Grey Hood

Road Trip

Her heart pounded in her chest as she ran, lungs burning as she breathed, her legs refusing to stop despite whatever exhaustion her mind was trying to tell her body. She thought absent-mindedly that she was getting good at this. This whole running from people thing. Chancing a glance behind her, she saw a commotion behind her as someone yelled, telling everyone to move out of the way, that this was government business and smirked. They were in Reno, Nevada. Just like any big city, people barely listened to commands like that. Ducking and weaving her way through the crowd, she ran into an alley, barely taking note of the homeless as they watched her indifferently. The majority of them would probably not even remember seeing her. Those that did wouldn't remember what gender she was, let alone facial features. Plus her hood was pulled down far enough that only her jaw and mouth were visible in the dying light of the sun.

As she ran, she felt bad that she had to leave here, having grown to like Reno. Not because of the sights, she had barely gone anywhere except one internet cafe with a laughable security system. No, she was going to miss Reno because she was going to miss Erin, who had been an absolute sweetheart, and her boyfriend Larry, who had been a huge supporter. She would've sighed had she the breath to do so and just hoped that they got to the safe house that she had been told about by a particularly trustworthy source. Chancing a quick glance again, she didn't see anything behind her that was suspicious and grew more concerned.

While it didn't mean that there were people immediately aware of her, it didn't mean that she was safe either, so she continued running, only stopping in a secluded alley when her body had warned her that she was lightheaded. Breathing as quietly as she could, she peered around the corner and saw nothing extremely worrying.  Eyes narrowing, she walked further away, her ears strained for any sound to tip her off while her eyes searched for a certain something that would put her a few steps ahead of her pursuit.

It wasn't until she wandered into a parking lot that she found it, and, ears still listening, she made her way over to the still running car, noticing the people it belonged to where at a small shop far enough away to not notice the missing vehicle until they got back. Nonchalantly getting in, she looked to make sure there was no one else, having made that mistske back in Philly months ago, and sighed when she was alone. Everything was running smoothly, she had made it onto the street and was driving to the higgwsy when she saw the two suits at the intersection, waiting to cross at the red she was stopped at. "Fuck..." her mind raced,  panic settling into her gut like a lead weight as one of them noticed her and she began to think of an escape plan, all while keeping from any casaulties,  when the man snirked and pointed a different way to his partner, sending them running while he casually walked over and got into the passenger seat. As he walked, the lights illuminated his face and the lead weight dissipated into a cloud of smoke.

"You're getting good at this Hood", he said when they started driving.

"I could say the same for your lying Roy. Where's Styne?"

"Involved with an incident concerning a particularly nice couple at 35." She smiled, happy to hear that Erin and Larry where in good hands. "Where are you headed?"

"Even if I knew Roy, I wouldn't tell you. You and Styne I trust, but I don't want you getting hurt."

"That's part of our job Hood."

"Well aware of that, speaking of, how's the arm?" He shrugged, a smile pulling at the aging face, and she couldn't help the smile back. "What I will tell you is that I'm heading further west."

"California then...that's a hell of a place to get lost in."

"No shit." Roy smiled again and got out the next time she stopped, waving as he walked off. She didn't watch him leave, her eyes scanning potential threats as she got onto 80, heading south. She looked at the fuel, noting it was at half and nodded, enough to get to some cheap motel and then dump it. She didn't need more cops after her. Her bag sat on the armrest, the camera lens on the outside and she took comfort in the still blinking light. It had gotten everything. That was what was important.