On The Run

Prologue

8:55 A.M.

Safety is an illusion. There could have been no greater truth in Zoey's life. For months she had been on the run. From what? Death.

Her daily routine had become a mechanical function, she followed it blindly, without any change. Her day would begin early with one and only one purpose - to run.

That was until today. Today..was different. How? She had no idea. But something made her heart rate spike up when she woke on the squeaky bed in the cheap motel beside the highway.

Her senses alert and heart hammering in her chest, it took her a moment before she realized what was the cause of her sudden alarm - her phone was vibrating impatiently on the creaky, old bedside drawer.

She immediately jumped off of her bed and grabbed the phone to check the number. She blinked her eyes repeatedly to remove the remnants of sleep in them.

Carlos.

She hadn't expected him to call so soon. She hadn't expected the call today at all.

Then again, it could be them. Maybe they finally got to Carlos. Maybe he is no longer a safe option. Maybe Carlos had finally found out what price they would pay to have her dead, he surely would not refuse such a generous amount. But would Carlos betray her? She had always counted on him. He was never one to betray someone's trust. Especially her. Or maybe it really is Carlos. All the negative outcomes from pushing down the receiver raced through her head.

Her phone was untraceable. The burner phone she had acquired could not be traced back to her. She had left specific instructions for Carlos in the email she had sent him a few days back. The email account had been anonymous sent from a cyber café. He couldn't have called without following her email.

Scrunching her eyes shut she deliberated whether or not to answer it.

Damn, I need this call! He's the safest option on my list.

She hit the answer button and pressed the phone to her ear.

A male voice answered.

"Are you secure?"

"Yeah."

"Listen. Come to the local port near NH7 tonight. Eastern dock, 2100 hrs. I'll be waiting."

The voice sighed before continuing.

"Be careful, Z. I know you've been doing this for some time now, but I still worry, alright?"

"I'll be okay Carlos."

Will I?

"Be safe Z."

The line went dead.

Zoey stared at the phone for sometime. She had very little time to prepare and a long way to go.

She was almost 11 hours away. She had 12 hours to be there.

Getting out of bed she gathered her clothes in the largest compartment of her large backpack. Her burner phone went into another with the cash. She gathered all the things she could, then cleaned any evidence that could suggest her being there. She took a glance at her wristwatch. It was around a quarter to one. She had enough time to dodge her current vehicle and get a new one.

There was no one at the front desk when she went out. This was a good sign. The old front desk man may still think she's in. She had prepaid him for 3 days. She hadn't expected Carlos to call this soon.

Her black Royal Enfield was parked on the farthest corner. The parking lot was empty. She quickly swiped the license plates with one she had scavenged some days earlier.