Aliope

prologue

The smell of the crumbling wallpaper in the cheap motel was almost overwhelming.  Aliope stared at the cracked mirror in the very small bathroom that looked like it was from another era. Aliope pushed her hair back and could see the dark circles under her eyes. She had been running for so long and felt like she never had time to rest or sleep. She rubbed some cold water over her tanned skin and smoothed her honey blonde hair. Her hair hung down her back past her shoulders in waves and curls. Her emerald green eyes reflected what she already knew, that she needed a warm meal and some sleep. Aliope, or Ali as she had chosen to be called, grabbed her map and looked for where her next stop would be. She had already stayed in the same place for a few days now and knew that Aaron's henchmen would be close to the town by now.  Ali circled a town called Silver Springs which was only a few days travel from her current hideout, Ali replaced her map and despite her stomach's yearning for a hot meal from the diner only a mile down the road, Ali chose to stay close to her hideout and got a protein bar from the vending machine and a cold soda and took it back to her room. Ali climbed into the motels bed that smelled of cigarettes and frequent use and rested her eyes for a moment. She would rest for a moment once she got to Silver Springs. For now she would have to settle for closing her eyes momentarily.