Inhuman

decide to let me and my baby go free?

Somehow I doubted that.

Chapter 14

It felt like hours before the car slowed to a stop. I’m sure I fell asleep several times, but never for long. Any little sound outside the car would alert my consciousness and startle me awake.

The deep wound on my forehead had finally stopped seeping blood and had coagulated into a dry and crusty patch. If I scrunched up my face in any way, the dried blood pinched at my skin like a mud mask at a spa that had set and was ready to come off.

With the car now parked, I breathed a sigh of relief. I heard Keanu get out of the car and close his door.

The trunk lid clicked open, a sound that literally brought tears to my eyes. Whatever phobia of coffins I had up until this point was either cured or going to become vastly worse after this whole experience.

Pushing the lid open with my hand, a flood of sunshine streamed into the darkness of the trunk. Though the rays of light were a welcoming sight, the pain in my eyes from adjusting to the brightness was brutal. My eyes watered relentlessly but I didn’t mind, I was free.

A large shadow suddenly blocked the sun from assaulting my eyes further. Shielding my eyes with one hand, I looked up and was ecstatic to see Keanu standing there.

“Oh my God! I’m so sorry!” Examining my bloodied and swollen forehead, he took my hands and assisted me gently out of the trunk.

Fumbling as I climbed out, my legs wobbled as my equilibrium adjusted itself. After being tossed around and pressing my limbs against the walls of the trunk, I felt like a newborn baby giraffe trying to accustom myself to my new surroundings.

“I’m okay.” I mumbled as I put my hand to my forehead, cringing at the copious amount of dried blood that had accumulated there.

Glancing around with concern clouding his handsome face, Keanu then led me to the passenger side. “They might still be following us.” Closing my door, he strode quickly around the front of the car to the driver’s side.

Checking over his shoulder for oncoming traffic, he then signaled and sped off down the highway. Watching the world fly past the window, my eyes brimmed with tears.

While there was very little snow on the ground, the trees glistened and glinted in the sunshine courtesy of the hundreds of snowflakes resting on their limbs. Acres of pasture spread out beside me like a royal carpet covered with white satin blankets. The sky smiled down upon me with its deep shade of blue, clear with the exception of the occasional puff of white cloud.

The sun.

Something I’d never once appreciated as much as I did in this moment. The glorious and loyal star that spread its warmth and rays of gold each and every day, never once bitter for the lack of appreciation.

How I loved and appreciated it now.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Keanu asked quietly, reaching for my hand and taking it into his own. I’m sure I looked positively broken with my face battered and bloody, but if he could only feel the elation bursting from within my soul.

Nodding enthusiastically, I smiled brightly and turned my attention back to the scenery.

Nothing mattered to me right now. Only the delicious feast my eyes were devouring at the moment. The sensory deprivation I’d endured was more drastic than I thought.

Even though I wasn’t technically considered ‘human’, my needs were apparently the same. I craved human companionship. I needed visual stimulation and change. I loved and desired love. My sanity depended on my freedom.

How sad it must be for criminals. Sure, they did the crime, they have to do the time…but I had learned to empathize with their situation.

I had only been kept from humanity for a brief time; I couldn’t imagine how excruciating it would be to spend years locked away from life.

“We need to find a motel.” Keanu muttered under his breath as he read a sign indicating we were only a few miles from a town. “I just don’t know if it’s safe to stop yet.”

“What happened after the guard inspected the trunk?” I asked as I watched a couple of horses trot gracefully through their field.

“I’m not exactly sure, but I’d guess that they discovered the guard in the showers and began a search for you immediately.” His hands clenched the steering wheel tightly as he spoke. “I…panicked when I heard the alarm.” He sighed and shook his head angrily, obviously annoyed with himself. “I just got in the car and took off. I guess they realized I had you and chased me. I’m…sorry Cassia, I screwed everything up.” His eyes lowered in shame as he spoke.

“No, Keanu, it will be okay. You’ll see, it will all work out.” I didn’t know if the thrills of freedom were playing with my senses, but I felt elated and ready to take on the world.

Shaking his head and turning his face toward mine, his eyes filled with fear and his voice wavered. “No Cassia. It won’t be alright. You have no idea what they’re capable of…or what they’ll do if they find us.”

* * *

“Over here!” Keanu waved his hand frantically as he signaled me to follow him up a set of stairs. Leaving the safety of the car, I jogged toward him, glancing around with paranoia.

“Quickly!” He hissed as I reached him. Shielding me and my bloodied face by opening his jacket and pushing me against his chest, he led me up a flight of stairs to a motel room he’d just purchased with cash and a fake ID.

Shoving the keys into the lock and opening the door, he led me inside and slammed the door shut. Going straight to the window, he peeked around the gaudy curtains to see if anyone was following us.

“I’m…gonna have a shower, okay?” I hugged myself as I watched him scan every angle of the street.

“Mm mm.” He mumbled, leaving me to wonder if he’d actually heard me at all.

Though I felt like rolling my eyes at his suspicions, I knew all too well that I should be just as cautious and concerned with our welfare.

Closing the door behind me, I cringed at the questionable state of the bathroom. If there was one thing that I’d been pleasantly subjected to while locked up at the facility, it was sterility. I was sure that the cleaning lady who’d cleaned my cell never left even one hair or speck of dust.

This place, however, didn’t look like it even had a cleaning lady.

Turning and looking at myself in the mirror, I gasped. It was much worse than I thought. No wonder Keanu had insisted we stop so I could get cleaned up.

A two inch gash marred the entire left side of my forehead. In a normal situation, I’d have at least ten stitches sewn onto my head by now.

Blood had run down my face from the wound like a river that had burst free from a dam. Clotted blood coated my left eyelid and had meandered all the way down to my collarbone. Chunks of my hair were so matted and colored with my blood that they looked like thick dreadlocks.

If someone had seen me, they’d surely mistake me for the character in the movie ‘Carrie’. I shuddered as I stood before my reflection.

Creepy.

Undressing, I noticed my swollen belly in the mirror. Despite my horrific appearance, I saw the beauty of creation budding right before my eyes. Caressing my baby’s temporary home, I smiled as she wriggled within me.

Turning on the water and stepping into the shower, I let a moan of pleasure escape my lips as the hot water pelted my skin. Raising my face to the showerhead’s rain, I felt the pains of the day wash from my face. Looking down at the drain, the red-tinted waters swirled down into oblivion.

If only my problems could be resolved so easily.

I lingered in the warmth for as long I could, but I knew I had to get out soon. We had to get back on the road as soon as possible.

Guilt twisted in my stomach, I hated the fact that Keanu had to be brought into this nightmare. Sure, he was