Caught in a lie

Chapter 1

A wetness trickled down my arm. I looked down to see a crimson liquid dripping from my hand. When did I start to bleed? The adrenaline must have been wearing off. Now I could feel the brunt of my injuries.

I definitely broke at least one rib. I winced at the reminder of me being flung to a tree. Yes a god damn tree! I cursed under my breath I definitely miscalculated the time that the warehouse would erupt in flames.

I was finally out of that retched field though. I knew that it would take me a while to get to the nearest town but I didn't think it would take this long. Even though I was long gone from the scene of the fire I still didn't relax until I passed the corner, making my way into an alleyway. I stood in front of bright blue double doors with a flashing sign above it that read Neptune casino.

I pushed through the now chipping painted door. Instantly met by a cloud of smoke and the sound of slot machines. I wrinkled my nose in disgust. I despised cigarettes, their rotten stench that not only suffocated your lungs but also wouldn't leave your clothes.

I couldn't help but compare this casino to one of the ones my father owns. It was a sad comparison if I was being honest. Taking a quick glance around the room I observed their faces hoping for their sake that there weren't any familiar ones. But to my surprise, the place was for the most part empty.

I forced myself to start moving along the red carpet towards the back where I knew there were bathrooms. Making sure to keep my head down and have my brown hair cover most of my face. I sighed in relief at the sight of a black door with a woman's stick figure. I hurried inside, I had to move fast if I was going to make this barely thought out plan of mine work.

I froze. A woman in maybe her thirties was standing in front of a cracked mirror, reapplying her red lipstick. Ok, calm down. She didn't even look in your direction I told myself. All I had to do was cover my face with my hair and not look towards her.

I didn't expect her to be too much of a problem. Even so, I knew from experience how dangerous it was to leave behind the slightest amount of suspects. I shuffled past her with my head down.

My frantic hands searched the wall upon entering the stall. It had to be here somewhere. I finally found a crevice in the wall at the bottom hidden behind the toilet, I dug my fingers in as far as I could pulling out the top two red bricks.

I brought my foot forward and kicked the rest of the already falling apart bricks down. A cough escaped my lips as I inhaled the dust. Finally, I was filled with some hope that this would actually work as I laid my eyes upon the black duffle bag underneath the fallen bricks.

I reached for the bag bringing it out with glee. I zipped it open to find what I had stashed away two days before. My eyes set upon guns, cash, clothes, a phone and my documents for my new fake identity. Checking the small pocket to find smaller notes for things like paying at shops and gas stations.

Imagine a roughed up looking girl pulling out a stack of hundreds out of a black duffle bag to pay for a snack. That would surely raise questions and curious stares. I had to keep a low profile for now.

I closed it back up and tried to stand, to only topple over from the pain in my ribs. I cursed under my breath. I was in agony. My body suddenly moved to the side on its own accord in a fit of coughs and wheezes. After feeling like I calmed down I opened my eyes to see blood on the floor.

I cringed while once again trying to get up. Leaning against the wall for support while in a hazy state I somehow managed to feel for the bag and have it over my arms elbow. Ok, Val just breath I told myself. Another pathetic cough left my throat. I winced, at this point, it felt like breathing was an agonizing chore.

I willed myself to move from the wall and stumbled out of the stall. Thankfully the woman was gone by then. After taking a glimpse at my reflection I couldn't help but gasp. I looked positively animal. That was the only way I could describe it. With my long brown hair matted and looking untamed like a lions mane, my blue eyes looking exhausted yet feral.

I took a peek at my body. To others, it would seem as though I was dragged across the ground, along with the blood stains on my white t-shirt underneath my leather jacket I could scare anyone away.

I had to thank life for being on my side for once after being lucky enough to pass by the town unnoticed. It definitely helped that I mostly stuck to alleyways and back exits instead of parading around the shops.

I set my duffel on the counter next to the sink. I eyed the door before moving towards it, dragging along a wooden chair from the corner to place under the handle. I tested out the handle, satisfied that it wasn't budging I moved back towards the counter.

There wasn't much I could do about the hair but I could change my clothes and clean myself up. I took off my leather jacket all the while trying not to hiss from the pain in my left arm. I looked at my shoulder to see a deep cut from a knife. Most of my arm was no longer lightly tanned but now red from the blood.

After grabbing a roll of toilet paper to clean my arm up and washing my arm with water, I dried it off. Looking at my reflection I realized it didn't look as bad now with most of the blood gone. Even so, I knew that I had to get something to wrap it in later. A simple t-shirt wouldn't do.

After tackling my arm, with great difficulty I lifted my t-shirt over my head to put on a new black one. I took out a black denim jacket out of my duffel and slipped it on. After a quick change of jeans and putting back on the same black boots I threw away the dirty clothes in the nearest bin.

This should do it I told myself. Taking out a pistol I loaded it and hid it underneath my jacket in the waistband of my jeans. I was one step closer to being out of this hellhole. I had to keep telling myself that in order to keep myself sane.