Whispers in the Night

Chapter 1

Chapter 1 

I wake up with a jolt covered in sweat, heart pounding and Blaine's voice in my head. I look around to make sure I’m in the tent and everything is where it should be. I’ve been on the run for a few months now, after taking the time I needed to heal.  After calming down, I knew I couldn't report Blaine for killing my parents. He will somehow turn it on me and I will be arrested for it. With no other  options I called Stan on the SAT phone. Told him everything about Blaine and what happened to my parents. He came and got me with a team of men. I was taken away to a safe house while he stayed and reported my parents' deaths and my disappearance. 

I stayed there to heal somewhere deep in the woods. After a doctor checked me out and gave me the medication I needed, he left a few guys to watch over me. They left me alone for the most part, Stan came to replenish my supplies every so often. As I got stronger I had to start thinking about what next.  I Had to miss my parents funeral for being a missing person. The police were calling it a home invasion kidnapping. That broke my heart all over again, I couldn’t even say goodbye. Stan suggested setting me up in a foreign country at one of his houses so I could have a “normal life”. Yeah right I’ll never have one of those again. 

I lost everything: my work, my family and myself.  If I couldn’t be the old Sky then I have to find a new Sky, that's what I’ve been doing in the woods for the last few months. Living off the land in a tent searching for myself. It took a lot of arguing and convincing Stan but he finally understood and made me promise to keep the SAT phone on me at all times. He gave me all the equipment and weapons I would need. He set up an untraceable bank account I can access at any time and put plenty of money in it so I would never have to work again. I haven’t touched it yet.  I’m sure he has people looking out for me here but I haven’t seen anyone. 

I spend my days hunting , training and setting traps. Blaine knows some of my training but not all.  I’ve been realizing how little he knows about me. He knows I’m a medic, that's how we met and that I like to camp. He doesn’t know what I can do in nature and what I can do with any weapon I get my hands on. My dad has trained me since I was able to walk on weapons. He always said “you have to know everything to protect yourself” yeah right what a great job I did. I couldn’t do that when it counted and they paid the price. 

I always loved to be in nature. Dad taught me some stuff but I took every class I could on survival in the wild. I also combined that with my training as a medic. So now as I’m hiking out checking the perimeter of my campsite and looking out for breakfast I see a broken branch. I’m about three clicks out. I look closer and see footprints and the brush in such a way you know a person nested down in it. I squat down to have the same view and I can see a direct line of sight to camp. My heart rate spikes, I know it wasn’t there yesterday. I check this area every day. 

My breathing becomes short and fast as I think about all the possibilities. A hunter wouldn’t do this, it’s not in natural practice unless I’m the one being hunted. Stan's people leave no sign. With fear coursing through my body I run back to camp and pack everything up. I called Stan to make sure it wasn’t his people while hitting the road. He confirms it’s not and for me to get out of there. Yeah ahead of you on that one. I drive south, after a while I stop at a small gas station to fuel up and get a map. I have to figure out where to go from here. I open the map and see I’m 2 hours away from Blaine, I thought being deep in the woods would help hide me. Looks like I have to go farther out. I see a small town or what looks to be one 6 hours away across 2 states. Bingo I think. 

Now for my appearance, I have to change it. I have only been here for twenty minutes and already starting to get some looks. Maybe they recognize me, I'm not sure but can't take any chances. I jump back in the truck and take off. After a while I leave the highway and stop at another station. This time I cover my hair and wear sunglasses. I get fuel for the truck and myself as I’m approaching the counter I see hair dye, I grab that too. I hit the highway again going in another direction. I’m zigzagging to my destination in case someone is following me.  It will take longer but I can't be too careful now that I’m out in the open. 

It’s getting late at night and I’m getting tired. I have to stop soon, I take an exit off the highway and see a run down motel. I park in front, get out with my hat on and make my way in. No one is in the lobby or behind the counter. I look around and see the paint chipping off the walls, security glass separating the  counter broken and the carpet is so dirty I can't even tell what color it is anymore. My old self would have never  stopped but now it’s the perfect place. 

“Can I help you or are you just gonna gawk at everything” a voice comes from behind me. I didn't realize I’ve been staring at everything.  I turn and see an old man staring at me with laser eyes.  “ The sheets are clean, so are the towels if you're wondering.”  I continue looking around for security cameras not saying anything, the old man still staring at me gets annoyed at my silence, “ I don’t have all night, you want a room or not”. I blink and shake my head. “ One night and in the back please.” I take out cash and pay extra for no questions. His face changes to confusion as I say “I’ve never been here and anyone comes asking I’m not here. You ring me if  that happens.” and throw money cash on the counter. The old man takes it and gives me a key “ room 203 out back. You in trouble girl?” I take the key and walk out. 

