Indebted

Chapter Nine

My life had changed so drastically within the last forty eight hours.

One moment I was Emily Côte cancer survivor patient with a bright future, the next a Carsarro whore fleeing from Tampa leaving everything and everyone behind including my engagement ring. I didn't take it with me just in case I get tempted to pawn it. It might be traced and that's a chance I wasn't willing to take.

I had no other alternative but to run to flee from the madness descending upon me. To a small town called Monticello a four hour drive from Tampa.

Monticello has a population of just over three thousand residents, he wouldn't find me I had slipped away unnoticed. Twenty more miles according to google, the closer I got the more my nerves rattled me.
What the hell am I doing, who the hell does this, run away from their life leaving a sick mother behind. I did with no regrets.

After Nickolai left I moved my mother to a private nursing home, paid my bills six months in advance, left Jose in charge of the bar and had given Ms Kent a two months paid vacation until I returned. If I ever planned on coming back my existence just an illusion.

I changed my number cut my hair shoulder length and dyed it auburn. I even changed my name so I wasn't no longer Emily Côte but Alena Scott thanks to José who helped me acquire my fake ID within hours. My sudden departure would not have been possible without his help.
I was headed to a small one bedroom cottage that belonged to my grandmother. Yawning I tried to keep my eyes open. I needed sleep, I couldn't function I needed to escape Nickolai if I intended on keeping my sanity in tact. I was already on the verge of toppling over.

I turn right on a dark road barely wide enough for two vehicles rolling down the windows with a flip of a switch enjoying the cold night air passing a wooden sign "Welcome to Monticello" leaving dust in my wake.

I was driving fast way over the speeding limit pass the bank, a post office and grocery store.

Rituals a small coffee shop this is where I will be working in the next three days considering that I am broke after spending my life savings on my dramatic move. I had never had a job in my life. The bar was handed down to me in my father's will that and a ten million debt to date it's thirty five million and counting.
Isn't that not reasons enough to make a quick get away.

My phone vibrated on the dashboard it was Alley, José had given her my new number I ignored it. Since I found out what she has been doing behind my back I haven't spoken to her since I don't know what to tell her our friendship tarnish.

Pulling the car in the front white picket fence I walked up the stairs to the small porch my legs stiff with pain I hope I remembered to pack my painkillers.

I opened the door the living room and kitchen were joined in one, the flooring made of hard wood, the walls bright yellow the colour had given me an instant migraine. The small kitchen was furnish with only the bare necessities it was nothing like my home in Tampa, the counter dark gray and dusty. The bathroom painted in olive green minus a tub and hot water. The bedroom had a small window, the view was blocked by pine trees. There was a gold cast iron bed in the middle of the room, the walls painted in a soft gray. I loved it for some strange reason.
I unloaded the car a single suitcase and four brown paper bags containing a few grocery items. Placing the bags on the counter I dragged my suit behind me as I made my way to the bedroom. I needed sleep just a little nap before I head down to the general store. I needed to get a few items pillows, blankets cleaning supplies.

It's been twelve hours since I had vanished I wondered about his reaction when he got to my house and found that I wasn't there. What went through his mind when he dialed my cellphone but got no reply.