𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘳𝘦𝘦

Chapter Nineteen: The Profile

 I must have fallen asleep, because before I knew it, I woke up to a sign reading "Welcome to District of Columbia". We were just arriving off the highway and closely entering the city. The city was really small, literally only a mile in circumference. You could walk the entire thing in about 10 minutes.

Making it easier for cops to find criminals, I guess.

"So where is this motel anyway?"

"Well, I'm actually not sure. I really just read about it in some article a few years back, and I guess it just stuck with me,"

"You-you're kidding right? So this place might not even exist!?" I sat up straight from my seat. What are we going to do? Where will we sleep? Surely we can't sleep on the streets, we will get caught. I should have never done this.

God Chantelle why are you so naive!

Ben must have been able to see my fear, "Hey, hey, it will be okay. You won't get caught, it'll be okay." He grabbed my hand again.

I took some deep breaths, "How do you know that? What is our new plan now? The federal government is literally less than a mile from here and I might have a fucking bounty over my head,"

"Okay, you're right, how about this: I'll drive around and find the nearest motel, you get into the backseat and stay on the ground, I'll keep you updated on where we are."

I sighed, "Alright, but you better not be long, once my hair gets knotted it is impossible to brush out,"

He laughed, and I unbuckled my seatbelt once we reached a stoplight. I climbed into the backseat, and hoped that I didn't just flash my ass to him in my dress. I cozied up next to my duffle bag and car registration papers and laid down on the car floor. Just as I got down Ben stepped on the gas, flinging me backwards.

"Hey, watch it!" I squad, rubbing the back of my head.

"Oops, sorry, the light turned green and I didn't want to hold people up,"

I scoffed and layed back down.

We kept driving on one of the busiest roads in Washington D.C. I was so scared that we were going to get caught. I don't even know what my parents are thinking about right now. What if they think I'm dead? I was so tempted to pick up my phone and at least give them a text. But, I couldn't. What if the police tried to track me? I wouldn't just be giving them my location. What if they already have a profile on me, and are searching for me right now?

I couldn't think like that, or else I'll never survive out in this world.

This has become a game of life or death. Or at least it feels like it.

"Okay, so I'm now reaching the end of the city," Ben said, breaking the chatter of my thoughts.

"Already?" I replied.

"Yeah, the city has only a one mile circumference, remember?"

"Oh, right," I chuckled.

I felt the car take a sharp left, jolting me to the side.

"Sorry," Ben said.

I rubbed my head from the impact, "So now what?"

"Well, I'm going left and checking for any motels,"

"Right, and if we don't find any?"

"We keep searching," he said.

We finally came to a steady speed, about 35 miles an hour. I could feel the car shifting lanes every now and then, but I wasn't paying too much attention.