Inflorescence • Poison Ivy's Daughter

chapter twenty four ~ on the run

The forest was eerily silent as Bella weaved her way through the trees, around their huge tunks, and spread of roots. Dick had asked if she knew where they were going, but she just gave him a sharp look in warning. The lightening sky was proof that they had travelling for more than a few hours. As were Dicks cut and bruised feet and his trembling knees. Bella didn't slow down, or complain though he could see the blood staining her clothes and the glittering sweat on her brow, so he kept on moving without protest.

By the time the sky had transformed to a fiery amber, they had come to a clearing, a dirt road that split its way through the forest. Dick was relieved to be on even footing, but his exhaustion didn't do much to keep him from dragging his feet and stumbling over loss pebbles.

Bella was quick to catch him when his feet slipped under him, her tight grip yanked him to his feet keeping her hands on his shoulders to steady him. 'Can you still walk?'

Dick hesitated, a bead of sweat rolling down his brow. He held his hands in tight fists, digging his nails into his fist. He couldn't, but his pride choked him. He couldn't allow her to do any more work, especially when she was shaking too.

Luckily, a flash of light shone over the dirt of the path. Dick squitted at the blinding light, making out the line of a car and the sound of an engine. Dick when extremely still, paralysised with fear, had they found them already?

Before he could usher a word of warning, Bella had stalked in front of him, shielding him from the cars vision with her back. She raised an outstretched hand to the road with a raised thumb and the utes brake lights flashed on as it pulled to a stop. Bella lead Dick next to the car, pushing him a little past the door so she could lean her elbows where the window had rolled down.

'What are you kids doing out here at this time,' asked the driver, he had a pleasant southern accent with concern lacing his words.

'Thank god you're here.' Bella replied breathlessly. Dick found himself reluctantly impressed with the amount of fear and relief her words held, he wondered how much was real and what was an act. 'We were dropped off a few kilometres back and we reckon we've taken a few misturns. Could you tell us where we could find the nearest town?'

The man scratched the back of his head, 'Well you're way off track here, nearest towns a couple of miles away.'

Bella gave a panicked look towards Dick, question written all over her face. She turned back to the driver flustered, 'Ah.. thankyou, so much. You've been a great help.'

She had bearly begun to turn before he called out to her, 'Wait! Why don't you catch a lift in my back kids, I drop you off at the nearest town on my way.'

Bella whirled at him, a large grin plastered on her face, 'Gosh, thank you so much, Sir. Mind if we put our stuff in the back?'

He waved a hand to say go for it, and within the minute Bella had thrown her father's unconscious body in the ute, shoved a stray cap onto Dicks' head and flung herself into the passenger seat.

Dick had to blink a few times before he jumped in the back. The man gave them a few suspicious glances at their bloody clothes which now had a good layer of mud covering them, but he didn't bring it up or ask questions. They sat in silence, asides from a softly playing radio, for the duration of the ride.

The town the man dropped them in was small, the heart of it housing a modest convenience store and a post office. Luckily it also had a small and very dodgy looking motel. Bella had stuffed her father's body into one of the empty duffle bags in the ute as Dick quickly offered the cap back to the driver who politely refused.

'Keep it, boy, got about a dozen more back home.'

Dick had begun to insist when Bella came up to his side taking the hat back, 'Thanyou so much, you're a real lifesaver!' she chimed, handing Dick the cap.

He eyed the bag slung around her shoulder but just waved, 'Stay out of trouble kids.'

They waved to him as his lights pulled around the corner. As soon as they disappeared Bella turned to the motel. 

'They're not going to let us in.' Dick mused.

Bella rolled his eye's at him, 'I think we fit their extremely low standards, Grayson.'

'I don't think broke fits that standard.'

Bella gave him a sly smile, 'Don't worry about it, I'll take care of it.'

An uneasy pit grew in Dicks' stomach as she opened the door setting of the chime of a small bell. A man, half asleep jerked to alertness at the sound. He took one glance at the clock on the wall and his face quickly changed from surprised to annoyed. 'Weird time to seek a motel kids.'

'The sign says 24 hours.' Bella stated.

'That it does,' The man groaned as he stetched out his back, 'What can I do for you?'

'One room. Two beds. Five hours. That possible?'

The man flicked through the book in front of him, running a chipped nail across the writing. 'Sorry guys only queen beds available, so unless you're wanting to get two rooms, you're going to have to share. That possible?' He grinned, flashing yellow teeth.

Bella narrowed her eyes, 'How much per hour?'

'$15.'

She ran her tongue over her teeth, 'Queens perfect, thanks.'

The man gave her a tight-lipped smile, '$75.'

Bella returned the smile, handing him a $100 bill in exchange for change and a small key with the number 105 tagged onto it.

'Where did you get that from?' He hissed in her ear.

'A friendly citizen.' Bella replied, sliding the key into its slot.

'You stole it didn't you?' Dick blurted, outraged. Bella shot him a warning look to keep his voice down as she clicked open the door allowing him to step inside.

She grinned widely at him as he stepped into the dark room, 'Haven't you worked it out yet, Grayson? I'm bad news.'