Phoenix of Dawn

Noble Blood

   The time I spent in the front seat of the hot wired car while my aunt slowly withered away in the back seat really put things into perspective. I'd had time to think while the sky changed from clear, to gray to dusky. I'd had time to consider everything as the world flew by in it's oblivious existence. It was merely a setting for the story of my life, an innocent bystander, a neutral party that was only there to watch but not interfere. I wished the ground would swallow me up and grant me a haven from those that would hurt me but it was a cold and unforgiving stage to the events that were destined to unfold.

The lake extended between Clinton and Warsaw Missouri and we were coming up on it fast a furious, trying to beat the sunset.

"How do we know where to go," I asked, more to myself than to the guy sitting beside me.

We couldn't exactly send a signal. That would be like gambling with fate and hoping the right people saw our giant sign shouting "here we are!"

"Easy. We go where nature loving people would blend right in," Axel explained simply.

I stared down at the map, "The wildlife management area?"

He sent me a sharp look at the sound of my uncertainty, "Well do you have any better ideas? I'm just trying to get us to safety and save your aunt."

I was ready to pop off and tell him just how I felt about his attitude but my mouth clamped shut. He had been driving for two days straight and not to mention the lack of sleep I'm sure he got getting us to the United States while I was unconscious.

As much as I hated it...

"I know, thank you for everything."

I didn't have to look to know he was looking at me like I was an alien.

Heaving a sigh I went on, "Look. I'm not a fan of you but I'm grateful that you came along and saved my life and that you're currently trying to save my aunt's. Okay? Lets not make a big deal out of this."

His lips pressed together, "Okay."

I smoothed the map in my life and trailed the roads with my finger, "If we're going to the park then you should continue on till the third exit from here."

He gave me a curt nod.

"I will blame you if she dies though."

He glared at me.

"Well, you're driving like a grandpa!"

"I'm going ninety-eight, Kyra, what do you want from me?"

I fell back, "I don't know. I want... I want food. You know? Like an actual meal and an actual bed and just a moment where I don't have to look over my shoulder."

The car was silent.

What was I even thinking confessing all of that? I wasn't one to complain. I had plenty to be grateful for. Like the air in my lungs and the fact that all my limbs are accounted for.

I was about to tell him to forget what I said when he cleared his throat.

"I'll do everything I can to make that happen for you."

There was a moment I wanted to protest but the words would have been pointless. Telling him not to worry about it would have implied that I believed he would actually follow through with such a promise. It wasn't as if I doubted Axel, he'd given me no reason to, but the circumstances didn't promote such possibilities.

"You deserve an actual bed too," I muttered, "Maybe we can just find one together."

My eyes went wide on the red break lights ahead as my words filtered around the car. My brain was mush from everything that had happened in the last several days. That's what I would chock that obvious mistake up to.