Finding Her (urban)

Chapter 4 - Vulnerable

Whipping my head back ever so quickly, I saw two silhouettes back into the shadows created by the dim lights and the few cars parked near the motel. I didn't realize how much my hands were shaking, fear was coursing through my veins attaching itself to my vital organs paralysing my joints. I was no longer worried about the cool temperatures that haunted the night; that was minuscule compared to what could potentially happen. I wasn't ready for a second kidnapping; sweat started to form near my brows as I licked my chapped lips nervously. Move dammit Ariana, but my body wouldn't oblige this time.

I knew what I heard, yet nobody had made their way over here; instead I could hear footsteps retreating. Get in now, I thought to myself which ultimately snapped myself out of the fearful trance that I was now accustomed to.

Inserting the key into the door, I stumbled in almost tripping over the unkempt carpet floor. I slammed the door behind me with much force as if I was trying to shut out my enemies, it was more mental than physical. It's okay, I'm safe for

now. Maybe they weren't even talking about me, there's at least 50 other rooms here. I had never even left my mother's house to make any enemies; yeah, they were probably looking for someone else. I finally shrugged it off to take a look at my surroundings. It was better than my old room; there was a single bed right in the middle of the room, with a desk beside it and lamp posted on top of the desk. The walls were an off cream colour, but at least they were in good condition. Not bad for a motel, I thought. Well I'd never been to a motel before so I didn't know exactly what I was comparing it too; maybe I had watched too many movies.

There was hardly anything in the room, it's not like I needed much though; all I wanted was shelter. I might as well take advantage of it for the next 3 days I spend here. There was a door on the other side of the room painted white, through the door I assumed was a bathroom.

I leaped on to my bed, throwing all of my body weight on it at once, listening to the sounds of it's displeasure as it creaked in annoyance. I threw the bag containing my dirty clothes into the corner. Stretching my body out I started to drift off; this bed was much better than my bed at mother's although it was hard too. I snapped myself out of the near dream that awaited me; I needed to stop falling asleep when there were important things to do, like planning how I was going to survive. My next move in the morning would be to go out into the city and look for a job. I didn't have any experience, I'd be lucky if McDonalds even hired me.

*

And that's exactly who did, they said I could start as soon as tomorrow, from 12pm-7pm. Six dollars and fifty cents was my hourly pay, I was overjoyed; added up, I could make some serious dough. To celebrate, I bought myself a happy meal, I had exactly 33 dollars left, I needed this to somehow stretch to the end of the week until I got paid. When my time was due to leave the hotel, I knew I could probably only afford two more nights with the money. Sighing, I threw away my trash, picked up my uniform and left.

Stopping by the grocery store, I picked up some apples and deodorant. If I had a stove in that room, I would have probably picked up some noodles, 10 for a dollar but then I'd need a pot which would cut more into my budget. Thinking hard on budgeting, I bumped head first into a wall and fell on to my butt. My apples rolled on to the floor and my deodorant rolled underneath a shelf stacked with Doritos. How I wish I could buy some now, it had been years since I had some luxurious food to eat.

'My bad beautiful,' A deep velvety voice snapped me out of my daze and strong muscular hands picked me up. I looked up at the tall Adonis like man who knocked me down only to pick me up again; he was beautiful. Every inch of him was well defined, I strained my neck trying to take everything in, he was 6'3 at least. He had light brown cinnamon coloured eyes with specks of green that stole my attention. He smiled when he noticed me staring at him, he had deep dimples too that pierced through his butter pecan skin. His hair was cut short and sat atop his head in waves that could rival the deepest oceans on a windy day. I could feel my ovaries flutter, this man had me thinking of unholy things that I could never speak on but I concealed it well.