Page 4 of Bear Hunt

A gas station comes into view up ahead, surrounded by mountainous terrain with snow-covered peaks that look like they’ve been painted on by Apollo himself. I wish I could stick around for the sunset because that would be epic. It’d be like a beautiful ending to something I hope to leave behind forever.

The truck jerks a little when I accidentally push the brake too hard, trying to slow down for the gas station. It’s the first one I’ve seen in the last hour and I don’t want to overshoot the turn. I’ll use some of the cash I have to fill up the tank while I’m here.

Oh, man, I hope they have those people that pump the gas for the customers because I’m not sure if I’m gonna get this right. I remember seeing a gas station in the movieZoolander, but that didn’t turn out too good and Master always had his staff fill up the tank before we left on our trips.Zoolanderwas one of the few DVDs I was allowed to keep in my room as a luxury when I behaved.

They don’t have people…

But there is a woman filling up her own tank, a couple of kids that look no more than ten in the back seat of her car. I couldn’t say what make or model it is, but it’s silver and a lot smaller than the blue truck I park behind her. Maybe she can help me here. She looks up from what she’s doing and gives me a soft smileas I open the door and begin to slide out, but the smile quickly morphs into confusion then outright horror while she does her best not to openly stare at the state of me.

I’ll take care of the gas problem after I’ve cleaned up and changed clothes because the last thing I want is to be memorable. No doubt someone is, by now, out there looking for me. If not Master himself, then any number of the men he’s constantly hanging around with, showing me off like a show dog. If they find me… then I may as well kill myself. It may sound dramatic to someone who hasn’t lived the life I have, but not to me. I like to think my attitude is pretty damn good considering all I’ve been through, but I’ve been alone in the outside world for a maximum of four hours and already freaked out on the sales assistant in the thrift store so… yeah. We’ll see.

The dead man in my attic room might also have something to say about my good attitude after I went allCaptain Jack Sparrowcrazy on him…

Sighing heavily, I follow the sign to the bathroom around the corner of the main building, taking my bag of new clothes with me. I feel a little like Hermione with a magic bag full of things I need. The large door has a lock, which I immediately use after checking there is nobody else in here, then I strip. It doesn’t take long, the few clothes I was wearing being mere scraps of material, and I’ve never owned underwear. Master always liked it when I wore nothing at all, made it easier for him.

I pull out a whole bunch of paper towels that would usually be used for hand drying and scrunch them up into a big ball, dampening it before sticking it beneath the soap dispenser and squeezing. Using my makeshift sponge, I begin to wash myself. It takes several scrunches of paper towels, but I think I’m finally done and I splash myself with water from the taps. I feel a lot fresher than before and work up the courage to take a glance in the mirror.

The reflection that stares back at me is exactly what I imagined. I still look like shit, but at least I smell a little nicer now. The bruise on my cheek has faded from purple to a mangy green, the bags beneath my eyes could be used on a huge shopping spree, and my body is…

Tears begin to sting the backs of my eyes, threatening to spill over.

I had to get out of there. I had to. But what the hell am I actually doing?

Master said he would always find me. He’s going to be so mad when he finds Dan…

Forcing the tears back, refusing to let them fall, I quickly change into the skin-tight black leggings, tank top, and the large green hoodie I got from the thrift shop. I also bought a couple of blankets to use when I have to turn the truck engine off before I go to sleep. They can stay in the bag. Next, I slide on the low-heeled black boots I found. I thought about trying a higher pair, but that was quickly pushed aside once I tried them on and remembered how painful they are. If I never have to wear a pair of high heels again, I won’t be mad.

Giving myself a once over in the mirror, I nod, pleased that I no longer look like I’ve just run away from being abused.

I use the toilet, wash my hands, and exit the bathroom, dumping my old scraps into the trash on my way out. The woman in the red car has gone, leaving just my truck sitting beside the pumps. I guess I’ll have to figure this thing out by myself.

Just as I reach the pumps, a young woman with short black hair starts yelling at me but I can’t understand what she’s so angry about as she points to the truck then the parking spaces.

“You can’t just leave your truck here, lady. And if you want to use the bathroom, you have to buy gas.” The fire in her eyes andthe harsh pull of her lips are stark reminders of every person I’ve ever known, just before I got the life beat out of me.

I flinch, my feet backing up as if on auto-pilot.It was always worse when they yelled.

“I’m… sorry. I’m… I didn’t know.” My hands are trembling and my head is shaking from side to side, silently begging her not to hit me. I can’t understand why she’s so angry at me. I don’t feel like I’ve behaved inappropriately.

Then she stops and takes a long look at me before her face morphs into something completely different.

“Wait, are you okay?” Her question takes me by surprise, and it’s then I realize tears are streaming down my cheeks, my lips, and my arms are folded across my chest to protect myself. “I’m so sorry. Hey, it’s okay. It’s all good. Just… can I help you with the gas?”

I nod because it’s the only thing that comes out of her mouth that brings me relief.

“Y-yes. Please.”

Ten minutes later, the truck is full of gas, I managed to pay the attendant without freaking out for a second time, and I’m back inside the cab in my new clothes and feeling somewhat human again.

Okay. I can do this.

Turning on the built in GPS, I take far too long trying to figure out how to load up the map and input the address scorched into my memory. Mom made me memorize it from the age of eight. Just in case.

The directions load on the small screen, and my eyes widen at the thirty-five hour journey. I study the map for a few minutes because there’s a possibility I don’t have enough cash on me for gas and I’ll have to walk it. That might be ambitious, but I’m determined to try.

Plan set, I put the truck in drive and hope the Moirai lead me to my destiny.

Chapter Three

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