The woman, Monique, stood by the cash registers looking unsure. Her face was very pretty and Liz liked her long blond hair but she could tell that Raven didn’t trust her. Liz hadn’t made up her mind yet, deciding to be watchful and see.
“I hope they’re all right,” Monique spoke.
Her voice was soft and her hands were dainty when she placed them on the countertop. It seemed like her nails had been done recently, hot pink polish chipping a bit on the ends but otherwise they still looked nice. Liz glanced down at her own hands, dirty nails and grubby fingers, and hid them in the folds of her sweatshirt. Monique’s brow crinkled when she frowned and Liz wondered how old she was.
“I-I’m sure they’ll be fine,” Liz answered, desperately hoping that was true. If Henry and Raven were killed she’d be stuck with this strange woman. A shiver coursed down her spine and Rocky growled. “It’s okay, boy,” Liz assured, patting him on the head. She felt reassured that Rocky would protect her no matter what happened.
Monique glanced nervously at the dog and Liz hid a small smile behind her hand. She wondered where Monique lived before all the madness broke out. She didn’t look like anyone Liz had ever seen outside of television. Monique was well groomed and her clothes looked expensive. Liz could see unfamiliar brand names embroidered on the hem on her shirt; magenta material offset with blue stitching. Her ski pants were tight fitting; the type that Liz saw on the newscasters when they reported something high up in the mountains. Though bright orange wasn’t a color she’d seen anyone wear before. Even Monique’s hair was perfectly brushed and shining — she’d unbraided it and took much care combing through it. Of course it was straight hair like Raven’s; curls didn’t behave in the same manner.
Monique glanced at her and smiled. She opened her mouth to speak then shut it again, looking pensive. Her blue eyes darkened and she sighed, crossing her arms beneath her breasts.
Liz pushed back an unruly mass of curls and resumed looking out of the window. Rocky leaned into her leg and sighed, thumping his tail on the floor. She petted him absently, stroking the soft fur on his head.
“Where did you live before, Liz?” Monique asked, walking to the window and hunkering down next to Liz.
Liz glanced shyly at her and shrugged, afraid to hold eye contact.
Monique waited a beat then spoke again. “I lived in Forest Grove. It’s a large city by the bay.” Her voice was haughty and she smiled. Monique glanced at Liz and when the other kept silent she continued. “I lived with my aging mother. She couldn’t care for herself any longer, you see, and she needed me there. My father was a very wealthy businessman when he was alive and before his death he made sure to set enough money aside to care for mother and me. I never had to work and swam every day in our large infinity pool.” Her expression was joyous and her eyes took on a faraway look.
Liz glanced at Monique and frowned. This woman sure loves to talk about herself, she thought. I hope Raven and Henry come back soon. She resumed staring through the glass and Monique kept talking.
“Oh, you should have seen the pool. It was surrounded by large rocks and ferns and there was a gorgeous waterfall that cascaded down into endless blue.” Her voice was animated and her delicate hand traced a pattern in the air. She continued to drone on about her life before and Liz tuned her out, watching the woods.
Presently, the sun rose higher into the sky. The clouds had migrated into the mountains, taking the rain with them. Liz loved it when it rained but was glad for a day of sunshine. It would be warmer today. She could feel the heat through the glass. Liz pressed her cheek against it, closing her eyes.
Rocky barked and her eyes sprang open. “There they are!” she yelled. Before Monique could say anything, Liz shot out of the door and raced toward Raven. They were a good distance down the road and Rocky shot toward them, much faster than Liz could run. She saw Raven wave, a tiny arm in the distance. Liz waved back, smiling broadly.
Suddenly she heard a deep rumble. It took her a moment to realize what the sound was. “A car,” she spoke, turning and looking over her shoulder.
The road continued past the Mom and Pop, winding down the hills and into a beautiful valley. Liz had never seen it but heard Henry talking to Raven about it and how it was filled with different flowers year round; even in the winter. They had lived in a town called Hollow something or other; Liz couldn’t quite remember the name. She thought that the valley was on the way to their home.
Up that road trundled a large truck. Freshly painted an army green, it had a canvas tent stretched over the truck bed. It rumbled closer and Liz stood transfixed. She heard Raven screaming but couldn’t seem to focus. Her heart sped in her chest and she watched the truck slow. Liz couldn’t move, couldn’t think; she was petrified but couldn’t run. It was like her feet were glued to the ground. Vaguely, she heard Henry yelling and Rocky barking.
The deuce and a half rumbled to a stop just in front of Liz. The window rolled down. A man leaned out. His face was sallow and thin, amber eyes bugged out of his head, making him look slightly fish-like. He licked his tongue across chapped lips and peered at Liz.
“You
