“You sure you’re in the right place, lady?” the Greyhound bus driver, Agnus, asks as she opens the door for me.
“Yes, I am. Thank you so much.”
“It’s the middle of nowhere. You sure you don’t want to go to Hollywood? You’re pretty enough to make it there.”
I climb down the steps and jump to the pavement. “No, Agnus. I’m right where I need to be, thanks.” I wave goodbye and she shrugs, closing the doors, and the hydraulics hiss as the bus pulls away.
I breathe in the fresh air, and the lower temperature wraps around me. It’s gorgeous here. The clouds sit low, hanging in the trees, and the roads are pretty much deserted with barely any traffic.
Now, I just need to figure out where he lives.
Thunder rolls above me, and the sprinkles of rain splash against my skin. No matter how hard it pours, nothing will be enough to wash away my sins. I don’t feel guilty. I know I should, but my give a damns, the fucks I’m supposed to have, they’re gone. I’m done with men treating me like shit. I’m done with men thinking they can grab me and have me anyway they want me without consequence.
Trevor deserved what he got.
Those two men back in Kentucky deserved what they got.
And if anyone touches me here, I’m not afraid to cock the gun and pull the trigger again.
I dare someone to challenge me, and I’ll tally up the count.
The rain falls a little harder, and the thunder is louder, grumbling fiercely through the clouds. I pick up my pace and see a sign that says ‘Welcome to Trinidad.’ It’s next to a red light, and I can see a building of some sort through the mist of rain. I follow the black road, shoes slopping through the water puddling against the street, and hold on tight to my backpack straps.
This is crazy.
I can’t believe I’m doing this.
It’s a good thing today is my birthday or now that I’m here, I would have turned around and walked away. Losing my nerve at the last second would have been a nightmare. Granted, if I never left home, I wouldn’t have two murders under my belt.
I don’t include Trevor’s. I had a feeling what happened was coming, and I can’t feel bad about protecting myself.
As I’m walking down the street, my phone vibrates, but I can’t take it out of my pocket because it isn’t waterproof. I know the message is from Isaac, and now I’m ignoring him because I’m so nervous.
Is this considered stalking?
The hum of tires comes from behind me. Out of my peripheral vision, a car slows down, and blue and red lights come on. My heart pounds. A cold sweat breaks out all over my body. What if my name is plastered on the news? Is there a warrant out for my arrest?
“Excuse me, miss?”
Do I try to make a run for it? I can run into the woods and disappear. He’ll never be able to find me.
“Ma’am? Are you hurt? Are you okay? Do you need help?”
I’m a goner. I’m going to jail. I had a good run, right? I deserve this. I’ll do my time, and then in twenty or so years I’ll figure out a way to live life again. I stop walking suddenly, the soles of my shoes skidding along the asphalt.
A high squeal of his brakes tell me the car has come to a stop. Metal squawks as the cruiser door closes. I inhale a breath and wait as the officer approaches. “Where you headed, miss? Maybe I can help you. I’m Officer Howard, a deputy here in Trinidad. You’re safe here.”
Yeah, that’s what all the men say.
Until I’m not.
I’ve only survived Trevor and what happened in Kentucky with luck. That’s it. I’m not skilled. I’m not trained. Fear guided me.
“Do you need to go down to the station and tell me who did this to you? You can trust me. I’m not going to hurt you. If you’re worried about that, you don’t need to be.”
The rain is coming down harder now. My hair sticks to my face, and water flows down my lips. I lick them, gathering the liquid to swallow. It might be raining, but I’m thirsty. No matter the flood that comes, the drought inside me will last forever because of the things I’ve done to get here.
“Do you know Isaac Gray?” I ask him through the cacophony of the storm.
“Isaac Gray?” He shakes his head, and the rain gathered in the brim of his hat fans out. “No, afraid not. We can go down to the station and do a name search. I know everyone in this town. I’ve never heard of him.”
That doesn’t make sense. Surely, Isaac wouldn’t lead me on like that. I mean, I know I’m not perfect, but I’ve been real with who I am besides my age and where I’m going. Did he lie about his name? Does he even live in Trinidad? “He said he lived in the Cliff House,” I say to the officer.
Officer Howard smiles, nodding. “I know the place. Gray…You must be talking about Grayson Campbell. I can take you to him if you like.”
Oh, shit. This is it. This is the moment of truth. Am I going to get in the car?
Where else do I have to go? I’ve killed people to get here. I can’t go back. I’ve made my bed, and now I have to lie in it.
“That would be great. Thank you,” I say, wiping the water out of my face, which is pointless since it’s raining so hard.
Officer Howard smiles kindly and runs around the front of the police cruiser to open the door to the passenger side. “Here you go. It’s about a twenty minute drive. It’s warm in the car. You’ll be alright in
