Chapter 22 #2
“Ma’am?” I feel a slight nudge on my knee.
“You doing okay? We’re at the motel.” Another nudge comes after the first one and I startle awake, my mind on overdrive trying to remember where I am, who that voice belongs to.
Panic starts to rise up my chest and throat until my breathing becomes short and shallow.
“Hey, calm down, you’re okay. You’re safe.
” A soft voice breaks through the cloud of panic and I try to steady my breathing.
My brain finally catches up with my body as I start to recognize my surroundings.
The musty smell, the coffee cups littered on the floor, the low noise of the radio. I’m safe. I made it out.
“I’m sorry for startling you like that.” I lift my head and look at the driver who’s turned in his seat to face me, his eyes so apologetic.
“No, no. It’s my fault for falling asleep.
I’m sorry.” I manage to say while pushing my hair behind my ears.
Looking out of the window, I notice the motel just a short walk away from the car, the blue neon lights of the sign flickering in the darkness.
In the dark abyss of the car park, there’s a couple of cars parked outside and a small twenty four hour convenience store at the side of the motel.
Shifting my focus back to the driver, I begin to grab my bag.
“Thank you for bringing me here. Are you sure I can’t pay you for your trouble?” I say while unzipping the bag to pull out the cash. He puts his hand out slowly to stop me.
“Keep the money. Use it to get out of here.” He gestures to the space with his hand before putting it back on his knee.
His voice is soft and kind. “Start afresh somewhere, away from the monsters you’re running away from, that’s enough payment for me.
” A small smile graces his face and I can’t help but give him one of my own back.
I struggle to find the right words so I simply nod and exit the car and softly close the door behind me, then shrug my bag onto my shoulder again, the heaviness sends a pinching pain up my neck to the back of my head. Fuck, I need to check this wound over.
Taking a deep breath I begin the short walk to the entrance of the motel.
Coming to stand in front of the glass double doors that are scattered with odd stickers and flyers, I hear my saviour in the beat up car finally drive away, then I wrap my hand around the metal bar that makes up the door handle and push it open.
The hinges creak and a bell above the door chimes.
Stepping into the entrance of the motel, a warmness washes over me along with a stale smell that’s mixed with a lemon air freshener.
Scouring the open space, I take in my surroundings.
A well worn door mat sits underneath my feet, the words Welcome have faded with all the times someone has stood on it.
A burgundy carpet covers the entire floor, dotted with rips and threads and the odd forbidden stain.
The off yellow walls are pretty bare and chipped in some places showing the white undercoat underneath.
Overall, it’s pretty beat up, but it’s a place to stay.
Shuffling my bag closer, I take small steps towards the front desk.
Facing me, there’s a small wooden window frame that looks like it’s seen better days, but who am I to judge.
I poke my head into the frame noting all the door keys hung on small hooks on the wall, each given their own plastic keyring with an allocated number, along with piles of paperwork that line the desk that’s behind the frame.
A lone, empty coffee cup with brown stains down the side, and a packet of cigarettes sit on top of them.
I smile to myself at the chaos of the small office.
There’s a worn silver bell that catches my eye on the front desk and I press my fingers down on it, a sharp chime rings through the silent room and I wait. A couple of seconds go by and I hear shuffling coming from somewhere inside the office, then a raspy woman’s voice speaks out.
“I’m coming darlin’ hold on!” What sounds like a southern twang becomes clearer as the woman gets closer to me.
Suddenly, from the chaos of the office, a short lady with greying hair in hot pink rollers comes into view, an unlit cigarette hanging from her thin lips.
The bronzeness of her skin almost looks like she’s been sitting in the sun for too long without any protection on, or she’s a fan of the sunbeds, either way it suits her, strangely.
She continues to push things to the side to clear a path in the chaos.
The woman’s wrists are covered in silver and gold bangles all clattering together anytime she moves her hands.
This eccentric woman finally makes it to the desk in front of me before sitting on the chair. She begins to lift up the pieces of paper, some falling to the floor in the process until she finds whatever she’s been looking for.
“Got ya, ya little sucker!” I stand dumbfounded at her.
