and he had to admit, it was pretty gruesome. He still carried the picture in his wallet; the one Eddie had sent him after he cut up her face. However, he didn’t let on that he had it, or that he knew about the scar before
he actually saw it.

  Watching her as she moved about the room, preparing to leave, an idea crept into his circle of thoughts; Henry loved her, and that’s all that matters. I need to accept that fact… and her; get on with the task at hand. Henry would have wanted it that way, and I can be professional about this. Pushing the memories aside, he got dressed and also prepared his things to depart.

  When they were ready, they collected their new packs, which consisted of a blue foam bedroll and a light sleeping bag each. The money had been divided between them, along with their clothes. This would make the going a lot easier, and they picked up a jug of water for each to drink as they moved. A few granola bars and a bag of dried fruit and they had what they needed to survive from town to town.

  Michael wasn’t really sure if she would be able to live like that for long. He had never known a woman who could truly rough it. She lived with the Dragons, but that was different, he recalled, as we’re on foot and at the mercy of the elements. He fully expected her to fold.

  They ate that morning at a small café next to the motel with another extended period of silence, but Michael endured it. He noticed Tori ate eggs and bacon, and drank three glasses of water, while her eyes kept watch around them, constantly moving. He had decided she moved like a scared animal; calm, but always alert.

  Leaving the register, she picked up a cap from the counter and smiling, purchased it. He noticed the tiny grin, and turned the cap where he could see the words Real Bitch stitched in white letters across the black material. Shaking his head, he didn’t say a word, knowing it would only start a fight if he did.

  Making their way down the side of the road, Tori donned her new cap with pride. “You know,” he eventually called from behind, “We might get a ride from someone if you weren’t wearing that stupid thing.” She slowed her step to let him catch up and fell in beside him.

  “Now why would we want to do that?” she inquired in her quiet voice, but he noticed that she smiled again, a little more broadly this time.

  “Because you never talk,” he answered, not looking at her and his irritation beginning to show.

  Tori shot him a look of surprise. Trudging along, she nodded at him, and then stated emphatically, “If the quiet bothers you so damn much, you talk. I never said I wouldn’t listen.”

  Michael wondered how she managed to make him feel foolish so often. They walked quietly for a short while longer before he relented, “Ok, then I guess I will. What do you want to know?”

  Tori shrugged, turning her palms to the sky and spreading her hands wide, “Anything… Everything.” Her smile said she meant it.

  Michael started with his brother, Henry. He told her how they shared the same mother, who had remarried after Henry’s father died in a car accident. “Basically, the woman had two families,” he explained, “As Henry was already fifteen when I was born and out of the house by the time I started school.”

  He decided not to mention that his own birth had been an accident and that Henry had been the only person on earth that made him feel like he was ever wanted. Instead, he shared how he had always adored his big brother, and would have done anything for him. He could see the wistful look on her face as she listened, giving him confidence to continue.

  He told her about his job with Indelible, making sure they would be safe everywhere they went. He explained that he had enjoyed the work, and she seemed interested in the idea of preventing someone from getting hurt rather than causing it, a real switch for her. Michael smiled, admitting it had been a real switch for him, as well.

  Eventually, their pace slowed, as the conversation became more balanced between them. He then realized she had plenty to say; only it took her longer to get it out, especially where Henry was concerned. He had always known his brother had loved the girl. Listening to her talk about him, he strongly suspected the feeling had been mutual.

  The sun moved high in the sky as they ambled along, and eventually they stopped to break out snacks and have a good drink of water. In the distance, they could see a small group of buildings ahead, and figured they would make it before nightfall.

  “I hope there’s a place to eat,” he muttered in a low voice.

  “No worries,” she countered with a hint of mystery. “If there isn’t, I’ll show you how to catch a rattlesnake and cook it.”

  He stared at her in disbelief, noting she grinned from ear to ear as she tossed her pack on her back and headed off without him. He shook his head to himself; she has got to be kidding, but deep down he feared that she wasn’t.

  “I know how to catch a snake if I want to,” he sounded irritated as he caught up to her, “I’d just rather not need a ride to the hospital because you thought it’d be cute to show off your snake hunting skills.”

  She looked at him sideways, trying to decide if he were picking on her; his tone said that he wasn’t. “Not all women need a man around to take care of them, you know,” she bit out curtly and quickened her pace once again.

