by Kara Hart
“I can’t leave you here.” He said. “This isn’t part of the plan. We’re supposed to be together.”
“Not right now. Not yet. But after. Come get me.” I said. I turned and wiped the tears from my eyes. This wasn’t going to be easy. This wasn’t going to be clean. So I left. I ran out of the house, right into the woods.
“Wait!” Adam screamed. The sound of a glass breaking against wood echoed behind me.
Chapter 21
Things didn’t feel so good for me now. I felt an undeniable wave of pressure eating away at my stomach, moving upward throughout my body. There was no escaping the position we were in. This was being an adult. I had to make that choice.
Adam will save me.
Adam has to save me. Right?
I walked through the forest, with the giant trees hanging over my head, until I reached the open path that led to the streets. I was out, and I hadn’t a clue as to where to go. So I just kept walking. I walked and I walked, roaming the city, until I found a large filling station. Trucks lined the parking lot, waiting for gas. Some were sleeping in their vehicles. Others were off to the side, smoking cigarettes and conversing. I knew what I had to do.
I braced myself and walked up to the nearest group of drivers. “Any of you going south?” I asked.
“Where’s your parents, little one?” One of them joked.
“Don’t call me little one.” I angrily retorted. If they had an inkling as to what I had been through, they would have been on their knees with respect.
“Where down south are you headed, lady?” One man stepped out from the crowd to ask. He was drinking a hot cup of coffee, sporting a calm demeanor. He smiled. He looked as if he were a friend, like he had known me for years.
“I need to get to Arizona. I’m headed home.” I admitted, feeling a twinge of regret. My mind went to Adam. He was now alone with Daryl. And though I probably couldn’t protect him from any danger, it always felt better being next to him when danger came. I couldn’t imagine the state they were in now.
“Home? You lost? Or are you another one of those runaways?” He took a sip from his cup and stared diligently at me.
“You leaving soon?” I said, brushing off his question. “I need to get out of here as fast as I can. There are people waiting for me.”
“You don’t like questions, do you?” He asked me admiringly. “I don’t either. Come on. I’ve got a truck over in section B. Gotta’ make a few stops first, but we’ll get to Arizona in less than 3 days. That okay with you?”
It was more than okay with me. I found my ticket home. “Let’s go.” I said with confidence. I felt around inside my empty pockets. I had nothing, spare the clothes on my back. He watched me fumble.
“No need, miss. I’m already headed in that direction. This is on the company’s dime.” We walked to the truck. The words Gold Shipping was printed on the sides. The truck looked brand new. “I’m Rob.” He said, offering out his hand.
I almost let out my real name, when I realized maybe that wasn’t such a good idea. “Ingrid.” I said. “My name is Ingrid.”
“Well, nice to meet you, Ingrid.” He opened the large door and hopped up into his seat, reaching out to open mine. “I don’t get too many passengers these days. Apologies for the mess. Been meaning to clean this damn thing.” Inside were McDonald’s bags and empty cigarette cartons, littering the floor. Coming from where I was, this was paradise.
“No worries. I’ve seen worse.” I smiled.
“Well, alright. Let’s go! I’ve been needing a fun road trip to get me through my days.” He laughed, switching into gear and turning on the radio. We drove off slowly and outside my window were the lights of the city I hadn’t had a chance to get used to yet. So be it. Adam would be back. He had to be. He would find me at my parents’ house and he’d have his money back. He’d take me back and the rest would be history. We’d have those children, our dogs, the countryside… everything would be perfect. I knew it.
“So what’s your story, Ingrid? You got Germans for parents or what?” He asked, breaking the silence.
“What?” I asked, slightly confused by his question. Outside, on the freeway, endless fast food stores and supercenters passed us by.
“Well, ‘cause your name’s Ingrid, right?” He looked at me quizzically. I scrambled to answer.
“Yeah but my family is Pennsylvania Dutch. The older generations are from the Netherlands. But I'm just a normal girl from the desert.” I smiled, looking as innocent as possible.
“Oh I get it. I had friends that were them Pennsylvanians. Real steel workers. Hard people. I never wanted in any of that world. No coal or steel for me. Just this truck and the next destination.”
“I know the feeling…” I muttered. He look surprised by my response.
“What? Don't believe me?” I asked him.
“Well, hey, I've seen a lot on the road. I have to accept the truth when the truth presents itself. Now I ain't judging you, but how does a girl like you live a life on the road?”
“A girl like me? You know, a girl like me takes offense to that. I'm not some average girl. Well, not anymore at least.”
“Alright, I hear you. So what happened? What made you start runnin’?” He asked me.
I looked at him and shook my head, laughing. “I met a boy…” I mumbled. I had already said too much, of course. But I needed to pass the time with some conversation and Adam was all I could think about. The distance between us was growing. My love for him was deepened and interrupted. Tears filled my eyes.
