unLUCKY

4

Chapter Four

Clearly, the word 'soon' had totally different meanings to both of us, because 10 minutes later we were still driving. The sky had gotten a few shades darker, and I still had no clue where we were going, except that we appeared to be driving further away from civilization because houses started becoming fewer while thick bushes became more prominent. However, I kept silently in a daze.

He was now holding just one of my hands, absent-mindedly tracing small circles at the back of my palm with his thumb. He looked so relaxed with his eyes focused on the road.

It was a warmth of comfort, relaxing even and I was starting to drop my guard.

Lucky's black car rolled down the street in a comfortable silence, a silence that was suddenly interrupted by my growling stomach.

It seemed like I had worked up quite the appetite.

“Hungry?” he chuckled, causing me to blush embarrassingly.

I nodded and he smiled, driving for a few minutes more until we spotted a gas station.

“What do you want?" He asked, parking the car before turning his attention to me.

"Anything." I replied without hesitation. I wasn't a picker eater, actually, I was a see-food girl.... see food, eat all.

"As expected." He mused, releasing my hand and pulling on my chubby cheek. "Let's go."

Honestly, I didn't want to get out, my curls were frizzy with strands sticking out every which way, except in a cute way. I was a mess, I looked like trash and smelt like it too.

"Look." Lucky offered, reaching his hand behind his seat and pulling out a cap. "Wear this."

How'd he know I was studying my appearance?

"And don't worry, eventually you get used to the smell." He winked with that goddamn smirk that made my heart skip a few beats.

Now I was even more self-conscious.

"Now let's go." He smiled, getting out of the car and shutting his door.

I sank into the seat, silently dying of embarrassment as he walked around the hood to the passenger’s side.

Wait, did he just leave his door unlocked? Had he forgotten he was still holding me hostage?

He seemed like a relatively great guy and under different circumstances, I would have welcomed this, whatever this was. I had gained his trust but it was his fault for trusting me. Now was probably my only chance if I wanted to be free. I didn’t know what to expect. Maybe he might shoot, but it was a risk I was willing to take.

As he reached for my door, I leaped across the center console with an agility I didn't know I possessed. Maybe it was the adrenaline at work again. I hooked my hand under the door handle on his side and pushed the door open in one swift motion. Lucky quickly threw my door open after me, reaching in to grab me, but by some great miracle, he missed. I slipped out of the opposite door and made a run for it.

The adrenaline was pumping and running high, my feet moving at the speed of light.... in my head, at least.

My panicked self flew straight past the gas station, but luckily for me, there appeared to be a hotel just in the near distance. There was no gunshot, so I assumed he had resorted to chasing me.

With piqued curiosity, I glanced over my shoulder as I ran, checking to see if Lucky was anywhere close behind. But to my utter surprise, he wasn't following me. Actually, he hadn’t even moved. Instead, he just stood there, leaning on the hood of the car with his hands in his pockets, just watching me.

I was tempted to stop running, but I wasn’t about to forfeit my moment of freedom, just in case he changed his mind, so I kept running until I reached within the safety of the hotel.

I was a panting mess as I rushed up to the receptionist. "Can I have a phone call, please?"

Immediately, the receptionist scrunched up her nose after catching a whiff of my scent, and her eyes scanned my attire with disdain. "I'm sorry but I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

"Wait, please." I begged. "I'm Samantha Smith, daughter of the president." Granted, I didn't look the part right now.

"Yeah, and I'm...' Before she could finish her sparky comment, she gagged. "You need to go. Now. Before I call security to throw you out." Her voice was harsh, and her unsympathetic tone

like the gravel of a judge signaling the end of the conversation. Her words carried the weight of finality. There was nothing else I could do or say to get through to her.

I made a mental note that if I should ever find myself back here, I'd be sure to speak to her manager about her unprofessionalism... if I made it through the night alive, that is.

I glanced back at the transparent doors of the hotel. Thankfully, there was still no sign of him, and since I was clearly not wanted here, I could only but turn away disheartened at her request.

I walked out of the building, conscious to stay out of the light, as I remained on high alert. My ears peaked at the sudden roar of an engine approaching, and I plastered my body against the side of the building, my heart thumping wildly, hoping, praying not to be seen. I stayed put until I saw the black vehicle drive past and disappear in the distance. I waited a while longer before I felt like it was safe to come out from hiding. Without a place to go, or phone or ID to prove that I was who I said I was, I was stuck, in the middle of nowhere. Alone, with nowhere to go.

I caught my breath as my head swept left and right, searching the streets for solid confirmation. I listened and waited... He was gone, which was a little surprising. I would have thought he would stick around or tack back, but he seemed to have given up. Maybe I wasn't worth the extra weight– quite literally.

I guess I should be happy that I escaped and survived such a scary, traumatizing ordeal, but the night wasn't over yet. The battle had not yet been won. I still needed a place to lay my head out of the reach of further danger. I wished this was all a nightmare and I would wake up at home where I'd be able to take a nice, long, hot shower and clean myself up and nurse my sore feet which were starting to ache again, and then, right after, I'd flop down on my cozy bed and sleep until midday, but now, none of those things were a luxury of mine.

I scanned the empty road one last time before limping over to the side of the building where there was a flourishing bush patch. I wedged myself between it and the building's side. I stood there for a few seconds tall, then I crouched before eventually slouching lower— all a gradual process, until I found myself sitting on the ground. It wasn't the ideal place, but I've been in worse situations. The sudden memory of the creepy crawlers scampering all over me made me shudder.

This wasn't so bad compared to there.

I could do this.

I rested my head against the side of the building, all the adrenaline that had pumped through my body earlier was starting to wear off, and I was growing weary.

Yet I couldn't rid my mind of such a brutal yet dashing man like Lucky, which admittedly, not even my best dream could concoct up. When I closed my eyes, I could still picture his piercing blue eyes, the gash above his right eye, his strong 9 o'clock shadow. I could see him so clearly, as though he was stained on the backs of my eyelids.

"I knew I'd find you." Lucky's dark voice chuckled, bringing his hand to cover my mouth. I suddenly found myself kicking and screaming, my flailing arms increasing my chances of survival.

"Miss! MISS!"

My body shook, my eyes flying open to see a security worker towering above me, his scrutinizing gaze cast down on me. His tall stature blocked the brightness that seemed to illuminate around him.

My eyes slowly looked around, the flourishing bush now shaken and destroyed, its leaves scattered around me.

But where was Lucky?

I looked down in my lap to see my fingers tightly clenched around a cluster of leaves.

"I'm not sure what the leaves ever did to you" He lightly chuckled before a throat cleared beside him.

I looked over to see the receptionist with folded arms and a tapping foot, drilling daggers into him with a single stare.

"Yeah, sorry" he readjusted his posture, the slight glint of amused concern now gone. "... ma'am, I'm going to ask you to leave."

Without arguing, since I won't have much of a case, I got up, brushing off my dusty, musty, smelly attire as I moved from beyond his shade. The minute I did, the sun immediately assaulted my eyes, highlighting every flaw of the mess I was.

I hung my head, tucking a stray strand behind my ear while shielding my face from the sunlight as I dragged my shoeless aching foot along the sidewalk behind me. I wasn’t really sure where I was going, but I hoped by some great miracle I'd be rescued.

Then suddenly, the sound of a loud horn startled me, and I jumped. My heart began thumping frantically in fear as I lifted my head to see a black car approaching in the distance.

I froze.

Could it be?