Raindrops

Chapter 4

We boarded on bus after bus, making our way from town to town. Every time we left a town, we had a different disguise, making sure we left absolutely no trace of us behind.

He never talked to me until necessary, and nor did I. He'd buy me food and we ate in silence, he'd get anything I needed and in return, I did him a favour by staying quite. We didn't have a problem with that.

Those days were anything but pleasuring. There were times I had to take showers in public toilets, strained my neck from sleeping on buses and bruised my feets more than I can count.

Constant bus rides and having nothing to do, while trying our best to not draw any unwanted attention, it bore me to death. All I did was sleep and daydream during those long rides and Luther kept watching movies. Only if I had my phone too. When I asked him where my phone was, he told me that he 'threw it'.

After few days of travelling together, one afternoon we headed towards the back of a farm. There was a black jeep and a narrow, dusty path carved it's way through a field of golden grass shimmering under the bright rays of sun, it's end beyond the horizon.

Sweat dripped from the sides of my face and patches of sweat were visible on my grey shirt. "I'm getting roasted, literally." I said trying to cool off as I tied my hair in a half ponytail.

"Sorry, I don't carry an air-conditioner with me," He opened the door of the jeep.

"Too bad, I thought you do." I eye rolled, following him. He didn't say anything back. He'd drop any conversation so easily, as if he'd taken an oath to not waste words.

Luther hopped in the jeep and so did I. The engine roared and I leaned my elbow on the side window.

I took a look at the side mirror, that reflected smoke gushing out as the back wheel started moving. Soon, we were headed on another long journey. My eyes never left the road as the wind blew, pushing my hair along the wind.

"What's a dark blood?" I blurted out after an hour of silence.

"I will tell you, Later."

"How old are you?" I kept running my mouth, still gazing at the swaying golden grass.

I was introverted and bad at human interactions, but the man next to me was worse. Let me correct what I said. He wasn't bad at communicating, he simply didn't want to. He didn't feel the need to talk, rather, he found it troublesome. Well, that was my observation of Luther at the time, and I wasn't completely wrong.

"My age has nothing to do with you,"

"There you go with your useless answers." I sighed. He snickered. For the first time.

"Name?"

"Hmm?" I asked, dazing out.

"Your name." I inhaled deeply, overwhelmed by the sweet smell of fresh grass, as Luther drummed a beat softly on the leather steering wheel.

"Charlotte." I was surprised that we were having an actual conversation. A conversation between me and my kidnapper.

I told him my name, though I thought he already knew. You may say that I was lowering my guard, wouldn't it be dangerous to reveal my name, but to be honest, I didn't sense any danger from him. I didn't trust him but since he didn't try anything reckless, like strangling me in my sleep, it was reassuring.

"And your last name?" He kept his eyes on the road as he talked.

"My last name has nothing to do with you," I imitated him.

The wind was so strong, my eyelids felt heavy as drowsiness slowly pulled me away from consciousness. I was drifting to sleep when I imagined Luther repeating the words of mine, "There you go with your useless answers."