“Aw now, don't cry. These things happen.” He awkwardly tried to console me by patting my back lightly. “Take it from me. I've had six different wives. Do you know how much heartbreak that amounts to? A lot. But here I am, chuggin’ along. It ain't so bad. You'll find another.”
“Not someone like him.” I said, feeling the solid tears slide down my cheek. I looked away.
“There, there…” He patted my back again. There was a moment of silence. I turned the radio up louder. It was the local country station Adam and I had listened to together on the way up north. “He was one in a million, huh?” He asked me, looking genuinely empathetic.
“He was more than that. He was everything.” I glanced out the window, watching the world’s lights pass me by.
Chapter 21
We reached California by the next morning. The forest landscape soon turned into oceans and desert mountains, and I slowly felt the familiar feeling of nostalgia rush into me. I was almost home.
“You're finally awake.” He said, smiling.
“I guess I dozed off back there. Needed the rest.” I rubbed my eyes and faked a smile. “Are we in California?”
“Sure are, honey. You're almost home, don't worry.” But I was worrying. There would be camera crews, interviews, and worst of all, the police’s interrogation. I knew I couldn't get in trouble for anything. As far as they were concerned, I hadn't done anything wrong. I was simply abducted, held for ransom. If they only knew...
“Gotta get gas soon…” He muttered. “Coffee too, for that matter. I figure we can rest up somewhere if you're up to it.” He said.
I’m not sure what provoked me to look at his gas gauge, but when I did I was left with confusion and mistrust. When you’re a young girl on the road, anything can happen. I wasn’t about to let anyone take advantage of me, so I declined his request. “Gas?” I said. “The meter isn’t even half empty.” I said, trying not to sound too suspicious.
“Yeah, well gas gets more expensive in about ten miles. Might as well stop early to save some money, right?” He winked at me.
Something wasn’t right. I could feel it in my bones. But I wasn’t afraid. No. I had to stay strong. Without Adam here, I was no match for anyone. Even still, I had to try. I ran through the list of excuses in my head. “I’m not really tired. If you don’t mind, we should continue driving. My family will be waiting for me…”
He laughed. He actually laughed. “Listen, li
ttle lady. I’ve been driving for 12 hours straight. Now, unless you know how to drive a semi, I gotta’ get some damn sleep.” He continued to look straight ahead at the road. I had a bad feeling about this. I should never have run away that night…
“Look, if it’s money you want, I’ve got money. I’ll give you money. My parents are very wealthy. I’m sure they’d want to see their daughter come home earlier than expected. Maybe they’ll even give you a warm dinner. Oh, I’m sure they will!” He didn’t say a word. Instead, he cleared his throat and hummed the tune on the radio. I couldn’t believe it. It was the same Elvis song Adam and I had heard earlier!
This time, however, the song had taken on an eerie quality. I felt a shiver run down my spine. The words told the tale of man seeing his own death. His own flaming star… I trembled against the seat.
“You cold?” He asked. “I can turn the heater on if you’d like.” He smiled real wide and I noticed one of his back molars was missing.
The more I looked at him, the more I loathed him. The more I wanted to get away from him. I should have taken a fucking cab. I should have just called my parents. What was I thinking? I couldn’t beat myself up over this. I just couldn’t. There was a reason for my actions. For one, if I had turned myself in up north, a massive search would have gone underway. I would have led them right to him. Two, he needed to rob that bank. Despite the moral implications behind that kind of action, there was just no way out of the life he was born into without a big sum of money. So instead of staying, I acted like a martyr.
“No, sir. I’m not cold. I’m fine. I’ll cheer up. Sorry.” I quickly thought of a plan. How was I going to escape if this guy tried anything on me?
“No need to be sorry, Ingrid.” He said. He pulled off the highway and slowed down slightly. A motel shone in the distance. “How about we get gas in the morning? I’m beat.”
Think, Rose! Think! But nothing came to mind. My head was tired and empty. I was alone.
He slowed the semi down as we reached the dusty, vacant hotel. It looked like it hadn’t been used in years. There were no shops, gas stations, or restaurants in sight. “Where are we?” I asked, feeling my heart pound against my throat.
“You know…you remind me of someone, Ingrid.” He simply stated as he parked the truck.
I gulped down hard, feeling the click in my throat. “…I do?”
“Yes. Someone I knew a very long time ago.” He was thinking with his finger on his chin. It was as if he couldn’t quite pin where he had saw me.
“Well, I hope they were nice…” I said. I wasn’t sure why I said it. I just did. I just wanted to keep the conversation going for as long as I could. At least until I could figure out how to get out of here in one piece.
Maybe I needed to relax. Maybe everything was really okay. I took another look around at my surroundings. It was pitch black. One light at the motel was flickering on and off as moths groped the smooth bulb. They flew and landed, devouring the rest of the insects. My leg started shaking. I was filled with anxiety and panic.
