A World Without Trust

Chapter Eleven

I awaken to the hot sun beating down on my aching, swollen body. The smell of dirt and grass fill my nostrils with every breath I take. I open my eyes slowly only to be blinded by the bright sun, making me blink repeatedly until my vision gets used to it. How long have I been passed out for? My mind is telling me not to move in case something hurts, yet my body thinks otherwise and I roll over onto my back. Not too bad, only felt a few bruises. With that I sit up and push myself up onto my feet. I am a little wobbly at first so I wait until I regain my bearings and stagger back in the direction of the Ute.

“FUCK!” I yell with all my strength as I am greeted to no Ute and no Ashton or Essie. Deep down it doesn’t surprise me that they took off, Essie thinks I’m a monster. My heat and gut are telling me to follow her to Salt Lake City, but my mind is telling me to move onto some other helpless victim.

I fall to my knees and gather a handful of dirt, throwing it as hard as I can in frustration. It scatters over the road like a small wave lapping up on the beach and my gaze follows its movement. I lock sight on something red and crawl towards it. Blood, it’s fresh too. I rub a sample between my fingers and assume its Essie’s. If it’s fresh that means that they haven’t left too long ago. Ignoring the sensible voice in my head I choose to trust my heart and start heading towards Salt Lake City, but first I am going to need some weapons and a vehicle.

Back in the gas station, I yank at the gun wedged in between one of the men Essie shot and the floor. Finally it slips free and I fiddle around with it making sure I know how to use it, then retrieve some extra ammo from the guys vest. Before I leave I walk around the store trying to find some food or water. I manage to retrieve only a bottle of water from the employee room out back and turn to leave when my eye catches on something shiny. I turn back around and spot a set of car keys sitting on the bench next to the kettle. I grab them and make my way to the back entrance in hopes that the car to these keys is there.

A smile grows on my face as I burst out the door into the day light and see a black mini cooper sitting in the car park. Praying that the keys actually do work, I walk around to the driver’s side and try opening the door first. Locked. Holding the keys out, I push the unlock button but nothing happens. I take a deep breath hoping the battery is dead and insert the key into the door turning it. The sweet sound of car doors unlocking causes me to smile again and I jump in starting the engine up.

“Full tank of gas!” I scream with excitement. I stop for a moment and realise how weird I must sound and that it wouldn’t have mattered if it was empty due to the fact that I am at a gas station. I clear my throat reminding myself about what I am actually doing and head off towards Salt Lake City with the thought of losing Essie being the only threat pulling me in that direction.