The Serpentine Syndicate MC: Manix

Chapter 2

I had no clue what time it was currently, but the fact I had left sometime after midnight and daylight was now drawing in, lead me to believe it was nearing the following evening. Walking along the dirt track road, gave me time to reflect on the unsettling journey I'd experienced in the last day. 

... 

After evading the confinements of my now once home, I had dragged myself  towards the cross country bus terminal, what should of been a quick 20 minute walk, was now slowed down by my laboured breathing and need to stop every few steps. 

A little over an hour and I had finally arrived at my intended destination, my reflection in the automatic doors into the bus station had been the first indicator of my appearance, followed closely by the stares of the few strangers scattered within the lobby. 

Dried blood, a split lip and red marks adorned my face and neck, many of which I knew would soon be turning an ugly dark purple shade.  I had immediately halted my goal of the ticket booth, instead diverting into a nearby bathroom stall, to frantically wash the dried blood away before it caught the stares of anymore passersby. 

Once I had been somewhat satisfied with my less than ideal appearance, I had walked back out to the ticket desk. Although, the ground beneath me had now become painfully interesting, as I tried to draw as little attention to myself as possible and not meet the eyes of the strangers gawking at me.  

The elderly gentlemen situated behind the glass screen, looked idle in his attempt to amuse himself, by picking off some old tape that appeared to have been stuck on the desk for some time. 

I stood there not really knowing what to say. Before, he suddenly looked up, his miserable face glaring at me for interrupting his task at hand. 

'Yes, what can I do for you' he drew out, reminding me somewhat of how Snape had sounded in the Harry Potter films. 

'Em eh... yes can I please have a ticket for...' I had trailed off, realising I had not planned this far, and as such had no idea where I wanted to go or the buses available. 

After shuffling my feet awkwardly on the ground, I'd finally looked back up. 'Which bus is next to leave?' The heat had raised to my cheeks, as it only confirmed how unprepared I was in front of the grouchy man. 

'Next bus to leave is Colorado, in ten minutes' he'd stated pointing at the digital screen to the left of him. Before, continuing to fiddle with the items on his desk. 

 'Ehm yes, that would be perfect, thank you', paying the $132 for the ticket, as displayed on the screen and nodding a thank you once more, I'd left heading over to the bus bay and taking my seat upon the bus. 

I was fearful that it was all too good to be true, I had made it onto the bus, the furthest I had ever been without his permission or assistance. At any moment it felt like he would come storming onto the bus demanding my return. I had lowered myself into the seat, trying to focus on the bus itself in a last ditched attempt to calm my beating heart. 

The bus itself had appeared to be lived in but clean, with the majority of seat at the forefront filled and only a handful towards the back empty of individuals. This meant my seat two rows from the back had been less overwhelming, compared to the turmoil of families and small children upfront.  Only a few older adults already sleeping, had surrounded me and for that I was thankful, as once the bus set off I was able to relax ever so slightly, cocooning my body into the seat against the window, resting my head upon the glass and trying to forget the events that had just taken place.

...

Fast forward  to now, the bus had long dropped me off a little outside the western state, the scenery and towns I had walked through has been vastly different to the populated, hustle and bustle of Las Vegas.