Saving Wolf

On The Run

Day One.

I'd never done this before. I stood there on the edge of that dull pavement, silently chanting for myself to go back. I could feel the thick air surrounding me. I guess that's how it always is in Tennessee; Humid. The bustle of people around me was almost drowned out by the thump, thump, thump, in my ears.

Like i said, I've never done this before. This whole 'running away' thing... It's quite intimidating. But before i realized it my feet moved before my mind stopped them and i ended up inside of the bus, handing the driver my ticket.

Have you ever looked back when you're walking and thought about how far you've come? How far your feet have taken you in a short amount of time? That's what i felt while the bus started rolling, zooming out of my hometown.

The mountains coated with trees and grass were at either side of the bus. I looked behind me to see an older man in the same kind of seat as me, maybe of age 40, give or take. He glanced at me with a nasty look on his face, and a sly smile as he looked around that area.

The bunches of other riders behind us were either on their phones, sleeping, or laying on windows. With only a small bag of essentials, clothes, and some sentimental items, i wasn't quite sure if i wanted a fresh start.

[ next morning ]

Day Two.

The sun radiated through the window and onto my face. I opened my eyes and realization sunk in about what had happened.

I yawned and sat up, looking through the window to see much flatter land with dead plants and no wildlife at all.

Checking to make sure no one stole any of my belongings, i scrounged through my black backpack. Everything was still there.

The 'vurring' sound of the road as the bus rode above if was quite soothing. From the side of my dirty bus window, i saw a sign.

Welcome To South Carolina.

I knew my stop would be soon. Although i hadn't slept very long, i was excited to get away from that hell of a state.

The creepy 40 year old was asleep now, but he still had an ounce of slyness to his appearance. I turned my head to the front in disgust. I noticed a little boy and his father a few rows in front of me. The boy was playing with a car on his dads head while the dad played dead, as if it was hurting him.

The little boy erupted into giggles and the dad started laughing while still playing dead. Then the little boy turned to me, as if sensing my stare. He poked his father, pointed to me, and whispered loudly.

"Daddy, why does she look so sad?" He said.

The father turned to glance at me, then told his son that what he said was rude.

"I'm sorry about him," he said, full of fake concern. I nodded and looked down, not really finding the motivation to say anything.

Soon enough, my stop came. I grabbed my backpack and slung it onto both shoulders. Walking down the small aisle, i passed the father and son, an old couple, a few teenage girls, and a middle-aged woman.

Something felt so odd about South Carolina. The driver said goodbye to me, and i just half smiled before walking into the hot, sticky air. Tucking some hair behind my ear, i walked forward while the bus took off behind me. The bathroom at the station didn't look occupied so i took my chances and walked in.

The walls were a cream white with a green stripe in the middle, while the stalls were blue and chipping. I walked to the sink, splashed some water on my face and removed the eye makeup smudges from my undereyes. I huffed, reaching into my bag to grab my toothbrush and hairbrush.

My grey eyes looked paler than usual. Then again, so did the rest of me. I didn't look healthy at this point.

After finishing two fishtail braids on both sides of my head and brushing my teeth, i walked out into the station. A few people were in front of vending machines, some drinking from the fountain, and some just sitting.

I paced over to the water fountain and bent over to swallow some of the tasteless excuse for a drink. A man beside me- well, more like a teen- was casually smoking a cigarette and staring at me.

I turned to him, giving him a "what do you want," expression.

He opened up his cigarette packet and offered me one, which i took. He lit it, and i inhaled and exhaled until he spoke.

"What brings you to South Carolina," he asks.

I looked at him and gave my best "why are you butting in to my business?" expression i could.

"Alright, mutey," he says. "Who are you?"

"I'm Evelyn," i announce confidently.

"Spencer," he replies.

We both took some more drags on our cigarattes.

"Thanks for the smoke," i say, throwing the cigarette away. He nodded.

I start walking, hoping to find a bus leading to the beach. I end up walking a few miles while the sun was setting, to find an extremely small town. It was called Lexington.

I found a small hotel-motel thing. It seemed fairly clean.

The lobby smelled like cinnamon and expensive stuff. You know that scent i'm talking about? Kind of a mix between bleach and new plastic? Yeah, that's the smell.

The lady at the front desk looked up and smiled welcomingly. Her greying brown hair was pulled up into a slick bun on the back of her head, some strands falling loose.

She looked too young for grey hair, like one of those people modeling a grey hair dye commercial.

"Are you lookin' to stay for more then one night?" She asks, her sweet voice dripping in a high pitched southern accent.

I nodded. "Just until i find a place to rent, and a job."

"Sweetie, how old are you?"

"Eighteen," i said, smirking slightly.

I pulled out my I.D, knowing she would ask, and showed her. It was real, although i had plenty of forged ones for a while.

She looked up at me, grinning.

"We have a policy here, where people 18-20 get to stay free for 5 nights. It's only because the hotel owner was homeless for some time and young people shouldn't have to have no home. Even if it's vacation."

She hands me a key to room 14. My eyes widen and all i can do is stare. She laughs inaudibly, her shoulders shaking and her crooked teeth showing through her smile.

"Thank you." I say, smiling briefly. "You don't know how much this helps."

She just nods and points to the direction of the room.

I walk, concentrating on my feet, studying the swirling red and yellow designs on the carpet.

When i get to room fourteen, i swipe the card, and walk into the room. This room smelled like smoke, but it didn't matter since i've grown used to it myself.

I double locked the door behind me, which had grown into a habit ever since i got worried i'd get caught.

They won't find you there, Evi.

Victoria's voice rung in my conscience. I stripped off all of my clothes, except my panties and slipped into the soft, white duvet.

My legs hugged into my chest, and then everything slipped away.

~ darkness ~