“Oh, I don’t remember if she was nice or not. What was her name?” He was still thinking to himself. Suddenly, he hit his steering wheel. “AHA! I remember now!” He was filled with glee.
“You do?” I asked him, feeling the hairs on my neck stick up.
“Yes, Ingrid. I do. Her name was Rose.”
Chapter 22
What happened next eludes me. All I can remember was his foot kicking against my chest and the door opening behind me. Gravity overtook me and I fell to the ground with a large thud. The fall knocked the wind right out of me. I lay, struggling to breath, against the dirt and small rocks. Around me was pure darkness and as I regained my sight, I noticed a group of men hovering over me with black makeshift masks around their faces. Their buggy eyes shined through cut out holes.
The trucker laughed and came forward. “That her?” He asked them.
“That’s her, alright.” A man said.
“She’s real pretty…” The trucker said back, licking his lips. “What’re you gonna’ do with her?” He asked.
I vomited into the dirt, clutching at my stomach. I could hardly even think. I was just so taken aback by the blow. Adam… I thought to myself. If he only knew the situation I was in.
“What we do is none of your concern. Here’s your money, scum. Now get out of here.” The man in the mask said. Clearly, he was the leader of the bunch.
I lay on the ground, vomiting from the pain. “YOU!” I screamed, pointing my bloody finger at the truck driver. “HOW COULD YOU?” I spit out chunks of blood and dirt. My eyes were two raging balls of fire.
“Sorry, babe. Had to do what I had to do. It’s nothing personal. I got kids to feed.” He walked off. One of the men kicked dirt at him, while the rest of them laughed and hollered. It was a game to them. I was just a pawn on the chessboard. But who were they?
“Pick her up. Bring her inside.” The man said to his goons. They gladly obliged.
“NO! GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF ME!” I screamed. It was useless of course. Still, I had to put up a fight. I kicked at them, I spit, and as a last ditch effort, I grabbed ahold of the dirt and threw it into one of the men’s eyes.
“AH!” He screamed, letting me go.
I quickly broke free, running as fast as I could into the darkness. I was free! My god, I was free!
BANG!
The sound of a gunshot ricocheted throughout the desert landscape. I felt the wind of a bullet zoom past me. I fell to the ground and scrambled to gain cover behind a large boulder.
“There’s no use in running, dear.” He said to me. “Come out now and we won’t hurt you…that bad…”
I breathed frantically. I looked left and right, trying to find a safe passage I could run to. It was no use. We were in the god damn middle of nowhere. The men walked behind the rock and grabbed me again.
“There’s a good girl…” He said to me, bending down to stroke my cheek. His eyes looked right into my soul and I did something no other girl would do. I spit directly at him.
He squeezed my cheeks hard and pushed me away. “That’s not very nice.” He said through gritted teeth. If he wasn’t angry before, he was now. “You won’t like seeing what we do to mean little girls.”
The dragged me into the old motel kicking and screaming. When I was fully inside, they dropped me onto the cold concrete. I looked around. There were candles lit in the back corner of the room and against the light, they looked like members of some kind of evil cult. The room itself was old and dusty, abandoned maybe a decade ago. Graffiti filled the wall. I turned my head as cockroaches scattered by my face. I was in Hell.
“Welcome to your new home.” The man said.
“Just let me go. Please!” I pleaded, tears hitting the concrete. I knew they wouldn’t budge. I knew it was all useless now. They were going to hang me up and kill me. They would have their way with my body and that would be the end of it. My fling with Adam would be remembered only by a few, and then it would disappear entirely. History would swallow us whole.
He ignored my cries. “This place held meaning to some people at one point in time. Lots of men had their fun here. It was known as a Red Light District of sorts. People drank their whiskey, gambled, and fucked their hookers in peace here. No one disturbed the fun. Not even the police. You know why?” He didn’t wait for me to answer. “Because the police were in on it too. The police were just criminals with badges. That’s how it was back then and that’s how it is to this day. The only difference is, it’s more corrupt today than it ever was back in the day.”
“What do you want…” I said, exhausted. I had no time for games. I just wanted to get this over with. “Kill me if you need to.”
“Listen, bitch. I’m teaching you some history.” He began pacing the room, circling around me. “Anyway, you’re not interested. That’s fine. I suspected you wouldn’t be. But you should know, we’re bringing that tradition back tonight. I’ve brought a friend. Ma
ybe you two have met. Rose, meet Brianna. Brianna meet Rose.” The men laughed.
“No…it can’t be!” I clawed at the concrete, pushing my body backwards. They shoved me forward. One of the men took off their masks and suddenly, I realized Brianna Baxter was more powerful than I had thought.
“Hello, Rose. It’s just so nice to meet you again.”
Chapter 23
“Get her some water.” Brianna said. “And quit your crying. I'm going to tell you a little story.”
“Lies. That's all you've ever told. That's all you ever been. A liar.” I spit onto the concrete and attempted to wipe the dirt off my face.
