Get Ready to Run

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

It's crazy how you can go just a few hours from where you live and have it feel like a completely different atmosphere. That's how I felt walking through the streets of Portland. In my frenzy, I hadn't remembered how I even ended up getting to the Diner, much less how to get back. Worst of all, it was freezing. Scratch that, worst of all was having to go back to face Tyler.

A million different scenarios were going on in my head. What I had seen wasn't true and it was all just a stupid mix up and then he'd hold me in his arms and kiss me. Highly unlikely to happen but that was option one. Option two, he would apologize but not really mean it because he really did want to screw the blond, but for my benefit he would apologize and then I'd have to move away, yet again. There were a lot more options but those were the closest to reality.

I walked down the streets passing by several homeless people who kept harassing me. Deep down I was shitting a brick but to them I just kept on walking, acting as if they weren't even there. My only problem was, I was still incredibly lost and I needed to ask for directions. Nothing was open anymore, and I didn't trust myself to walk back to the Diner and risk getting even more lost. I had to ask one of them.

Most of them looked high or drunk so I doubted they could be of any help. As I kept walking I noticed a fire burning in a trash can and a man in a thin coat, hovering his hands above the fire, attempting to keep warm. He was the most decent homeless person I'd seen all night. I was simply desperate at this point.

"Excuse me, do you happen to know where Hotel Lucia is?" I asked.

"As a matter a fact I do." The man responded with a grin.

"Can you point me in the right direction?"

"Sure can. For a price of course." He taunted.

"I don't have any money on me." I said flatly.

"You think I'm stupid? Hotel Lucia is rich hotel, you have to have money."

"Look, I don't have money. I'm cold and tired and I just want to go back. Please can you just help me out?" I begged.

"You're cold? You're tired? Well welcome to my life sweet heart. No money. No directions."

"Come on, if you tell me where it is I'll come back in the morning and bring you breakfast or something." I suggested.

"Oh yeah? Sure let me just point you to your destination so you can sleep in a clean hotel bed and not come back tomorrow." He said approaching me.

At first I was scared but now I'm terrified. He stared walking closer to me, pointing his finger at me. Only it wasn't his finger. He was pointing a knife at me.

"Poor little rich girl is lost and now she's forced to hang out with worthless trash like us huh? You think you're better than me don't you?" He said with and evil smirk on his face.

"Look, I'm not rich, I don't have money, in fact I was dirt poor just like you not that long ago. I may not be anymore but that doesn't mean I think I'm better than you, or anyone for that matter. Whatever, I'll find my own way back." I said turning around, prepared to walk away.

As I was ready to walk away I felt a hand grab my arm and turn me around into a head locking position. With his other hand he grabbed me by my hair and pulled my head up so I was facing his as he spoke.

"Oh no no no, you're not going anywhere. You see, you could be my ticket out of here. I'm sure someone will come looking for you and when they do I'll give you back, but just like your directions, for a price." He said walking toward the abandoned building he was standing near when I first saw him.