Blind & Broken

Chapter Ten

"Indigo!" A sharp whisper wakes me. I sit up and stretch my arms out in front of me, feeling incredibly stiff from sleeping a few hours on the train. Noticing I can't feel the steady feeling of the train on the tracks, I realize we've stopped.

"What time is it?" I yawn, turning my head towards the window where I know Brynlee sat the entire time.

"About four in the morning. The ride was just under sixteen hours." Her voice comes from my left, taking me by surprise and I whip my head around, my eyes stretched wide. "Sorry, I've been getting our bags." Before we fell asleep, Brynlee had graciously took my backpack and placed it next to hers in the compartment over our seats. Fabric touches my hand and I grab hold of it, clumsily slinging it around my shoulder and onto my back.

"Thanks."

"No problem." I stand up and lean against the seat in front of me. The air has become incredibly stuffy and I start to feel as if I'm suffocating as people shuffle past on their way out of the train car.

"Can we get out of here?" I whisper anxiously.

A soft hand grabs mine and gives it a squeeze. "Of course," Brynlee says, "don't let go, it might get crazy." I nod before suddenly being yanked forward and into the chaos. People bump into me from behind as Brynlee drags me down the aisle. I yelp a few times as my shoulder rams into seats on the way, but I never let go of her hand. "Big step!" She warns and I hop down, finally able to breath again. I relish in the fresh air only for a second before I'm pulled to the side, probably out of the way from other passengers.

"Now what?" I gasp, feeling a little dizzy from the sudden blast of cooler air. I just want to be in a real bed and sleep off the rest of the night. "Where are we?"

"The signs on the station say we're in Staunton, West Virginia." She replies. "It's way too early to call Kate and ask to be picked up — plus this is just the closest station to her pack; it could still be a long drive. So, I guess we'll get a hotel and sort it out in the morning." She decides.

"Sounds good," I mumble, feeling like I'm going to drop asleep on my feet.

Brynlee guides me to a bench and has me sit while she calls a cab to come pick us up. I hear her tell the driver the details before the phone is hung up. "He'll be here soon." She says, sounding as tired as I feel. Soon enough, Brynlee nudges me and we head to the street curb. She helps me into the backseat and I let her, too tired to argue that I'm capable myself.

We ride in silence, even the cab driver is quiet. After about ten minutes, the vehicle slows down and I know we're at the hotel. I hear the shuffle of paper and realize Brynlee is paying him. I ruffle through my back, trying to feel for the money Jeremy's mom left me. A simple touch on the arm from Brynlee stops me.

"It's okay," she says, "I got it." I blink appreciatively and we climb out of the car. I hear him drive off and we walk into a heated building. I sigh in content, wrapping my arms around myself. Brynlee tells me to go sit at the booths set up to the right, but I argue against it, ruffling in my bag until I find the wad of cash the woman had given me.

"I should help pay for this!" I insist, feeling guilty that she's suddenly taking care of me.

"Nonsense! You only have enough for some food tomorrow, and it's only one night; it's fine."