My Infinite Prison

Chapter 3

I woke up the next morning with a headache worse than the night before. I could only remember certain parts of the night, like seeing Kailey-Eve and mother's face again. Although they were on posters, their faces were still there to remind me of them. Why they would have pictures of my family and the other women that were murdered, confused the hell out of me. I could think of one reason that they would have a picture of them. Those disgusting men murdered the women. Could they be The Snakes that everyone fears so greatly? Could I have come in contact with them last night, and ended up on the wall like my mother and sister?

I didn't know what to think anymore, but I did know that I was going to western California to go to the photography club. I needed to get away from the drama once and for all. Who knows this could be the break I've been hoping for, for so long. This was my chance to escape and start over. A chance where no one knew my name, where no one would know what happened to my mom.

***

I was speaking with Cierra about taking a bus to San Jose with me when I checked the time, 10:24 pm. I had at least 20 minutes to convince her to come with me before I had to leave for the 11:00 pm pick up at the bus stop.

"...Cierra, please come with me, it would do us some good to get out in the real world," I pleaded with her.

"Jade, you know I would like to come with you, but I have so much here. There are too many memories for me to just up and leave this place," Cierra often called me Jade, it's the shortened version of Jayden.

"But half of those memories, aren't ones that you want to remember. Please just give it a chance. I'm getting a job out there and I already have enough money saved up for 3 months' worth of rent for a nice apartment." I pondered what I was going to say to her next if she kept parrying my statements.

"Fine. But know that if this goes sideways, you will be paying for my bus ticket back to Fresno," Cierra gave in.

"Yes! You will not regret this. By the way, you might want to start packing because we leave in about 14 minutes," I replied with a grin on my face.

"Jayden! Why didn't you tell me about this sooner so I could pack some of my belongings along with my clothes! I have memories here, some things I need to take with me for emotional support if you aren't there for me," she chuckles at her teasing.

"Well, hurry up! Pick your 'special things' that you want to bring and I'll toss all your clothes into a suitcase."

We were running around the room like chickens with our heads cut off. I had to pack a few more things I planned to bring to San Jose and helped her stuff her suitcase full of clothes and other gadgets she felt were necessary.

***

It was raining that night. As we stood out in the slow drizzle, the drops growing larger and I began to think. My mother's and Kailey-Eve's faces were swarming my thoughts. I couldn't wait until the bus got here. The sooner I did the sooner I could get away from the apologetic looks I kept receiving when I walked by on the streets.

No sooner than the memories faded, the bus arrived. In a way, I was grateful. The bus would be like a train taking me away from its station, where it was built, where it was first painted, oiled, and used. I've grown up here. I've had rough times here. I've witnessed my mother and step-father's death here and my sister's disappearance. So many memories, some good but not all. This was where they were rooted and where they grew.