Wings

Chapter 5

On the trip to the hotel, I ask the Uber driver if she minds stopping at a store so I could grab some essentials. I explain that my trip was very last minute, and I had forgotten to pack a few items. Luckily for me, she is amendable to the pit stop, especially after I promise to compensate her in tip form. She pulls in to the parking lot of a Walmart. I hop out and promise to be back in a few minutes.

Inside the store, I head for health and beauty aisles. I grab a bottle of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. I also grab some more make-up remover, a toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss. Finally, I grab a new hairbrush, hair ties, and deodorant. I double-check my mental list of items and decide I have almost everything. If I missed something, I can come back tomorrow and grab it. I make a beeline for the register, pay for my purchases with my debit card-yet again leaving a trail if someone is looking for me!-and head back out to the car. I get in and we continue on to the hotel.

When I finally reach the hotel, it is almost midnight. I paid the Uber driver for the ride, including a handsome tip for stopping at the store. As I enter the lobby, I'm hit with an intense exhaustion, one worse than I have ever felt. I stagger to the elevator. By the grace of God, it is on the main floor, so when I press the button, the doors automatically open. I enter the compartment, press the third-floor button, and collapse against the wall. The doors shut and I breathe a sigh of relief. I tuck myself in to the corner as the elevator jolts and begins its steady climb upward. I pray that no one on the second floor is waiting to share the ride.

My luck holds out again and the elevator glides up smoothly, right past the second floor and on to the third. When the bell dings and the doors open, I let out the breath I didn't even know I was holding. But my relief turns to panic when I see who stands at the door waiting for me. "Azrael!" I hiss. "What. The. Hell?!"

"Relax," he replies calmly, which only inflames my temper more. "No one can see me except you remember? That is part of the deal..."

"But if someone sees me talking to you..." I threaten. "The absolute last thing I need is someone reporting a crazy lady talking to herself in the middle of a hotel hallway, in the middle of the night!" I stalk down the hall, past Azrael, and toward my room.

"Why are you not doing recon?" Azrael asks. "We need to eliminate this target forthwith. He is a danger to everyone. The longer we allow him to live, the more dangerous he becomes!"

"I. am not. having this conversation with you right now," I hiss through gritted teeth. I continue down the hallway, with Azrael trailing behind. At some point, I take a wrong turn and end up lost. Azrael, pouting because I dared to yell at him, refuses to show me the right path. After aimlessly wandering for close to fifteen minutes, I finally find my room number. I slump against the door as I fight to get the card key to work. Eventually Azrael deigns to point out that I'm inserting the key upside down. But, as he so emphatically put it, "I am only telling you because we are wasting valuable time waiting on you, pea-brain, to figure it out yourself."

"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence," I mutter, flipping the card key over and slipping it in to the slot. I am rewarded with the light turning green, and the handle turning. I push the door open, stumbling inwards as it gives way. I manage to get the door shut behind me, and the chain lock slid in to place, before I finally have to acknowledge Azrael. "What do you want?" I ask, kicking off my shoes and dropping my bags on the spare bed. I grab my PJs and I shuffle in to the bathroom. I crack the door slightly while I change out of my night-out clothes and in to my PJs. The room is spacious, with a nice size shower, a vanity with two sinks, and an alcove for the toilet. And the lighting in it is better than I have ever had in a hotel.