Shadow's Within

37 : FOOD!

The dark sky swallows the earth as night rolls over. We're both starving and cold from the rain. We need to find a place to shelter ourselves. I look back at the river, no sign of the reaper coming after us. That's good news. We could use this opportunity to buy some time to gather out bearings and plan for out next move.

Then I see them. Behind the road, engross a building, catching our eyes with its neon sign and swarming rainbow colors. A diner sits across the field, beside the road.

"Chase look.." I point the way.

Chase gives me a grin look. "Food"

We hurry ourselves towards the building. When we arrive, I unclasp the door ajar and everybody inside looks at us startlingly. Their eyes beam at us in curiosity. I would too if I'm standing in their position. A couple of men and woman swarming into a diner with wet clothes and soggy expression. People would think we're up to no good.

I find us a spot, in the far end corner. An ideal spot to hide from the reaper if he manages to follow us through the river.

The waiter comes over, raises her eyes skeptically. "Well?"

"We... umm... like to order some food"

"You got money to pay for it?"

I check my wallet, open it, slid out a card at the table, a visa card.

"Cool" the waiter satisfies.

"I'll have meatloaf and a diet coke" I order.

"How bout you?" the waiter turns to Chase.

"A BLT with extra fries and a beer"

"Comin right up!" she backs away.

I could feel every eyes staring their cold glare straight at us. I try to ignore them and pluck some tissues to wipe my face.

"I don't know how much longer I could take this!" Chase scowls softly, not wanting to attract any attention. "We're on the run for five days straight... I'm tired... this is too much for me!"

"I know it is...you rather be on your own? You saw with your own eyes what they are capable of...they would find you...and then..kills you..."

Chase remain silent.

"You want to be alive?.. so am I... I'm sick of it myself.. running around like a bunch of rabbits from those packs of dogs... waiting for them to strike us and make their move.. and we fall straight into their trap. The only way to survive is to run... we stop then we die—"

The conversation comes to a halt as the waiter returns to our table with our food. She lays down the meatloaf and I ravage the mash meat. It's not enjoyable, having to be serve a well done meatloaf is a turn off for me, however my body did not care for such matter. The insensible hunger overcome any rational thoughts for delicious meals and accept any mouthful of food I can get.

It's ten o'clock according to the wall clock displayed. Both of us finish eating; feeling satisfied with we decided to stay a little longer in the diner. Neither of us store any excess strength to walk. I ask for a refill for my diet coke; fulfilling my quench for thirst, sipping the cup dry after it arrives at the table.

Chase sit bolted straight, slanting his face closer to me. "Are you familiar with the uprising happened near Kuwait?

I nod reluctantly. Of course I'm familiar with it. I was there among the mass of rioters. The gnarling sound of the crowd chanting provocative words against the government; demanding the Prime Minister resigning from his seat. All due to the controversy regarding the offices of the senate covering their tracks after a substantial of evidence had placed them to be the one at fault for the massacre of the students. The Prime Minister had contradicted the accusation and because of that, a violent dispute had broken out that lead to one of the worst case of riots in the history. That altercation had estimated the loss of at least 500 civilian lives. That figment of struggle had left Kuwait to suffer in a decline of economic stature and because of that international oil companies took the opportunity to rig the expanse rate of the oil exported outside of Kuwait. The economic loss is depressingly tragic that it caused the average rate of poverty increase within few weeks; homeless people living in the slums increased, the employment rate decreased. A nightmare for the middle eastern country. That single controversy had left a scar in country's face.

However, one day, an anonymous reporter had exposed another controversial evidence that the tragic loss of the students was actually caused by an American company. That exposition had received a widespread coverage in every newscast in the world and even extend into an expanse exposure among delirious blogger. Some extremist blogger called the activity is yet another illuminati activities conjuring their New World order supreme, while other calls it a conspiracy of American companies to generate a way to lower the economic status in the Kuwait for their own gain. The news spreads like a virus causing many companies to retreat in their shell, and because of that, the stock market drop tremendously. People titled those days as the Premonition Day; the rich are suffering.

"I think I know why your organization was after me in the first place"

I stare at him, not responding to his predicament.

"The unknown reporter who exposed the crucial evidence during the Kuwait incident was me"