Page 36 of Fractured Souls

Laying low and just trying to find Brielle are my only goals right now.If she's even real. Don't get your hopes up.

I try to adjust in my seat to get more comfortable, but it's hard. My body aches and hurts everywhere. My ribs are killing me right now. I can't wait to be there so I can get off this bus and find somewhere to lay down. Hopefully in a motel.

I am worried someone is going to see all my bruises and get worried and call the cops. That would not be good. So since that guy from the bus stop I saw staring at me this morning, I've kept a hoodie on with the hood up even though I'm sweating and hot as shit on this bus.

The bus eventually pulls up to a bus stop that looks to be on a main street. There are businesses up and down both sides, and some people are out walking around. I get off the bus, my body protesting the movement after having sat still for so long.

As soon as I step off, I can smell it. The ocean. It smells crisp and almost salty. I know I can’t be more than a block or two away from the water, even if I can’t see it right now. There is a slight chill in the air with a misty breeze that feels amazing on my face. Part of me wants to go find the beach right now, but I need to wait and be smart about things. With the way I look, I can’t be seen out much until my face heals.

I smile as I start walking and looking around. I can’t believe I am out of there. I know part of me should be fucking terrified right now, but I feel almost giddy. I saved myself. I got out of there. I fucking did it.

I became my own motherfucking princess, Mom.

I check my watch as I keep walking; I left Tammy’s at 7:15 a.m., and now it's 7:30 p.m. I need to go to a store and find something to put on the cuts on my body and maybe they'll have something to take the pain away, but I'd have to risk asking someone to help me.

I go into a store called Walgreens and there is a guy standing in the aisle with the medicine stuff. I take a breath. If anything, I'll just take off running and hide somewhere if he tries to take me or call the cops. I can do this. I shove my shaky hands in my hoodie pocket, hoping to keep them from shaking too badly. I walk up to him, and he glances at me. When his eyes land on my battered face, his eyes narrow and he sucks in a sharp breath as he clenches his fists.

“Hi.” I try to give a sweet grin. “I was wondering if you could tell me what's the best medicine to get to take pain away?”

His narrowed angry eyes continue to stare at my face. I want to cover it, knowing it probably looks even worse now that it has been a day since I last got beat. I can feel the pain when I make any facial expression. The bruises and split lip making my face ache and giving me a wicked headache. After a few awkward seconds, he shuts his eyes and takes a deep breath before opening them again and attempting to give me a tiny smile; although, it looks more like a grimace.

“Of course, sweetie. Here, these will help take away pain. Take two every six hours as long as you need them. Also, you can use this. It'll help heal bruises faster.” He hands me the pain medication and a tube of what looks like a lotion. I nod and smile. “Kiddo, do you need help? I know I'm just a stranger, but is someone hurting you?”

I keep the smile plastered on my face as I look up at the kind man. “Thank you, but I'm okay now.”

I begin to walk away but he says, “Wait! Take this.” I turn back around to find he's holding out a card. I take it from him and look at it.

Lincoln Tanner

Boxing Trainer

Self Defense Trainer

SWEAT FACTORY

On the back is an address and phone number. I glance up at him and furrow my brows. “If you need anything at all, come by there. Or call me. That's my name. I can promise to help in any way I can. Okay? Don't hesitate, kiddo.”

I nod and turn around, walking away before I start crying. People can be better. Not everyone is bad, I remind myself. I check out and head down the street. I look for an old motel that might be willing to do cash only and no other verification.

Luckily, I find a place. It's run-down and doesn't look all that safe, but a room with a bed is better than the streets. I hope.

The guy barely even looked at me, just took my cash and gave me my room key. He had a look of it's not his business and he really doesn’t fucking care, so I quickly walked out of the office and breathed a sigh of relief. That was exactly the kind of luck I needed right now.

I find my room, go in, lock the door, and make sure the window is locked and curtains are closed. Here goes nothing.

* * *

Day 2

I wake up feeling better than I have in a long time. I may have been constantly waking up to make sure I was still safe, but I was able to lay on a better bed and rest for hours. It’s about noon now. I've been in bed since nine last night. Now I need to plan things out. I left one notebook from school in my backpack, so I pull it out and start making a list of what I can do. I look at the map I got yesterday and find where it looks like most places would be. I need to find a library to use, so that's today's goal. My body hurts, and I feel like I could sleep for days, but I need to keep busy and not let myself break down.

I shower in the tiny bathroom this room has and finally get a good look at my battered face. My lip is split in two places, and I have a black eye, as well as bruises on my cheek and jawbone. The worst part is my neck; you can see the bruising around it from the chain and Mother’s hands. I reach my hand up to feel it and hiss when I touch my neck. It’s tender and feels raw.

I will have to keep my hair down and my hoodie pulled up around my neck as much as possible. I apply the lotion stuff that the guy from the store gave me. It hurts rubbing it on, but hopefully it makes these marks disappear faster.

I take my pain meds and then before I leave to find a library, I count my cash. I started with $514 but after the taxi, the bus, two stops at gas stations, the medicine, and the motel I'm left with $333.20. I need to be super careful from here on out. If I get down to $200 before I find Brielle, then I'll have to start pickpocketing again. I guess the school was my practice round.

My body is most definitely objecting to having to move so much already, but I have to try to figure shit out, so that means pushing past the pain.

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