Bitch: Puncture (book 2)

Empty.

I peeked my head up and glanced down the quiet roads. The reflected greenish light seemed to confuse my night vision. The trees looked ominous in shades of liquid black that seemed to hide all details. They seemed to crowd together holding their breath and silently staring into the circle of light. Their dark faces carved into their bark just above the light.

The siren was getting closer.

I glanced again at the station island, but still no sign of the trucker.

Where had he gone?

Apoc began to back away. I could hear his breathing and his muscles coiling like a metal snake readying to strike. He was going to make a break for the trees before the siren arrived.

‘No.’

That’s what I meant to say. Not really confident in what the actual sound was, but he stopped and looked at me anyway.

I nodded towards the irrigation pipe that ran under the road. And then back into those luminescent blue eyes that just locked me up. I stared. I couldn’t move. I wanted him to read my mind. I wanted him to trust me. I had a plan. I just needed a little more time. Just a minute more.

Please. Please. Please.

I waited.

The siren approached and we both crouched to our bellies in the ditch. The cop car passed on the road next to us and pulled into the truck stop.

I popped my head up to see the those blinding blue and red LED’s echoing off the metallic truck trailers it seemed as if their light filled the station. The cops got out of the car and began to walk around the station. One headed inside with papers. The trucker headed out, finally, hitching up his pants as he walked and holding a pastry in a bag in his teeth. Breakfast of champions.

Just stay inside, I thought at the cops.

The semi thundered to life and began to pull forward. But not towards this exit.

I looked around. Was there another exit? Was he pulling in for the night?

My plan was crumbling right before my eyes.

He was accelerating away from us. I whined in frustration.

Apoc watched me for a moment.

He took off up and out of the ditch away from the direction of the truck stop, away from the truck that would get us out of here, and away from me.

I looked after him. Where was he going? Why was he leaving me now?

I looked at the tail of the truck disappearing around the far corner of the truck stop.

Augh. I wished I could still scream.

Now I was sure I could hear the dogs. Their short barks of excitement were no longer figments of my imagination. And here I was all alone with a drain pipe to hide in. They’d find me in seconds. I heard the door bang on the Eat’s Restaurant and saw the cops taping paper to the door.

I looked at Apoc again tail circling as he ran. I couldn’t see the truck anymore.

I decided I was stronger with him than without and took off after him.

Just then I heard a roaring off to my left it was a semi roaring up.

I glanced to the side as I ran, it was the car carrier looping back around and heading to the stop light at the entrance to the on ramp. The same on ramp that Apoc was racing towards. I poured on the speed.

My joints ached, but I felt that same rush of speed. In some ways I was faster than I remembered or at least it felt faster closer to the ground. My stride was uneven and I felt like I couldn’t run full out for fear of tripping myself. But I glanced over and realized that I wouldn’t make it in time.

The stoplight was green.

And there was no traffic in sight.

He wouldn’t even slow down.

Apoc might make it. But I wouldn’t. I’d be left by the side of the road.

Alone.

I stuttered in my steps, crushed by the thought of being alone.

But I kept running. I don’t know why, there was no hope for me.

And then the semi thundered past me.