2. When You Wake Up
538 Words
Ariadne Elaine Rowan
"Here are all your belongings, Ms. Rowan." The nurse placed a small white paper bag onto the counter as Ariadne signed herself out of the hospital.
"Thank you." She managed, taking the handle and practically running out.
Her car keys were at the top of the pile of things, clicking to unlock her car before hopping in and peeling away from the hospital.
Hospital. Junkyard. Train Station. Seattle. Sonny.
Hospital. Junkyard. Train Station. Seattle. Sonny.
Hospital. Junkyard. Train Station. Seattle. Sonny.
She repeated to herself over and over as she sped off towards the junkyard. Popping open the trunk, she took out her duffel and suitcase, hanging the handles of the paper bag from the suitcase before slamming it closed. The license plates had already been removed and disposed of, not a single inkling of her possessions inside the vehicle left. She caught the eye of an attendant as she speed-walked out of the place, looking down shamefully as she passed him.
Hospital. Junkyard. Train Station. Seattle. Sonny.
Hospital. Junkyard. Train Station. Seattle. Sonny.
Hospital. Junkyard. Train Station. Seattle. Sonny.
Ariadne breathed heavily as she reached the train station, gripping the handle of her suitcase. She presented the pre-printed ticket as they waved her onto the platform, scanning back and forth as she anxiously waited.
As the train finally pulled in, she seated herself as far back and in to the cab as she could, stacking her belongings in the seat next to her so no one would sit there. But the train was near-empty, she wouldn't have to deal with intrusive passengers.
She finally breathed a sigh of relief as the train began to peel away, lowering her head as she shakily reached for the white paper bag.
Inside was a slip of paper, pristine and white with the writing printed neatly on its lined face.
When You Wake Up was scrawled on the top in her handwriting. She remembered writing it just yesterday.
When You Wake Up
1. Never question why.
2. Never question who.
3. Keep moving.
4. If anyone notices, leave.
5. Never go back.
Aria's lip trembled a bit after reading it over. She knew she was running from someone or something but she didn't even allow herself to question it. She had always been the logical type. She knew that whatever it was had to be vastly important. So she trusted herself, even though she had no idea what she was trusting.
As the barren desert of her Nevada home gave way to greenery, she felt a worm of sadness in her heart. Something was clearly missing, something important. She had no idea what. But that was the point. Looking down, she lifted the pair of gloves from inside the bag and stared at the sealed envelope on the bottom.
In tiny handwriting in the corner, it read: only open if absolutely necessary.
She didn't know what that meant or how she would know if it was absolutely necessary. But again, she trusted herself. Tucking the envelope into the side pocket of her suitcase, she vouched to not touch it. She would make sure that she would never need it. All she had to do was follow her instructions.
- Writer
