Intoxicated

Room 16

12 pm

They sat down and flipped through the menu. Cora ordered some pancakes and eggs while Richard got a cup of coffee, and a bagel.

"So where are we going next? We can't just stay in a musty motel forever." Cora questioned.

"Listen, don't get too attached to me sweetheart. I mean I love having you here for my own personal entertainment but in the long run you aren't going to be my little sidekick forever. We aren't a thing, it's you Cora and me Richard. I don't do long term stuff." He took a bite of his food adding a flirtatious wink just to mess with her.

Cora was speechless. She thought about how one day she might be free but at the same time the girl couldn't help but think of the possibility of her not making it out alive. In other words once Richard was 'done' with her he'd kill her. She felt a sudden drop in her stomach that made her want to throw up.

"To answer your question, it's not certain where we're going yet. I don't really plan ahead of time. But I can tell you that we are leaving this small ass town."

"First off I'm not your sidekick." Cora sneered.
"And second you need to start having a plan. Technology is way more advanced than it was in the 80s. Cops and detectives will trace crimes back to you in a heartbeat. They caught you once, they can certainly do it again. You already have people telling you that you look like the night stalker. One slip up and you're done for.

"Okay okay I get it. You know for someone who hates me so much you don't act like it, giving me advice and all."

"Who ever said that I hated you?" Cora remarked, raising an eyebrow.

"Everyone else does, so why wouldn't you. Well...do you hate me?"
"Yes, but that's besides the point."
"That's what I thought." Richard mumbled.

The pair finished up and headed back to the motel.
They found the room that read '16' and unlocked the door. Richard immediately turned on the tv and made himself comfortable in an old chair meanwhile Cora dug her nose in a book. It had been about three hours and the two didn't exchange a word with each other. They were still kind of in that awkward phase and didn't know how to communicate with one another. The man kidnapped her, how do you even talk to someone after an event like that?

Cora's voice soon filled the silence "Do you know how to play Tic-tac-toe?"

Richard let out a chuckle. "Yes of course. I'm not that old." She grabbed a piece of paper, two pens and signalled Richard to come over on the bed with her. He sighed and sat down beside her, rolled a joint and tucked it between his lips. "You want a hit?" He offered. "Sure why not." She inhaled and the tip of the joint ignited for a quick second. The smoke flooded into the air as she exhaled, handing it back to Richard. "You go first. You'll need all the help you can get considering that you've been living under a rock for however many years, you're probably gonna be a bit rusty." Cora let out a giggle.

"Okay, fine". Richard made his first move and the game began. The pair took turns smoking the joint while plotting down Xs and Os. "Wow you suck Richard."

"I obviously let you win." He retorted.
"Oh so then you let me win the other six times? But hey I'll give it to you, you did win wow... two games!"

"Hey it was three games actually." Richard sassed back making Cora let out a small laugh. A couple hours had passed of the two making small conversations and playing mini games to keep them occupied. Tomorrow was the day they got to leave the grimy motel and finally find a real place to stay. Cora had no idea where... but anywhere was better than an old room with one tiny mattress.

"I'm gonna go out for a walk." The girl slipped on her shoes and headed out the door into the cool California breeze. The sun was starting to set on the horizon and it was only a matter of time before nightfall would roll over the gleaming sky. She had to get her thoughts sorted out. Her mind started to wander once again going a mile a minute. It had been two almost three days and she hasn't had any time to think about what had actually happened.

'This serial killer from the 80s kidnapped me and is now basically holding me hostage. Oddly he still looks the same. Shouldn't he be a grandpa by now? I have no idea if I'm going to even make it out alive. But why is a small bit of me kind of..excited? I'm excited to see what happens along the way. It's not like I have anything to lose. I'm not close with my family, I don't have any friends that care about me, honestly what is there to lose.'

The sun was now completely gone. The only source of light coming from the street lamps and motel in the distance. Cora started to head back to the room but before she opened the door she noticed that there was more than just Richard in the room. She knew she heard someone else, but she wasn't sure who. She swung open the door to find Richard on top of a young woman, covering her mouth, with a knife to her neck just seconds away from slitting it.

"What the fuck Richard?!"
He turned his head and let out a sarcastic comment.
"Well look who's back. Are you here to join the fun?"
"Not funny asshole now let her go!"

The woman looked terrified. Her whole body shaking and her eyes wide open with a stare that just screamed help me.
"I mean it! Get off of her!"
Richard rolled his eyes and got off of his almost to be victim.

"Listen bitch you tell anyone about this I will find you and kill you just like I was planning to do!" He pushed the stranger out the door and slammed it shut turning around.

"Boo you're no fun Cora."
"If your idea of fun is killing innocent people then yeah I guess I'm not fun."

It was now late at night and the both of them were exhausted. It had been a long three days. Even though nothing had really happened, the huge change alone of being with a complete stranger was more tiring than they'd expected. Cora turned the nozzle on the wall as hot water sputtered out of the shower head. Steam quickly engulfed the air along with the tunes of the band Arctic monkeys song
'R U mine'. The warm water trickled down her soft skin. This was one of the only times out her day she got her peace. Alone, listening to her favorite songs, letting the comforting water run down her body. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a figure standing, watching. Nearly slipping from turning around so fast, Cora let out a high pitched scream yelling "What the hell?!" It was Richard. She snatched the shower curtain trying to cover her body. "What the fuck are you doing?!"

He shrugged. "You were taking too long. Thought I'd come and see what the hold up was. Make some room I'm coming in."

She let out a fake laugh. "Woah woah, no. No you're not."

"Yes. Yes I am."

Before Cora could even respond the man was already getting undressed and stepped into the tub, towering over the young woman. Surprisingly he didn't look her up and down but instead just made eye contact with her. Cora struggled to hold the stare but obviously she couldn't look down. He was now completely wet with droplets of water dripping off the ends of his hair slowly moving all the way down his chest over his abs and down to his v-line.

Her breathing started to get heavier and oddly enough a feeling of excitement and nervousness filled her stomach.
"Get out Ramirez." She demanded. "I need privacy."
Richard smirked. "Relax darling." Leaning down he whispered in her ear. "I know what the female body looks like."

"You", she said scoffing "Are unbelievable." Grabbing her towel she stormed out of the bathroom. A few minutes later she was joined by Richard himself. "If it makes you feel better Cora, your physique is very nice."

"Oh my God." She snapped. "Can we please drop it."

"Fine, fine just make sure that you're all packed for tomorrow. We're leaving."

Both of them got on to the single bed with their backs facing each other yet again for another night.

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End of chapter 4