Hush

Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

Bill and Jake left the mall laden with shopping bags. They had bought what seemed like gazillions of coats, scarves, jackets, gloves, boots, thick, woolen socks, beanies, and two suitcases, one for Bill and one for Jake. Jake had also made a quick stop to the supermarket to get them their food supply. 

"So, where to now?"

"The airport."

"Right." Bill nodded.

After a moment, he looked at Jake in horror.

"The airport? But I don't have a passport!"

"Don't worry, we've got it covered. Here."

Jake dug around in his bag by his feet, and pulled out Bill's passport.

"Oh. Thank God."

Jake went back to his driving. 

"Hey, wait a minute. How on Earth would you know that I needed a passport? I only came a couple of days ago, that's not enough time to make one. And a plane ticket as well?"

"Well, let's just say that I have some contacts in the whole immigration and travel thing."

Bill narrowed his eyes.

"Isn't that illegal?"

"Technically, yes."

Bill turned back to face the windshield.

"Okay then."

-----

Once they arrived at the airport, they threw all the things they had bought into the two suitcases. After Jake gave the bags one last check, they carried them into the airport, and they checked their luggage in, except for Bill's backpack, which now held an extra jacket instead of the change of clothes he had in it before. They then made their way to a cafe in the airport, and slumped down on to one of the tables. A waitress came over to their table for their orders, and Jake ordered two coffees. A few minutes later, the waitress came back with a two steaming-hot cups of black coffee.

"What time does the flight leave?" Bill asked, as he tentatively sipped at his cup.

"In less than an hour. We have to get out of here as quickly as we..." Jake trailed off abruptly, staring at a spot behind Bill. 

"What? What is it?" Bill asked, turning around to see what it was that Jake was looking at. All he could see was just people, checking their luggage in, buying souvenirs, drinking coffee, some of them just sitting on a bench, whiling away the time to when they can board their flights. He couldn't see anyone special, or anyone dangerous-looking.

"God, don't scare me like that, Jake. I thought it was a Husher or something." Bill said huffily. He picked up his coffee and sipped it again. 

Jake stayed silent for a while, still staring at the spot behind Bill. Finally, he spoke.

"Bill, I thought you said that Andy was gone."

"What? Yeah, he was gone. He abandoned his house anyway. I don't know if he's actually gone or dead or-"

"Then why in the world is Andy sitting over there?" Jake nodded to Andy's direction.

Bill's eyes widened, and he turned around again, this time looking in the direction Jake had nodded to.

"Which one?" Bill asked.

"There. The one sitting on the left-most bench, reading the newpaper. D'you see him?"

Bill nodded. He knew why he didn't think there was anyone special/dangerous there. His eyes barely lingered on Andy the first time he tried to find what Jake was looking at. He almost blended into the background. He was as non-descript as he could possibly be. He was wearing a plain, grey coat with black jeans, and the newspaper he was reading was hiding his face. Bill turned back to Jake.