I drive out back and park the truck on the  other side away from my room.  I grab my bag, snacks and hair dye. I make my way in the room and take a look around. It looks like it hasn’t been updated since the 60’s. Wood panel walls, pitchers of landscapes and brown comforters with ugly yellow flowers on it. The carpet is a dirty yellow. I lock the door and check the window, it has a lock on it that a three year old can break. I put my own lock on it from my bag, I clamp it over the existing lock and activate the laser. It will detect any vibration from someone trying to open it and if that happens it will explode in the person's face, one of Stan's toys. Closing the curtain I turn  back to the door and put one on it as well.  I grab clothes and go to the bathroom.  It's a standard bathroom, nothing fancy and looks clean. I check the sink and shower for working water. 

Water in the shower heats up and I strip down not wanting to wait to get in it. As soon as the hot water hits my aching muscles they start to relax. Oh how I’ve missed hot showers. It beats washing in a cold creek. I take my time scrubbing myself and giving my hair a good washing. I don't know how long I was in there for but only got out when the water started to run cold. I dry off, wrap the towel around me and turn to the sink preparing to brush my teeth. 

I look in the mirror and take a really long look at myself. The last time I did that I was beaten and battered. I don't have the bruises on my body anymore and not as thin but other than that nothing else has changed. I’m still too thin, my eyes have dark circles and slightly sunken in, they look dead, no life in them.  It's A reflection of my reality. I brush my teeth and get to work on my hair. I dry it then dye it. I go from mousy brown to light blond. When that is all done I get into my clothes I can run in and lay down. Praying to have a few hours of dreamless sleep. 

I wake up to my alarm on the door, it doesn’t explode but lets out a beeping whenever someone gets close to it.  I jump up, shove my feet into my boots and grab my bag. I’m about to disengage the window lock to jump when I hear the old man’s voice from the hallway. “ Girl, girl get up”. He doesn’t knock on the door and sounds like he’s whispering.  I walk to the door not saying anything, look out the peephole and see he is the only one there. He shoves a paper under the door “ go to them, they will help you but you have to leave now” and I see him walk away. I pick up the paper and it has an address and two names Devon and Shane. I set the door lock from alarm to armed, go back to the window and look out making sure no one's are there. I scan the whole area as far as I can see. I throw my bag out and jump. I have to tuck and roll for being on the second floor.  I stay close to the wall in the shadows not knowing who is there for me. I stop at the corner and scan the area and pay attention to the cars in the lot. 

I do see a car I recognize, it’s Blaine’s. How the hell is he finding me? I walk to the other side of the building where my truck is, I don’t see anyone and move to it. Just then an explosion is heard and the building shakes. I run the rest of the way and take off as fast as I can. I hope the old man is ok, and I hope Blaine is blown to bits. 

It’s early morning and the sun hasn’t risen yet.  How the hell did he find me? How long has he known where I was? These questions and a lot more are going through my mind. The only thing I can think of is my truck, he has tracked my truck somehow. Even though I got it from Stan. I have to ditch it. I’m about an hour from the motel backtracking where I came from. I pull off on an exit to the city, it’s a risk but I have to take it. I found an alley in a bad area. Take out my bag of clothes and toys, I leave the rest. I pop the hood and cross some wires and a slow burn starts. I close it up and wait till it starts smoking, I know it will catch fire soon. I take off on foot. 

I find a covariance store, buy a disposable phone and ask where the nearest car lot is.  “Oh about three miles north of here just stay on this road you can’t miss it” the cashier says. I thank him for his time and get moving again. I duck into another alley and set my new phone up. I look up the motel and give it a call as I walk down the  street keeping my eyes on the cars and people. Not many are out this early; the sun is just rising. 

The old man answers, I breathe a sigh of relief.  He must have heard it, he starts talking in a hushed tone. “ Girl that was some fireworks show, I’m ok I was down here when it went off, I don’t think anyone followed ya, go to my nephews they are expecting you. I just said I’m sending them a helper. They're a bit rough around the edges but they are good people. Good luck and be safe.” Then he hangs up. I’m gonna have to send him something for his troubles. 

I make it to a small lot of cars for sale. I don't think its the one the cashier was talking about but it will work just the same. I walk around the lot and see what they have. A sleazy guy walks up to me, his cheap suit is wrinkled and hair greased back. Just as he approaches me I see what I want. It’s a beat up pickup rust down the side. “ Good morning I see you eyeing that truck as a good choice. It runs and is all legal”. Now when someone makes a point to say that it most likely is not but will serve my purpose. 

I nod and take a better  look at it. He starts it up and it comes to life. I give him cash and a fake ID. By the time the paperwork is done it’s almost lunch time, I have been here too long. I’m sure the truck has been found already. 

I get back on the highway and head to the address the old man gave. No more zigzagging, I’m making a straight line there. The faster I get there the faster I can hide. I’m not sure if I can trust these people or not. I’ll watch them first before I make myself known.