The Eventide Enchantment

Chapter 4

Skye's eyes opened quickly, Quinn's last words echoing in her mind. His face, full of love and concern, was an image that remained before her eyes even now. 

Skye glanced over at her clock. It read 6:45 AM. The pale light of morning was beginning to pour through her window. "If I'm to do anything for Quinn, it'll have to be tonight. And I'm gonna have to put all my eggs in one basket." 

Skye quickly threw the covers away from her and bolted off the bed. She laid her ear to the door, straining to hear whether anyone else was awake. To her relief, all was silent and still. She was thankful that it was Saturday; the others wouldn't be up until around nine o'clock. That gave her plenty of time to execute her plan. 

Cautiously, Skye opened her door and tiptoed to the bathroom. Carefully closing the door behind her, Skye proceeded to search the medicine cabinet. She turned every bottle until she came to what she was looking for: sleeping pills. Skye carefully picked out three pills and replaced the bottle. Looking this way and that, Skye returned to her room and proceeded to dress as quickly as possible. 

Keeping her eye on the clock and her ears open, Skye hastily prepared her backpack. She buried herself in the back of her closet and proceeded to lift out a loose floorboard. From beneath that floorboard she produced a small envelope with money. It contained her life savings; all that she had earned from allowance, babysitting and holiday gifts of the past. She had been forced to conceal it there so as to protect it from Annie's thieving hands. Skye quickly stuffed the envelope in her backpack. 

Skye moved as stealthily as she could to the kitchen where she snagged an unopened bag of potato chips and a juice box. Having shoved these into her bag, Skye opened the living room window and carefully climbed out, taking care to shut it behind her as far as she could. 

So far, everything was going according to Skye's harebrained plan, but she knew she wasn't safe just yet. She dashed down the street as fast as her legs would carry her, finally slowing down after having traveled five blocks. Skye headed for the bus stop where she waited impatiently for the next bus downtown. She remembered a shabby motel she had often passed while driving with her father, and made up her mind to go there. 

The bus ride was long and tiresome, but at last it pulled up and Skye stepped out. She checked her watch: it was only a little after eight. Skye then headed for a small café where she had a small meal, careful not to spend her money unwisely. 

Having eaten, Skye was left to wander the streets, meandering in and out of stores and circling the area just to pass the time. During this time, Skye began having second thoughts. Nervousness seized her, and doubts weighed heavily on her. The early morning chill penetrated her very bones. "This is all for Quinn and for Ilirande," she reminded herself. "That makes it all worthwhile." 

Time passed relatively slowly, but at last one o'clock came around, and Skye finally decided to head for the motel. She selected this motel especially for its slightly unsavory reputation. Skye couldn't afford high room rates or a clerk who would inquire after the presence of a seventeen-year-old guest. 

As expected, the motel clerk gave her a suspicious look when Skye requested a room. But as the clerk's main interest was the money in question, he made no comment and handed Skye the key in exchange for two nights' pay. 

Once in her room, Skye hung the tattered "Do Not Disturb" sign outside and locked the door. She was pleased to see that the room was sufficiently clean, though rather dull and shabby. 

With a sigh, Skye turned on the television and sat on the bed, waiting for sunset before taking the pills. Every nerve within her was unstrung. The risk in all she had just done and the danger that lay in what she now endeavored to do made her heart beat thickly. If she survived the battle and had to return, what would she do? How would she explain to her father?