My Guardian Angels

Chapter Three

Liking the drama yet?? Cause I sure am.  Do you guys think that Alex will make it to her mom?  Also, who should I portray as Alex's father?  Can't find someone to match his character, and it is bothering me.  

Anyway, as per usual, don't forget to VOTE, COMMENT and SHARE with your friends!

I lean back against my uncomfortably hard seat and look out into the night. Trees whip by in the darkness, the stars bright and clear in the country side.   It has almost been a day, traveling with a man named Richard, who happens to be the very kind truck driver who decided to pick me up.

I am exhausted.  We have been traveling straight from my home, without taking a single break. Neither of us have slept and I am running on several cups of straight black coffee that Richard made for me, while driving.  

He was on his way to Saskatchewan through Alberta, and when I asked to come with him yesterday, he was more than happy to help out a lone person traveling without enough money.  More like a person running away from her old life.  But of course I never told him that, I only told him that I had to get away fast.  

I reach up and twist my necklace around my fingers for the fifth time in the past ten minutes, and sigh, nerves and caffeine racing through my body.  My eyes flick back and forth, waiting for something to come out of the night and pull me away from my freedom.  Richard looks over at me for a second, before turning back to the front with a scrunched up face.

"If you don't mind me asking," He starts, his gravelly voice echoing throughout the tiny cab, “what does that mean?" He points down to my pendent.  I look down at it too, feeling a smile crawl onto my face.  It has a silver chain, with a gold and silver pendant attached by a small gold hoop, which is cut into the shape of an attached sun and moon.  It lies right between my collar bones, shining against my skin.  I shrug and look up at the ragged man again.

"I actually don't know.  I've had it ever since I could remember and just never taken it off" I reply, twisting it again and looking out the window once more.  He gives me a sceptical look before shrugging.

"I couldn't say anything about it, 'cause I ain't got nothing like that." He says before falling silent once again.  I close my eyes and lean my head back against my seat, my eyes feeling heavy, even when they are closed.  Just another sign of my crazy exhaustion.

I can see my father pacing back and forth in our living room, scattering the empty bottles around.  I can see him claw at his matted brown hair, his eyes darting back and forth as he thinks, trying to get a plan to get me back.  But that is only if he’s noticed I am gone, which I highly doubt.

I peel my eyelids open and gaze back out the window just in time to spot a sign which says; EDMONTON, 5Km.  I sigh in relief, happy to get off of this truck and away from Richard, who, though harmless, is starting to give me the creeps.  If I can convince him to make an unnecessary pit stop in Edmonton, I might be able to find a hotel to stay and relax at before heading back onto the road. 

 I swallow roughly and look at Richard.  His skin is pale and is lined with wrinkles.  His grey beard puffs out from his chin like a bush, falling down onto his chest and stopping right before his beer belly.  His grey eyes flicker back and forth, observing the traffic around us.  I spot an exit off the highway up ahead.

“Can you take that exit up there?” I ask, the volume of my voice making me wince.  In this tiny cab, it sounds like I’m shouting.  He chuckles at me before turning his signal on, crossing over a couple lanes.  

“Anything for my trusty passenger” He jokes, laughter spilling out of his hidden mouth.  I laugh awkwardly, looking away with wide eyes.  I can hear the brakes hissing as we head down the ramp, towards the bright blob that is apparently Edmonton.  Refineries engulf us like synthetic mountains, spitting gas and fire.  Shaking my head, I look around once more, before closing my eyes and waiting for this leg of the journey to be over.  

I wake up to a rough hand shaking my shoulder back and forth.  I immediately scramble back, knowing my father has come home to punish me for his imaginary problems.  I hit a wall, hard, and open my eyes, only to find a confused looking Richard.  I sigh loudly, leaning my head back against the door behind me, my heart racing in my chest.  I can feel every nerve on attention, my muscles tight wires, ready to escape any danger.

“Nightmares?” Richard asks, a smirk on his face as he reaches back behind the seats for my bag.  I shake my head and take another deep breath in, making him chuckle again.  

“You could say that.” I reply, undoing my seatbelt and looking around.  I notice that he went really out of his way, stopping in front of a tall hotel, it’s bright lights shining down on the truck.

"Thank you so much" I say, shouldering my pack and stepping out of the cab. The night air rushes around me, causing a shiver to run through my body.

"No problem miss,” He replies, "good luck.”  

I nod another thanks and step down and out of the cab, slamming the door closed behind me. It closes like a gunshot, making my shoulders scrunch up to my ears. Jumping down off the final step, I raise my hand as he starts the engine. I wait as pulls away, sending me a big wave, before pulling my bag onto my shoulders and heading into the hotel.  

I pause at the automatic doors and take a breath of relief, stepping through them in a victory-like walk. I take in the plush couches and artistic pictures all over the lobby, a kind of luxury which I’ve never really seen before.  I have to stop to take it all in, my trance being broken only when a group of tourists push by me.   I walk up to the front desk and wait for the clerk to come, tapping my fingers on the smooth, dark wood.  A picture of the Rocky Mountains draws my eyes and I zone out, remembering when Richard and I pass through them, my face glued to the window the entire time.

"Hi, welcome to the Coast Hotel, how can I help you?" A lady says, scaring the living daylights out of me.  I give a shaky laugh and turn to face her. Her dark hair falls perfectly down her shoulders and her smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes.

"Um, hi,” I say, feeling awkward and still quite surprised,  "Can I book a room for one night please?"

“Sure," She replies, tapping on the screen in front of her.  "That will be one-hundred dollars and forty-three cents. Would you like to pay in debit card or Visa?"  I look down at my feet, pulling my wallet out of my bag.

“Visa,” I say quietly, not wanting to draw attention to myself, just incase my dad has people looking for me. She taps away at her computer for a moment before giving me a big smile, the card hanging loosely in her now outstretched hand.

“Ok, here's your key and you will be on floor five.  Have a nice stay."  

I smile and nod at her, turning towards the elevator. My feet pull me over as my eyes dart around the room, a new sense of nervousness setting in. When the doors finally close, I huff and lean against the wall. No one recognized me, thankfully.

With a low toned ding, the elevator slows itself and the doors slide open with a hiss.   I bolt out of the small space and towards my room, excitement over-shadowing my nerves.  I never expected my first time in a hotel would be when I am running away from my father.  

 After several tries at the lock, and a good kick to the door, I finally find myself standing in the middle of a carpeted room, a TV at one end and a couch at the other.  Dropping my bag onto he couch, I go and check out the other room.  This one holds a king sized bed and a huge dresser.  I smile and head to the final room, the bathroom, for a long, much needed shower.