Page 61 of Skid
My clothes from yesterday would have to suffice for me to wear, so I picked them up and went into the bathroom to change. The woman looking back at me in the mirror had sadness in her eyes, and I felt my heart shattering into dust. Grasping my chest, I fought the physical pain of his betrayal and took one minute to mourn what could have been, but never was. When I met my gaze in the reflection a second time, the tears were gone and in their place was a rage unlike anything I’d ever felt.
I splashed some water on my face and pulled my hair up as I checked that I had all my stuff. After verifying I was all packed up, I pulled the small duffle onto my shoulder and walked to the bedroom door. A small part of me didn’t want to leave, and I told that stupid bitch to shut up as I opened the door and quietly walked into the living room.
Dalton was still asleep on the couch, and I scooted around him, afraid he would try and stop me. I knew he would, just to cover his lies, and I couldn’t hear his hurtful words of love and forever, knowing they weren’t true. I should leave him a note to let him know I’m aware of his bullshit but decided that would burn time that I could use to get as far away from Portstill as possible.
The back door was my way out, and I slowly turned the knob and kept peeking into the living room as I scooted through the small opening and silently closed the door. Every step down the stairs was painful as I kept to the shadows. Walking in the tree line, I managed to avoid all the motion-activated lights, and as I got to the edge of the driveway, I gave the house one final glance.
Wiping a tear from my cheek, I turned and began walking down the road. It was almost sun-up when I got to the edge of Portstill, and I ordered a car to pick me up from the side of a gas station. Staying in the shadows of the building, I watched for my ride. The sound of a motorcycle pulling into the station filled me with panic, and I poked my head out to see a Death Hound filling his bike up at the pump. I didn’t recognize him, but he was one of Dalton’s brothers, which meant he could be a threat to me.
I didn’t know if Dalton was even aware I was gone, but I couldn’t take any chances, so I stayed pushed to the side of the building, listening for him to leave, and checking on my ride. The app said it was two minutes away, and I prayed the Death Hound left before they pulled in. My breathing was accelerating, and I was afraid I was going to pass out as I watched and waited.
The bike cranked up a moment later, and he pulled away as I watched my ride turn into the parking lot. Confirming he was gone, I ran to the car and quickly got into the backseat. The driver wanted to make small talk as he drove me the hour to Memphis, but I kept my words inside and my eyes out the side window, watching Tennessee pass by. Just after eight, my phone rang, and I looked down to see Dalton was calling me.
I declined the call and placed the phone in my lap. Immediately it rang again, and I silenced it before turning it to ‘do not disturb’. When the driver pulled into the airport, I opened the door and slung my duffle over my shoulder, muttering a thank you before briskly walking into the airport. There were few people flying this early on a Thursday, and I walked to the counter to purchase a ticket.
“Good morning. I need a ticket to Atlanta, please. One way, first flight, if possible,” I requested and looked over my shoulder to make sure I wasn’t being followed.
The gate agent was a nice older lady, and she leaned in as she typed, her lips barely moving. “Are you okay?”
I turned back to see her worried eyes and felt kindness coming from her. I nodded and fought the tremble in my chin. “I found out my boyfriend lied to me about everything, and I just want to go home and forget about him.”
“Honey, men are liars, and I completely understand. Let me see what I can do about getting you back home,” she explained and turned her attention to the computer. “Here we go. There is one seat left, and I claimed it for you as a family emergency. The gate agent will hold the flight, but you’re going to have to run to make it.”
I went to hand her my credit card, but she held her hand up. “I used some of my employee miles and comped your flight. I hope you get home safe, and don’t worry, sweetheart. You’re young. You’ll find a good man who treats you right. You just have to believe.”
The tears welled in my eyes as she handed me the ticket, and she stepped out from behind the counter to hug me. Touches from strangers usually made me defensive, but she reminded me of what a grandmother should be, so I took her embrace, hugging her back.
“Thank you,” I whispered, and she released me with a smile.
“Go, darling. You have ten minutes before they close the gates.” She smiled at me, and I nodded before gripping my bag and taking off in a jog.
The gate was on the other side of the terminal, and I dodged early morning travelers as I ran for my escape. How did it come to this again, running from liars and trying to find my heart inside the turmoil?
The gate agent lifted her head to me as I ran up and handed her my ticket. She looked at it and me before ushering me inside the plane and shutting the door. After finding my seat, I stowed my bag at my feet and secured myself for the flight. As we taxied down the runway, I felt relief and overwhelming sadness.
He gave me something I always wanted, but it wasn’t real. He showed me how to love, but it was a lie. He used me, and I would never forgive him or myself for the cowardly act.
Vowing a life of solitude would be better than the pain, I rested my head on the window and let my gaze stay locked on the horizon as thoughts of what might have been flashed like a cruel movie in my mind. Landing in Atlanta, I didn’t feel any safer. As hard as I tried, I couldn’t stop the thoughts from swirling in my head. As I walked away from the gate, something terrifying crossed my mind, and I stumbled over my own feet, catching myself against a pillar. A passenger tried to help me, and I flinched away from their touch as the ramifications of the terror overtook me.
What if The Community was somehow involved? Were they looking for me? Were they going to make me fulfill the promise I made to them all those years ago? Was he looking for me?
I saw a sign for the ladies’ room up ahead, and I tugged my bag to my chest as I hurried down the corridor and into a stall. Locking the door, I turned my phone on, and it immediately started chiming, showing dozens of missed calls, voice mails, and texts from Dalton. As tempted as I was to read them, I couldn’t trust anything he said.
The phone started to ring in my hand, and I declined the call quickly before dialing the one number I could remember. A number repeated over and over to ensure it wasn’t forgotten. The number Kelly made me learn ten years ago when I ran away from everything I thought my life was going to be, and straight into the unknown.
A voice answered the phone, and I spoke a single word. “Succor.”
“Are you safe?” the woman on the line asked, and I nodded as tears built in my eyes.
“Yes.”
“Do you need a pick-up?”
“Yes.”
“Location.”
“Airport.”
