The Bryan Chronicle

Chapter Seven

I felt so drained by the time I got somewhere I felt minimally safe. I was so hungry and tired I had to stop. I looked around to see I was in a small town in Northern Illinois. I must have ran over state lines... I sat on a curb under a street light, trying to catch my breath.

I barely had caught my breath before I heard the whistle of some woman coming towards me. I was going to run but it was too late she looked at me and seeing the blood on my hands she ran towards me.

"Hey, are you okay?" she had brown hair and a white sundress. She looked at my hands, soaked in blood and my scars I acquired running through the woods. "Hey?" She asked me again , walking closer to me.

I looked up at her. "I'm fine." she must have been able to hear how drained I was cause she didn't leave. Kind girl.

"Come on. Let me help you up." She reached out her hand and I simply stared at it. "Come on my house is just around the corner. You can clean up in our bathroom and I'll make you something. She gestured for me tograb her hand and wiped my hands on my pants and she helped me up.

"Thank you." My vision faded black for a moment but I was fine after a second. I was having some trouble standing though and nearly fell but she helped me stand.

"Just lean on me. I'll get you home and we'll take care of you."

She helped me get to her house. In truth she practically carried me most of the way. I didn''t know it at the time but I needed to feed and was nearing death every second. She took me in her house and I looked at the time; 1:27 a.m. I wonder what  she was doing out so late...

"Mom! I need you to come down here!" She shouted as we entered the kitchen.

A woman in her early 50's climbed down the stairs. She had curlers in her hair had a pink robe on.

"What are you doing out so late Amy? And who is this man? And why is he so dirty?" She looked angry at her but strangely not tired. Was she not just sleeping?

"Sorry mom. I was walking around town, looking for Hannah's dog she lost. And I found him in the street. He looked like he needed help so I brought him back here." She sat my down in a chair by the table. The kitchen was a pale yellow.

"Alright then. You're lucky your father isn't up. You know he doesn't like you being out so late." she looked at me and moved towards me. "What's your name?" She asked me.

"Bryan..." I was so nervous and drained. It hurt to speak.

"You look starving. Let me get you something." She looked in the fridge and started making me a sandwich on the counter. "Here." she placed it on the table in front of me.

"Thank you ma'am." I took a bite but had a hard time swallowing it. It was so flavorless. I couldn't taste it but despite the flavorless mush it was to me I ate the rest of it. "You're welcome." she sat across from me and gave me a smile.

"Mother can he clean in our bathroom?" Amy finally spoke again.

"I would recommend it." She looked at me. "I'm sorry Bryan but you look terrible."

I forced a laugh. "Thank you ma'am." I stood up slowly.

"Amy go show him the bathroom." she told Amy.

"Alright mother." She took my hand and lead me through the living room and down a hallway to the bathroom. She switched on the light. "Here ya go Bryan. Towels are in the closet and soap is on the little shelf in the shower." She walked towards the door. "If you need anything just holler." She left and closed the door but not before I said thank you.