She produces a silver zippo lighter and flicks it in one swift movement, an orange flame instantly sparks to life and she brings it to the end of her unlit cigarette, squinting her eyes she starts to puff the nicotine in, plumes of smoke escape from her mouth and nose before she flicks the lighter closed and takes the cigarette between her polished fingernails.
My eyes follow her every movement until she brings her face to mine and I instantly feel a sense of comfort from her. Her silver, grey eyes are warming.
“Excuse my appearance, sweetheart, we don’t get many folk ‘round here so I use this time to glam up a bit.” I smile at her comment and shake my head.
“It’s.. it’s okay. I um, I’m looking for a room?” I stutter out. The lady scans my face for a moment. I can feel her grey eyes landing on the bruises and cuts that litter my skin, but she doesn’t comment.
“Well, sure darlin’ I have plenty free. It’s cash only, is that alright?” She asks and I’m instantly relieved considering I only have the cash my father gave to me.
My father. The letter!
He wrote to let the woman at the motel know he was the one to send me here.
“This might sound strange.” I start. “But my father Michael Murphy sent me here.” I leave the comment floating around in the air to see what she will do with it.
Her features instantly change from chirpy to concerned.
She begins to look deeper at me, as if she can see right through my broken soul.
I shuffle awkwardly on my feet, feeling the burn of her gaze.
“You’re Annabelle Murphy aren’t you?” She questions and I pause, unsure of whether to give her my real name.
“You don’t need to confirm that, sweet. I know exactly who you are and why you’re here.
” I release the breath I didn’t realise I was holding and let myself relax against the desk.
She places her warm hand over mine on the desk and I instantly flinch at the contact but she doesn’t relent, in fact she squeezes it tighter.
“How rude of me!” She scoffs. “I’m Darlene.
” She introduces herself before releasing my hand, placing the cigarette back between her lips and lifts a key from the wall.
I follow her every movement until she exits the quaint office and rounds the desk, coming face to face with me.
Darlene’s only a little bit shorter than I am but her big bouncy hair definitely makes up the height difference.
She gently places a hand on my shoulder and guides me out of the entrance, through a set of double doors where the weathered carpet leads into a hallway.
Wooden doors line each wall, the numbers going up in order as she continues to guide me down until we stop in front of a door on the left hand side. The number twelve faces back at me.
Darlene stands at the side of me, the smoke from her cigarette still billowing around her, like an extinguished candle.
She pushes the key into the gold lock and turns it before opening the door for me.
“Come on in, darlin’ you’re safe here.” She tilts her head towards the open door and I do as she says.
The room is dark until Darlene makes her way over the small bedside unit to flick the light on, casting a warm glow over the furniture.
A double bed takes up space in the middle of the room, two mismatched bedside tables sit at either side of it, both with worn metal lamps sat on top.
The burgundy carpet from the entrance and the hallway cover the space in here too.
There’s a double window on the far right wall with red curtains that are drawn open, the clear night sky and moonlight beam into the room creating an ethereal glow on the bed.
There’s also a wardrobe in the far corner and a set of drawers pushed up next to it.
I won’t be staying here long enough to unpack. I just need to clean myself up, have a somewhat good sleep and then move on, without a car somehow. Darlene’s raspy voice breaks my inner thoughts.
“I know it’s not much but, it’ll do you. There’s also a bathroom through that door.” She points to the other corner of the room locating the bathroom for me. “There’s a sink, and a shower with hot water.”
“Take all the time you need here darlin’, there’s also a little shop at the side of us if you need anything extra or treat yourself to a lil snack!
” She says with such humour and I instantly smile at her.
Dropping the heavy bag on the bed, my body instantly thanks me for the reprieve, my shoulders slump and ache from the weight.
Turning on my feet, I face Darlene who’s now standing in the doorway.
“Thank you, Darlene. For everything.” I say, my voice is small but grateful. “I only need to be here for a couple of days so please let me know how much the room-” She cuts me off.
“You won’t be paying me anything, sweetheart.
Your father wanted you to be here, to be safe from the monster you’re running from and that’s what I’m gon’ provide.
I won’t hear any more about it.” I stand here, my mouth slightly open, like I’ve been scolded by a parent but I don’t mind it. Words evade my mouth.
“Good girl! Get some rest, darlin’.” She spins on her feet, smoke from her burnt out cigarette follows her as she leaves the room and closes the door behind her.