BRYNMORE

Chapter Five

Bryn.

The sound reverberates through the corridor. The jarring hand that met Dani's cheek as she stumbled backwards. Run, Brynmore. Her words replay in an endless loop in my head, but where would I go? Back to the place I call home? I can't even begin to remember where we are, let alone the distance or journey back to the caverns. Was this the end of my short lived time in society?

Dani's head swivels towards my direction, her black combat boots half laced as she pushes me to the front door just feet away. 

"Go to my car... Do you remember where I parked it?" She asks, her voice considerably more gentle with me than her father. I nod, my jaw trembling as my jagged teeth shutter against themselves. She mouths the word "go", and with shaky hands I open the door, heading hastily to her small red car stopped along the right side of the house, undisturbed beside a snow colored mailbox. I can hear their shouting, their aggressive behavior sending chills down my spine as I crouch down next to one of the tires. I hear another loud yelp from the woman, before she sprints out of the door, keys in hand. Her father chases her out, but stops on the front porch as she reaches the hood of the car, suitcase towed behind her. 

"YOU'RE A WANTED CRIMINAL NOW, DANIELLE. NEVER AGAIN WILL YOU SHOW YOUR FACE, THEY'LL FIND YOU." He calls out to her, seething with rage. "Just what would your mother think?" 

Dani starts to cry, hiding her face with the side of her hand as she pulls open the passenger door for me. 

"It's okay... Just get in..." She manages to say through tears as she ignores her father's harsh words and returns to the driver's seat. With a turn of her keys, we drive away, heading back down the stretch of homes. 

We drive for hours, passing buildings and forests, finally crossing over the city line of a place called "Dunmont", where Dani's eyes begin to examine more thoroughly for a place to stop. 

"You, okay?" I ask, noticing her still damp cheeks. She sniffles, wiping her eyes with her forearm.

"I'll be fine..." She mumbles back, not elaborating any further. Suddenly I gain the courage to ask the one question thats been eating at my brain.

"W-Why are you helping me... Dani?" I speak faintly, as she glances from the road over to where I sit beside her.

"I really don't know, Bryn... Since I've found you, nothing but bad has happened. Yet I still want to help you..." She sighs, attempting to regain composure. "Sorry... That came out harsher than I meant."

I stare out of the window as we drive into the next city. Having already traveled through four, I silently prayed we'd stop. The buildings look run down and unkempt, store signs missing lights and letters, one of them spelling out a vulgar word from what I assume was a vandal. The next place we drive up to is a large L-shaped building with dozens of doors, and only two floors. It's sign read, "Lucky Pale Motel" except the letter P was missing its bulbs, making it sound as if one would stop here for an adult beverage. Maybe that's why Dani pulled into its lot. I bite my tongue.

"Here... This'll do for the night. Stay here, I'll see if they have a room." She removes her keys, slinging her purse over her arm as she exits the car. As if I was confident enough to wander off... Dani makes her way inside, making sure I'm listening every few steps and staying put. I stare back at her, not moving a muscle. 

So far, society isn't all I've imagined.

Dani.

I push through the doors to the lobby, the lights are dim and crackling from above a desk, where a greasy middle aged man sits with a magazine.

"Mm- Hey baby, you checking out?" He says with his best charisma, sliding in his chair closer to the table in front of me. He reeks of sweat and beer, I try my best to focus.