Bad things SOA/Mayans

Chapter 18

The room spun when I finally came awake. I couldn't focus properly no matter how much I blinked the blur away. Giving up I closed my eyes for a few minutes. When I opened them again it was dark, I could see better without the bright lights and my head hurt a little less. A light snore could be heard from the body in the chair across the room. I looked at the bedside and found a bottle of water. I launched it at the man in the chair and he startled awake.

"Get the fuck out of here." I said as I pointed to the door.

"Vi, I'm sorry I lost my temper." Happy said while making no effort to move.

"I said get the fuck out of here." I reached across to my gun that lay on my clothes and shoved the magazine in, cocking it. "I won't tell you again."

I didn't put the gun back down until the door was firmly shut behind him. I looked around the room, it wasn't one in the Mayan clubhouse but it wasn't clean enough to be a hospital. I tried to get dressed quickly but the moment I stood up the world started turning and nausea hit. With the support of the bed and the wall I was able to pull my jean on and a clean singlet before putting the gun in my waistband.

I made use of the bathroom and grimaced at my face. The whole left side was a deep purple and I had stitches along my cheekbone too. Fucking asshole. The thought was soon chased away. You deserved it. I washed my hands and left the room.

"Señorita you need to go back to your room." A man in a white coat said as I walked to the front door.

"Thanks for the help doc but I gotta go." I replied as I swung my bag over my shoulder and pushed my way out the door.

The heat hit me and the bright blinding sunlight. I looked along the street and eyed the wall that divided the two countries. Shit, which side am I on? I started walking down the street and when I turned the corner I found all the signs in Spanish. With a sigh I made my way along the streets where they were busier and busier.

I found a small food stall that had shade so I sat down to rest with a cold drink. A rumble along the street notifies me of bikers getting close. I tossed my can in the bin and ducked into a mini mart. Mayans patches were making their way through the area searching, no doubt for me. When they were gone I walked back to a hairdresser I had past earlier, picking up some clothes and make up on the way.

"Honey, it's going to take more than a bit of foundation to cover that." The lady at the checkout stated.

I ignored her as I paid and left to get my hair done. I needed some time to myself and that meant being unrecognisable. My long thick black hair was the only style I had ever had but it was time to go.

"Cut and a bleach please." I asked the hairdresser quietly.

"Big break up change?" She gestured to my face.

"Something like that. I want to try silver in a rough bob."

The lady looked at my hair and ran her hands through it a few times. She pursed her lips and tapped the comb against her hand before nodding and smiling.

"Girl, you got good taste. Mhmmm. Though not in men." She tsked.

"Obviously." I snorted and she laughed along.

Almost two hours later she was blow drying my hair and I was astonished. I don't even recognise me, I shouldn't be bothered by any Mayans even if I walked past one in the street. I used the stores bathroom and changed into a knee length, long sleeve floral off shoulder dress. It covered most of my arm tattoos and the ones on my thighs, plus it was something I wouldn't normally get caught dead wearing. I paid the woman and left the store finding a large handbag at a market stall to replace my black backpack. I looked like a summer tourist enjoying a trip to Mexico.

I was running low on cash and knew bank cards could be tracked easily enough. I found a bus stop with a bus waiting to go to La Paz. I quickly drained my accounts from the Banamex bank next to the bus station before jumping on the bus for the 21 hour trip south. I plugged my earphones in and listened to music while I set up my new SIM card. If I was going to clear my head uninterrupted I needed to be off grid. I slipped my old SIM card into the lining of my handbag for if I decided to return.

My battery had died by the time the bus arrived in La Paz and I was grumpy from being cooped up. I walked along the waterfront as a cool breeze blew in from the coast. I finally felt at peace, although I ran here, I didn't have to run anymore. I felt bad for leaving Happy without a goodbye but all I could see when I looked at him was his face before he knocked me out. The cold ruthless dead eyes that wanted to hurt me, that wanted me to feel pain.

He knew I was self destructive and he left me for a week with no contact. He didn't think about me, only his revenge. I know what I did was wrong but it was how I coped, how he taught me to cope. If Nestor hadn't been there to take some of the noise away I would have broken my promise and ruined the tattoo he gave me. I had come to the end of the dock and sat down. I didn't know what to do from here, where to go, who to be. I didn't realise the sun had set in the time I had been sitting on the end of the dock, feet hanging over the edge.

"Are you alright there darling?" A woman's voice interrupted my thoughts.

I turned to look at the woman who was standing on the back of a small tidy yacht. She looked like a middle aged hippie with a flowing dress and flowers braided in her hair.

"I don't know." I laughed, "feeling a little lost." I don't know why I said that, this woman didn't want to hear my shit.

"Been there," she chuckled, "on that very dock. Come onboard, I have tequila in exchange for the story about that bruise."

With no other options and her kind disposition, I climbed onto the bow and joined her at the small table as she poured the tequila shots. By the time the bottle was finished the old lady knew my entire life story, including the self defence murders. She asked questions here and there but mostly just listened without judgement.

"Do you want me to leave?" I asked as I finished my tale and silence descended.

"Oh gosh no. My husband was an abusive man until one day I had the strength to kill him. It's that strength that drew me to you, birds of a feather. Do you have anywhere to go?"

I shook my head and looked at the starry night sky reflected over the calm water.

"Then you can stay with me, if you want. It gets quiet around here sometimes. There's a spare room inside and I can teach you to sail if you want to see the country from the water."

I couldn't believe it, perhaps god had just ignored me for the last 26 years and finally got around to answering my prayers. She reminded me of Althea in truth, a real motherly character, calming matriarch. I thought it would be a good way to find my centre again, sailing the coast, no male distractions.

"I'd love that Juanita, thank you."