Chapter 4 #2
She gave me a funny look. “Good luck.”
With a nod, I started toward the exit. The man from earlier was gone, probably having given up on me, if he’d even been eyeing me up in the first place.
Thank God. I was one step closer, though I had several hours to burn until I had to board the bus. I’d spotted a McDonald’s nearby. I could grab some food and wait inside where it was safe until it was time to leave.
I turned the corner and headed toward my bike.
So focused on my thoughts, I almost didn’t see the man until it was too late.
My steps faltered and I quickly righted myself, my mind racing.
He lounged negligently against the back corner of the building, a curl of smoke from his cigarette wafting into the air.
To get to my bike, I would have to walk right past him. Without the bike, I would be forced to walk to the bus station. I surreptitiously studied the man. It wasn’t worth the risk.
Adjusting my stride I quickly changed directions, heading toward the Golden Arches down the road. I would grab some food then double back later. Surely he wouldn’t wait around that long.
A prickling sensation flared to life between my shoulder blades, and I shot a quick glance over my shoulder toward the rear of the building.
The man was gone.
Panic flared hot in my chest when I spied him down another row of cars, heading in my direction.
My heart slammed violently against my ribs as I broke into a run, my boots pounding against the pavement.
The sudden burst of movement sent the backpack bouncing painfully against my spine with each step, but I didn’t dare slow down.
I darted between parked vehicles, weaving through the narrow lanes of the lot.
A car alarm chirped in protest when I slammed into someone’s fender, but I kept moving, hyperaware of the man’s rapid approach.
My lungs burned as I burst out onto the main drag.
Behind me, I could hear the slap of the man’s shoes against the pavement as he closed the distance between us.
Street lamps flickered to life overhead as dusk finally surrendered to night, casting long golden pools of light along the pavement. I bolted down a narrow side street, lungs heaving with exertion, each breath seeming to pierce a hole in my side.
Up ahead, the dark silhouette of a church spire rose against the night sky. Its tall steeple pointed sharply upward, visible even in the dim light. Beside it stretched a large, fenced cemetery. Without slowing, I veered off the sidewalk and sprinted toward the fence.
Grabbing desperately at the top rail, I launched myself over the wrought iron fence, ignoring the sharp stab of pain as the spindles on top tore through my jeans and into skin.
The landing jarred my already aching legs, but adrenaline shoved the pain aside. All I could hear was blood rushing in my ears as I sprinted across the manicured grounds, ducking tree limbs and dodging tombstones.
It was fully dark now, the only light coming from the distant street lamps filtering through the iron fence. Sprinting down a row of headstones, I risked a glance back. The man’s dark figure moved through the cemetery behind me, still in pursuit.
Up ahead, a large stone angel spread its wings above the grave, eternally guarding whomever lay beneath.
Feet slipping in the dewy grass, I lunged forward and threw myself behind it.
Making myself as small as possible, I fought to regulate my breathing, drawing in small, even breaths so as to not give away my position.
I could hear the faint rustle of the man’s clothes as he moved through the rows of graves somewhere nearby. My heart hammered so loudly I was sure he could hear it.
Seconds ticked away into minutes. Five minutes became ten, then fifteen. The footsteps faded as he moved away, then eventually disappeared completely.
Still I didn’t move. I stayed there, crouched beneath the angel. Listening. Waiting.
The night grew quieter around me. A car passed on the nearby road. Leaves whispered softly in the trees. Somewhere far off, a cat yowled. But the man never returned.
At last, when my legs had begun to cramp from staying so still, I slowly turned in place and peeked over the curve of the angel’s stone wings. Carefully watching every shadow, I scanned the fence line, the pathways, the darker shadows beneath the trees.
He was gone.
The past twenty-four hours caught up to me all at once, and a broken sob escaped before I could stop it. I wrapped my arms around my legs as tears spilled over my cheeks. I cried for several long minutes until the feeling of pity eventually passed.
The cool stone pressed solidly against my back, the angel statue looming over me like a silent sentinel. A sense of peace swept over me. The past day had taken its toll on me, but it hadn’t broken me. I was strong. I’d been through worse; I would make it through this.
With a deep breath I sat up and brushed the moisture from my cheeks. My clothes clung to me, soaked with sweat. My hair stuck damply to my cheeks and neck, and my hands trembled from the lingering surge of adrenaline. I felt disgusting, and I was certain I looked even worse.
Tossing one last look around, I stripped off the damp shirt and pants, then unzipped the backpack and pulled out the wet wipes I’d purchased.
Taking two from the package I took my time wiping down every inch of my body, until I was certain I was as clean as I was going to get.
The cool night air prickled against my skin while I worked, but it felt better than the heavy sweat-soaked fabric.
Pulling out a dry shirt and the new pants, I removed the tags and pulled them on as fast as I could manage. The dirty clothes went straight to the bottom of the backpack.
I retrieved a bottle of water and one of the protein bars, then tore the wrapper open with shaking hands.
The first bite tasted like manna from heaven.
I devoured the entire bar in seconds, washing it down with long gulps of water that soothed my burning throat.
Though it didn’t fill the hollow ache in my stomach, it was enough to hold me over.
When the bottle was empty, I leaned back against the headstone again, exhaustion suddenly crashing over me like a wave. As content as I felt at the moment I knew I couldn’t stay here. I took my time packing everything in the backpack, double-checking to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything.
With a muted groan of pain, every muscle of my body protesting vehemently, I awkwardly climbed to my feet. Turning, I placed one hand on the angel. It seemed symbolic, and I wasn’t above acknowledging that sometimes, things happened for a reason.
As my fingers drifted over the delicately carved wings, my gaze drifted down to the name etched in the dark stone.
Lily Anderson
Beloved Daughter
Gone But Not Forgotten
My heart twinged at the sight of the young girl’s birthday, just a few weeks after my own. Had she lived, we would have been the same age.
Drawing in a deep breath, I hoisted the backpack over my shoulder and took a step toward the road. Something compelled me to turn back. I stared at the headstone. “Thank you, Lily,” I murmured softly.
With that, I left.