We walked into the simple motel room and stood in the doorway. It might as well have been a palace. Ashley took a leaping dive onto the first bed. I made a beeline for the AC unit under the window and cranked it to the lowest setting. I sighed as the cool blast of air blew the stray strands of hair from my face. From behind, Ashley turned on the TV and giggled like a school girl while jumping up and down. It was very uncharacteristic of her. It's starting to creep me out honestly.
The shower was amazing. I let the hot water soak my hand, then my arm. I gasped when I stepped in fully, embracing the warmth against my skin. I never want to leave this bathroom.
"TOILET PAPER"
Ash ripped back the shower curtain holding up a roll of tp, looking as if she had struck oil.
"Yes, and a toilet too." I mused.
Ashley climbed into the shower with me, fully clothed like a mad woman, shoving me aside.
"WHAT THE HELL?!"
"Times up, my turn."
I roll my eyes and vacate the bathroom. Wrapping myself in a fresh towel.
I collapsed in the bed and rolled to clutch the crisp pillow to my clean face. The things taken for granted, never again.
I was nearly asleep when Ashley emerged from the bathroom, trailing a cloud of steam in her wake. She plopped on the bed adjacent to mine and sighed.
"I miss home."
I glanced her way.
"So much."
I agreed.
We dozed off soaking up everything we had left behind.
*********************************
A gentle knock sounded against the motel door. The clock next to the bed read 10:33am. Shit.
"Ash....Ashley?"
Her bed was empty. I rose expecting to find her at the door without a key.
"Oh, uh it's you. Goodmorning."
The kind lady from the night before wore her warm smile once again, towles in her arms.
"Hello dear, Goodmorning. I've come to inform that your sister is waiting for you downstairs. She seems to be thrilled with the continental breakfast and has requested I fetch you to join her."
A buffet breakfast sounds like ecstacy honestly.
"Thank you Ma'am, I will be right down."
I closed the door and began dressing once again in my dingy old clothing. I splashed a bit of water on my face and head for the door. As I went for the handle, I noticed Ashley's clothes still piled in a small heap by the foot of her bed. I glanced around the room. Nothing amis other than a missing hotel robe. but surely she wouldn't be at large wearing nothing but thin cotton and a smile. We were trying to keep a low profile. Then again, she has been acting more erratic than uaual ever sense we stepped foot into the motel room. I took my hunting knife off of my hip and slid it into the back of my pants. I swung the door open and traced my way down the hall to the elevator that led to the lobby.
The door opened and in a chair that faced the elevator sat Ashley. Behind her, a man stood wearing a face mask, gloves, and a thick black vest. I froze. The look on my sisters face told me everything I needed to know. We were caught. We walked straight into a trap. Again, how could I be so damn stupid. The elevator door began to close again when a large gloved hand held back the door from closing. A mountain of a man walked into the opening. He wore the same attire as the man hovering over my sister. With the exception of a sickeningly familiar badge pinned to his vest. He's an LBA agent.
"We've been looking all over for you two."
The man said with a smile not even the face mask could conceal. The agent grabbed me by the arm and dragged my now limp body through the lobby and out the front door where two black SUVs waited. Panic set in. The free arm he didn't have in a vice grip whipped the knife from behind me and tore through the air. Just before I hit my mark, the agent tailing me grabbed my attacking arm and twisted it. The knife fell free from my hand and clanged on the pavement. The unscathed agent looked at me surprised and bagan to laugh. Shooting pain seared through my arm, but I bit down on my lip and breathed through it. I cannot show weakness now. I tried to drop to my knees, kick out, fling my body any way I could to loosen my captors grip on my arms. I was dragged to the convoy like a rag doll. I screamed out of pure rage and frustration. I imagine I resembled a wild animal at this point. Faintly, the soft cries of my sister brought me back to reality. I struggled to look back. She didn't fight, because she realized what I didn't. Men waiting for us ahead heald guns. Odd looking guns. I tried to regain my balance and stand back up when another sharp pain pierced my leg. A dart? I was hit with a dart.
"A wild one isn't she?"
A deep voice jested over the ringing in my ears.
Everything began to spin. My vision failed me. It was suddenly very cold. Then nothing.
******************************
I came to in the back of one of the LBA transport vehicles. Plexiglass separating the back seat from the driver and passenger seats.
I felt hungover. Every muscle ached deeply. My sister sat handcuffed next to me with a soulless expression set in the eyes. I nudged her a couple of times before she finally looked over at me.
"Where are they taking is? Did they say where we were going?"
She looked back out the window, eyes fixed on the trees and passing scenery. I thought she wouldn't answer, until she nearly whispered in a broken voice.
"They're taking us to the Facility."