June

 Pre-

The "T" in Motel flicked out as I parked next to the yellow fading walls of the Motel  5.  I put the car in park and looked into the mirror, the poorly shaved face of an almost stranger.   I shook my head and turned off the car, reaching over my shoulder I put my hand on the little warm body laying under my coat.  She was fast asleep.  Grabbing the keys and switching off the lights I pull myself out of the car.  Trudging as I make my way to the back to open the trunk and grave our ripped up leather bag.  Shutting the trunk i hear a little noise from the back seat.  Looking into the window of the car, she is still asleep.  Trying not to wake her i lift her up, her head falling onto my shoulder.  With the doors locked i head for the office.  The office with its peeling paint and stains isn't much to look at, almost the size of a trailer. Walking through the sliding doors I ring the little bell at the front desk after sitting my bag on the floor.  A rather short balding man with a shirt that says "Hell is nothing compared to me" opened the door behind the desk.

"What can I do for ya sir?" He rasps out while he turns on the old model computer.

"One night, the cheapest room, and I'll pay in cash" I shift June onto my other shoulder, she is starting to get heavier.

"A'right sir that'l be 32 dollars and do you want a caught for the li'l miss?" He smiles and takes my money. "Room 154"

"No she's fine"  I take the key and slide it into my pocket and pick up my bag.

"Check outs eleven AM" He turns off the computer and walks back into the other room.

The room is cold and damp feeling but it has a bed, and that's better than anything I could ask for.  I lay her down on the bed and tuck her in.  I walk over to the window, good second floor, after I put a chair against the door and checking the deadbolt I allow myself to lay down and hope we can sleep through the night for once.

The clock lights the room with a red glow when I feel the covers shift, I try to look over at June but my stomach knots with the effort.  I can feel the last weeks lack of sleep and exhaustion, I have run my body to a dead point.  I can't imagine how she must be feeling, she's only six, and newly six at that.  After a couple of minutes I can finally move my body again out of shear will power.  The covers are a clump and I can see a little of her now messy and tangled hair.  I pull the covers of her face and check on her, other than a couple scratches  she seems fine, no fidgeting from nightmares.  Laying back down I feel my eyes grow heavy and sleep takes me.

Loud knocking wakes me with a sudden jolt, I shake June awake. She blinks up at me confused.  The door is being pushed at and a man yells "It's blocked from the inside".  I grave our bag and hand it to June and I try to open the window. 

"Damn"  These windows don't open more than two inches.  I shove it and hear a crack, the hinge is old and rusted.  I push on it again.  The banging on the door continues, we don't have much time.  I pick up the metal lamp and start hitting the hinge. It snaps and the window swings open. 

"Hang me the bag Hun" I hold out my hands as she places the bag in them.  I toss it over the window sill and here the light thump it makes when the leather and ground make contact.  Two stories is not going to be fun to jump down from.  I look over at June, I'm going to have to find a way to lower her down first.   The chair gets knocked from the door and they band it open, only the deadlock is keep them from coming into the room.  Without thinking I rip the sheet off the bed and tie it to her waist. 

"I am going to lower you down as far as I can but your still going to drop a few feet" I help her up and over the window as she whispers "Ok". 

The men behind the door are getting extremely frustrated now and are taking turns trying to break down the door.  Thank god for the door holding out this long.  Once the sheet runs out I try to drop her as low as I can hang over, she lands on a dumpster  only a foot or two below her, I let go of the sheet, hoping she doesn't get hurt much.    She lands with a little bang on her hands and knees and unties the sheet and climbs down from the dumpster.   The deadbolt snaps and two large men burst into the room.  I don't even think I just jump and yell "Run" at June.  She graves the bag and heads into the woods behind the hotel.  I hit the dumpster and crouch so I don't mess up my legs, I'm going to need to be able to run now.  I hear angry shouting from the men and the then gunfire starts, two shots next to my left foot one over my head.  I run and head for cover.

It's quite in the woods, not even an animal, most likely scared away by the three gun shots.  The men stopped firing when the sirens started.  Hopefully that will slow them down a little bit.  I shift threw the heavy undergrowth and look for signs of June.  She probably hid under a tree like I told her too, most people forget how small a space a child can hide in and that they are capable of hiding the hole with a branch or bush.  After a couple more minutes I notice a partway broken branch, she must have tried to use it to hide.  I look around for another hint of where she could have gone.  A palm frond about 15 feet from a small palm tree catches my attention, moving it aside I see a small girl hiding with her eyes closed and her body clutching a bag in a little hole under a tree.   The terror this poor little girl has gone through isn't fair. 

"Hun are you ok? Did the fall hurt you anywhere?" I touch her head lightly and she climbs into my arms.

"I'm fine" She rubs her face on my shoulder "It only hurt a little". 

 "Can you walk? They will find us soon if we don't leave now" She has tears in her eyes as she stands up and nods, picking up the bag with my right hand I take hers in my left and we start walking, again.  

******

The sky is dark once we walk out onto the pavement in front of a small diner.   It's a old little place, with a faded sign and shiny exterior walls.