  Ah great. Now I’ll get the silent treatment again; Michael chastised himself. Fucking bitch. But he deserved it, and he knew it.

  They did reach the buildings, but it turned out to be a group of houses and barns, no other structures in sight. The pair kept moving, and as the sun sank low, they started watching for a spot they could put down their bedrolls for the night. Luck was with them, and they came upon a small abandoned shack that stood a bit off the road.

  The sun moving to set, they climbed over the barbed-wire fence and headed towards it. Taking a look around, Michael realized they were not the first to make camp there, and found a fire pit on the back side, complete with a section of expanded metal to lay over the top. Gathering up a few bits of mesquite, they would be able to build a small fire.

  In the fading light, Michael busied himself by poking around inside the gutted structure. It had been a small shed, probably for tools or a bunkhouse back in the day. It had wood and brick walls, and the roof made of rusted tin. One might have hidden inside, but due to the fear of having the assembly cave in on them, they opted for the ground instead.

  Michael set up their bedrolls next to the fire pit. While he worked, he noticed that Tori had disappeared, and for a moment, a stab of panic gripped his chest and he spun around, scanning across the horizon wildly, until he saw her a short distance away. She appeared to be rummaging around a fairly large pile of rocks. His stomach growling, he pulled out the bag of dried fruit to munch on while he headed across the loose soil to meet her.

  As he got to her, the girl stood up, and he could hear the rattles shaking in a loud flurry. “Oh, shit!” he exclaimed when he saw the creature hanging from her hand, almost dragging the ground as she held the diamond back out at about eye level.

  Shoving the bag of morsels into his pocket, he reached out to help her, but she quickly sank to her knees as the knife in her other hand extended with a loud pop.

  Placing the head of the snake against a rock, she made a clean slice with the blade, removing the business end of the creature about four or five inches down the neck. The body of the serpent dropped, writhing about wildly on the ground, and she held the cranium carefully to avoid either of them coming in contact with the fangs.

  Michael stared at her, his face stoic as he realized she had been successful, almost making it look easy. Tori looked up at him for a moment, giving him a toothy grin. Collecting her prize, she carried both the body and the snout back to the small shack.

  Dropping the lengthy portion on the ground, she left it to finish its spasm of death, while she found a spot and dug a small hole to bury the mouth portion, not wanting anyone to be stabbed with one of the fangs, which still held their venom.

  Michael’s heart pounded forcefully in his chest, but she appeared perfectly calm as she set about collecting suitable wood and grass to use for building their fire. He had seen such things many times, but not performed by a woman, and that fact completely unnerved him.

  Michael had never really seen
a woman as his equal, as they always needed something, and were never quite independent of the men around them. Henry had asked him to take care of her, but he had begun to wonder if she really needed him to, as so far she had come across as pretty resourceful.

  Following her, they worked until dark, at which time he realized they would have no light to work by. Tori seemed unaffected by the drop in visibility, and after they returned to the small camp with their supply of sticks and branches, skinned the long snake easily in the early night. Sitting back on his bedroll, Michael sufficed himself to watch her. He noted she wasn’t the least bit squeamish, the realization bringing with it a smile.

  Tori’s hands moved expertly over the long body as she cut off the poop end and pulled away the guts from the inside. They came out easily, in a long strip, and she inspected the length of the snake briefly before sectioning it. Giving him a quick glance, he could see the sparkle in her eyes as she asked if he knew how to make a fire.

  “Of course I do, I’m a man, remember?” Michael felt a little irritated as he put the materials down and used the matches to set the dried grass tinder ablaze. The thin strips of mesquite caught fire easily, and Tori skewered the strips of snake to hang them over the flames using small Y shaped sticks as leaning posts.

  She had placed a small Ziploc of seasonings in her bag, such as salt, pepper and cayenne, and they sprinkled their preferences on a few strips for each of them. Sitting back in the cool evening air, they watched the flickering tendrils as their meal cooked. Gazing at her face in the dancing light, Michael found himself in awe. She’s really different.

  “How do you know all this?” he finally asked, trying not to sound condescending.

  Tori sat with her knees pulled to her chest and her feet flat on the ground in front of her. Her arms were wrapped around her legs tightly, and she rested her chin on the tops of her knees, watching the fire.

  Giving him a small shrug, she eventually replied, “I grew up in the jungle. Literally. I lived there with the Dragons about fifteen years that I remember - who knows how long before that. And the rest of my life, I’ve been on the road. This’s normal to me.”