Chapter 2 Chapter 2
Focus, Rayne. Looking back at the map, she tried to wash down a bite with the lukewarm coffee. She knew making maps took a lot of work and was complicated in a way she didn’t really care to understand, but they really weren’t telling her anything. She needed her laptop and the internet to make a decision that the squiggly color coordinated lines weren’t telling her. Sighing, she glanced around the parking lot. A hotel was at the far end. She reached down to pull the laptop case off the floor. Setting it on the passenger’s seat, she opened it and hit the power button, praying for it to pick up a signal as she flipped through another few pages. There was a signal, not a strong one, but it would do. Bringing up a mapping site, she entered Chicago as the starting point. Now what? A starting point generally meant you needed a destination and that she didn’t have. Flipping a few more pages, Rayne picked the first name that jumped off the page. Destination? Timmins, Ontario, Canada. Her heart was pounding as she hit enter.
Strangely, she felt relieved knowing she had decided on a location. Her resolve only faltered for a few seconds when she discovered there was a fourteen-hour drive to get there. Biting her lip, she looked out the windshield, not really focusing on anything. Was she ready for a fourteen-hour drive that would take her far away from Aiden? If she had translated the map correctly, where she was heading was right in the middle of nowhere. That meant there was less chance of her being found. Yes, she was ready. Picking up the notebook that was waiting for the details of the game plan, she started to jot down the directions, deciding after a few lines that she’d only write down the first five hours and then reassess her route from that point. She had no idea what it was going to be like driving this far.
Closing the laptop, she put it back on the floor and just sat there. Was she crazy for doing this? Yes, but she couldn’t stay here and that left few options. She was alone, just like when her parents died. This time all the decisions to be made were going to be her own.
Her eyes felt completely dried out. Was such a thing even possible? She didn’t know, but at the first drug store, she was getting some eye drops. Glancing at the time— again, Rayne squinted back at the road. How long have I been driving now? Four hours? No, closer to five, she needed to stop soon. A few hours ago, she had foolishly thought she would be across the border before planning a stop, but that wasn’t going to happen. Driving at this speed meant she still had at least an hour and a half to go before reaching Mackinaw City and then another hour to the border. Considering the longest she’d ever driven passed an hour back, Rayne knew she wasn’t going to make it. She had a newfound respect for people that drove for a living. The quick bathroom stop a few hours before hadn’t been long enough. If she didn’t stop soon, she was going to make mistakes and end up lost, or worse. Stopping would be for the best.
Blinking quickly, she tried to make her eyes not feel as dry and then focused on the sign she was coming to. A motel was thirty miles from here. Looking at the speedometer, Rayne attempted to do the math and calculate how long that would take, less than a minute later she gave up and decided it wasn’t important. As long as she arrived at the motel before falling asleep. A few hours of rest, something to eat and a shower became the new goal.
After what felt like ten hours she could see the hotel’s sign not too far ahead. Elation and a bit of pride filled her as she realized she’d made it to here without help. She was slowing down when she noticed two police cars sitting at the motel. All the hair on the back of her neck stood up. Aiden couldn’t know she was gone already, could he? Would he involve police? Biting down on her lip, she thought he probably wouldn’t, but she wasn’t going to take any chances. Gripping the steering wheel tighter, her heart was crashing against her ribs at the thought that Aiden might find her. There would be more motels further away, and another chance to take a break.
It took several seconds for the sign she’d just passed to register. I’ve done it! She was almost to Mackinaw, at least that’s what the sign had said. Taking a deep breath and fighting the grogginess that had been closing in for hours, she forced herself to keep going. Maybe a little air would help, not that it had a half hour ago, but it couldn’t hurt. She rolled the window down, hoping it would help. Seven hours of driving, minus two very brief bathroom breaks and a stop for gas, and she’d managed to keep going. If she wasn’t ready to pass out, she would be pretty impressed with what she’d managed.
After a few minutes of taking deep breaths she groaned, the open window wasn’t working. Reaching for the radio, she fumbled with the buttons and flicked through the few stations that were clear, anything to sing to or even pretending to sing might work. She scowled at the radio. Turning it off, she stared at the road once again. “Okay,” she tried to ignore how slurred her voice sounded. “Use your brain, get the blood pumping and drive.” Wiggling a bit, she tried to sit straighter. “Great, my brain is already sleeping,” she yawned while trying to see the sign that was getting closer. “Oh. Interstate one twenty-seven. I’ve been looking at that for what seems like forever,” she mumbled to the eyes in the mirror. “And before that it was I31.” She bobbed her head and tried to recall the roads before that. “One ninety…something, not that it matters really—It’s not like I’m going to be going on the return trip,” Rayne snorted and then laughed, not sure if it was delirium or exhaustion that had her talking to herself. “And what are you going to do when you reach your middle of nowhere in Canada, Ms. Andrews?” She glanced at the speedometer, even though she had no idea what it had said on the Mackinaw sign she’d just driven past. Clearing her throat, she looked at the reflection again. “I have no idea what I’m going to do. I didn’t sit down and plot out a course of action before fleeing,” she giggled quietly this time and then squealed as she drove by another sign. “What–ah, miles...” biting her lip a couple of times, she looked at the time. “Oh! A half hour!” Gripping the steering wheel with the very last of her energy, she focused on the road. “You did it. And the reward?” She attempted to smile, but yawned and erased what would have been the smile. “The reward is sleep.”
Rayne stood, clutching the room key in her hand and looking at the car, deciding. With the way she’d stuffed the cases into the car, there was no easy way to get to the one that had the clothes she wanted, without taking everything out of the car. Did she care if she slept in something fresh? At this point, no, she would come back out later and sort out what to change into. As she started to head for the room, her brain flashed a warning. She wasn’t feeling very trusting now. Turning back, she unlocked the car and reached in to grab her purse, money, camera and laptop. If anyone decided to pick up the tiny car and carry it away, she could get by with just this.
Stumbling into the dark room, she kicked the door closed. Her shoes were off in two steps, it felt glorious. Her leg smacked into the bed. Setting the precious items down on it, she shoved them to the other side and flopped down, face first. Had she asked for a wakeup call? The chances of a yes were high, but there was no way she could summon the energy to find out.