I slide down the wall of the shower, gripping onto my leg to try and stop the blood.
Even with this bandage, the blood seeps right through it. I can hear him and Cal pounding on the door, telling me to unlock.
My head pounding with each knock, all the sounds around me are drowned out as the high pitched ring pierces through my skull.
Everything starts to blur.
Cal just wants to make sure I'm okay, but I don't want him to see me like this. Him, on the other hand; I never want to see his perfect fucking face again.
I think back to when this all started. When it was finally time for me to run; how nervous I was to get caught. Now I'm thinking it would have been easier if I stayed.
🥀 2 and a half months ago: October 30th 🥀
Throwing my leather suitcases and duffle bags on my bed, I fill it with all the clothes I can. Weather forecasts predicting the first snow fall in the next month.
Grabbing the cash from my mattress, I roll it up into two balls before stuffing it into my bag.
Snatching my keys from the tray by my door, I sneak through all the blind spots of the cameras. The weeks leading up to what I call my 'great escape' led me to memorise every possible thing that I might run into on my way out of this shit-hole they call 'home'.
I run out to my car, looking out for the guard at the gate who is routinely playing candy crush at this time every morning.
The sun is just starting to rise, and it pierces straight into my eyes as I shut the trunk. My bags are packed, my car is started. I drive as fast as I can.
-
The Arizona air is finally letting me go. That feeling of being pushed into the cracked, milky mud is lifting. The sound of the car on the dust and rock covered road is the only thing I can hear.
The change of sound is peaceful. It's not silent, but not loud enough to make me want to wind the windows up.
The first time I've driven in 6 months and I decided to drive a 35 hour trip.
And after 25 hours of driving, my hands feel numb from wrapping the steering wheel so tight.
10 more hours. Just 10 more hours and I will be there.
New York City.
I've been dreaming about this moment for weeks, months even. I would say it's the only thing that has kept me sane.
My parents go on a trip for a few days every year at the same time, always around halloween. Meaning I've had a lot of time to prepare.
That's the problem with routine, there are always gaps that you can find to sneak through.
Opportunities to take.
This was one of them. Probably the only one I would get.
With enough time to prepare, I've gathered a rough plan. I've only been to the concrete jungle once in my life, when I was little. And I barely remember it. Which isn't helping my anxiety, but I try to convince myself the memories of the place will come back with familiarity.
The rough plan goes something like this:
1) I can't have them finding me. Good start.
2) So I must get rid of anything that can be traced.
Uh huh.
3) My car first, they'll be able to track the plates.
Perfect.
4) Then my phone. I'll need a new one tomorrow.
That's only 4 things. I can do that.
YOU ARE READING
Odessa
Romance{ dark romance } { check warnings } When Layla finally gets her opportunity to run away from her parents, she runs to New York. Her goal is to blend in, but within the first 48 hours of being in the city, that proves impossible. Her secrets follow...
