Chapter 12: Violet

I made my way through the darkness. Every so often a car passed by but nothing else. I was left alone and looked out into the night. I would see glowing eyes that shined out from the woods. They watched as I passed. Like they expected me to be there. This new energy I had pulsed through me. Every now and then I would look into the rearview mirror, my eyes still glowed. Maybe this would be my new normal, this would take some time to get used to.

Bing! The Jeep’s dashboard flashed at me, it let me know that it was dangerously low on fuel. When I started the tank was full, I must have gone a couple hundred miles. It felt like nothing. As if I drove for only a few minutes. This was the first time I had ever really driven. Before the takeover I was too young to get a driver’s license. My dad would let me drive around the parking lot of a store when it was empty. I needed to look into getting a driver’s license when I found a place to settle down.

A sign passed saying “Dark Forest Falls 7 miles.”

“That’s good,” I exhaled. I only saw a few small towns along the way but nothing substantial. This town must have a gas station and possibly something to eat. My stomach growled. I wonder what all Myrtle packed for me in the duffle bag.

The town loomed in front of me. Quaint store fronts passed as I drove through the town that gave the impression of having a long history. I loved the feeling here. A gas station came up on my right. I pulled in and cut the engine.

I leaned over and unzipped the duffle bag. I was shocked. I had never seen so much money. Myrtle must have cleaned out a bank or something. I did a quick count, I had at least twenty stacks nestled on top of the book she gave me, my familiar book. At the bottom of the bag was the obsidian crystal she also gave me. It started to shake. I pulled it up by the strap and put it over my head. It was warm to the touch.

I pulled a couple hundred out of one of the stacks, put it in my sweatpants pocket and made my way to the store. The air smelled damp and sweet. I could tell that this town was surrounded by thick forests and a lake had to be nearby.

A group of teens pushed out of the store and stared at me. One girl was with three guys. They all wore black and dark make-up.

“Woah! Your contacts are rad!” The girl, who had long black hair and gloves without fingers, said to me with a huge smile on her face. “That’s exactly what I want! So cool.” She looked at the guys around her.

The others around her started to murmur to one another about how I looked. She took a sip of her slushie and continued to make their way toward the only vehicle that was parked in front.

Oh yeah, my eyes. I had to remember how I looked. I looked down, my shirt had a little blood on it and the sweatpants I wore had dirt covering them. My feet were dirty and bare. My wrists had cuff burns on them. I was definitely a sight.

A little bell over the door rang as I opened it.

“Hell…o” The older woman behind the counter said as I walked through the threshold. “Darlin’ are you alright?” She had a southern twang that was not the norm on the west coast.

“Uh, yeah. I’m fine. Just looking for a bathroom.” I said as I pulled my wrists behind my back.

“That way darlin’.” She said and pointed to the back corner.

I passed a rack that had some sweaters with a moose on it and sweatpants. I looked through the clothes and grabbed some that looked like they would fit.

“Is it alright if I change into these and pay after?” I said as I looked over the short racks of food to the lady at the counter.

“Of course! Whatever you need. And on the other side have some flip flops if you need ‘em.”

“Thank you.” I grabbed a pair of purple flip flops that looked like they would fit as well.

The bathroom was relatively clean considering how old the gas station looked. It was a one toilet bathroom with one sink. It smelled faintly of lemon and bleach. I looked in the mirror. The bruise on the side of my face was prominent, that was more than likely the reason for the cashier’s concern. I turned on the hot water and splashed it on my face. The dirt started to streak down my face. I continued to splash my face until all the dirt was removed.

I felt a little better. I peeled off my shirt and sweats. I took out the money and put it onto the back of the sink. The clothes were beyond help at this point. I tossed them into the oversized trash bin by the door. I looked at the state of my body, at least what I could see in the mirror above the sink. I had small bruises across my skin but nothing like the bruise on my eye.

I pulled on the new sweatpants and sweatshirt. They were so warm and fluffy, the feeling of brand-new sweats was amazing. I slipped on the flip flops. I looked into the mirror. I looked homeless. But at least I looked better than how I did when I walked in.

I walked out of the bathroom and started to look at the food. I grabbed a couple sandwiches that were in the cooler, a large bag of barbecue chips, and a few bottles of water. I sat it on the counter as the cashier stared at me.

She leaned forward and whispered, “if you need help, I can help you.”

“Umm, I’m fine really. I appreciate your concern.”

“Hmmm, ok.” She said as she started to scan the items on the counter.

“Oh yeah, and here are the tags on the clothes.” I handed her the tags that I pulled off the clothes. I saw a pair of black aviator sunglasses on a rack next to the counter. “And these.” I placed them amongst the other items.

“I don’t mean to be rude, but you look like death warmed over.” She said as she continued scanning items and put them into a bag. “If you need anything, I would be more than happy to help.”

“No worries. I can understand where you are coming from. I just got away from a bad relationship. Very very far away.”

“Oh.”

“I also need to fill up the Jeep. It’s on empty, how much would you suggest would fill it up?”

“Thirty-five should get you pretty close.” She punched in the numbers. I looked at the clock behind her two-thirty in the morning. I could start to feel the fatigue washing over me.

“Thank you. One more thing. Do you by chance know of a hotel that would have some vacancy.”

She laughed, “I don’t know where you think you are but the Motor Inn down the way always has availability. Less than a mile north of here. It’s not much to look at but it’s clean and safe. This town doesn’t attract a lot of visitors.” She handed me the bag.

“Thank you so much.” I grabbed the bag and flip flopped out of the store. I tossed the bag of food on top of the duffle bag and pumped the gas. I opened one of the packages of sandwiches and ate. Chicken salad, the package read. Compared to any other food I had ever eaten it wasn’t great but being as hungry as I was it tasted like heaven. I finished it in under thirty seconds. The pump clicks signifying it was full. Thirty-four ninety-nine. That lady was good.

I put the cap back on the tank and got into the Jeep. I went in the direction that the cashier mentioned. In under a minute, I saw the Motor Inn sign loom in the distance with a vacancy sign that flickered below it. I looked forward to a shower and a bed. It felt like ages since I slept last.

I parked in front of the office, grabbed a couple bills, and pushed my way through the door. The same type of bell dings as I entered, like the one at the gas station. A man leaned against the counter and watched a tv that was in one corner of the lobby. He had broad shoulders, short cut hair, and a baby face. He couldn’t be much older than me. I approached him, I could tell he wasn’t human. He had a blue aura that surrounded him. He vibrated strength. I was told that when the turning happened, I would be able to sense other magic. I didn’t anticipate that it was going to be this strong.

He pulled his eyes away from the tv to look at me. He straightened; he pulled his shirt down but didn’t say anything. Something shifted behind his eyes. Like a creature that lurked there and was unsettled. Werewolf was the only thing that came to mind. I hadn’t been around werewolves since before the takeover. We had a family that we were close to but that was a distant memory. Who knows where they were now?

“Hello?” I said and gave a little wave.

“Erm, hi.” He shifted his eyes around the office. He looked scared.

“I’m looking for a room.”

“Oh um, sure.” He said and pulled out a book from below the counter.

“Are you alright?”

“Fine.” he said under his breath. “How many nights?

“Let’s do 2 for now.”

“Name?”

“Violet Proctor.”

He pulled out a key from the ones that hung behind him and slammed it down on the counter. “Room one twenty-six on the far end.”

“How much do I owe you?”

“Eighty-five fifty.”

I handed him a hundred. “Keep it.” I took the key and left. “Thank you.” I yelled over my shoulder as the door closed.