None of what my mom said to me, made any sense to me. But I was on my way heading to an unfamiliar destination using Google maps. Mom had told me all the answers I wanted would be found when I got to the unknown location. And that sounded like a load of bull. I would just go there and the answers would just start coming. Pfft! I am going to a small town with barely a few things except my card and best friend, which isn't so little but still isn't a lot. But how am I supposed to navigate my way through? Just step into the town and the answers would start flooding into my memory? The more I thought about it, the more angry I became.
Mom had only told us about how Dad has been keeping a very watchful eye on me after the event that brought me to St Maris orphanage. And he had secretly paid all my expenses since high school long before they adopted me. They had only adopted me after he had come to my mom to disclose his actual intentions. Before that, he completely left her out of the whole thing- his scheme. I felt my heart shatter into a million pieces after hearing all that.
"Calm down, Aurora," Madison mutters seeing my uneasiness in the passenger seat. She decided to drive seeing as my mental state began to deteriorate due my known reality crumbling.
Mom had tried to scare Madison off by telling her that my new journey was not for the weak hearted, and I'd keep running all my life. Bad people would always be on my tail every chance they could get. And most especially they'll try to capture someone close to me as blackmail to get me to submit to them.
It had bothered me of course, but Madison had insisted on following me till the very end. It warmed my heart and calmed the fear I had of the unknown. But I would be lying if I said another fear wasn't unlocked hearing my mom say all that.
Madison's safety. I would literally lose my mind if I lost her altogether. She's literally the only person I have right now and that's what makes me so scared.
I turned to her and said, "Thank you."
She spared a quick glance in my direction before mirroring my smile.
"All good, Rora."
"Is it though? I mean you are leaving your life behind. Your family. Friends... Everything."
"No Aurora." She says. "I would be leaving everything if I'm away from you. My life would have completely sucked without you in it. Most times I ask myself how I've been living before I met you. I know how dangerous this is, I know there's a high possibility of me dyi-"
"Don't!" I scowled angrily sitting upright. "Nothing's going to happen to you as long as I am here," I assured and she smiled genuinely.
While I could only muster to give her a small one. Madison turned and checked the Android phone to see the map was no longer directing us. And we were now at the location my mom gave us. We're here.
"I think this is the place," Madison tells me. I nodded but none of us got down from the car. We just stared up ahead. Looking at the signpost that says 'Mashat'
The wind carried a plastic bag and we watched as it takes it further into the street.
"Well, four hours on the road, but we made it, we are finally here." Madison recalled while I could only muster a 'yeah'.
Madison started the car again and she made her way inside the 'Mashat' street. As we entered the empty street, I felt chills run down my spine. And it made me clutch my tummy.
"I don't feel good about this place?"
"What was that?" Madison questioned. Apparently, I had muttered that thought out. I turned to Madison to tell her nothing when I noticed an unusual figure on Madison's window.
I let out an unannounced scream pointing at the window and Madison lost control of the wheels in a panic. She brought out a gun from the under compartment and started shooting at her window without looking, still trying to put her hands back on the wheels.
Before Madison could properly get her hands back on the wheel the car was already heading into a massive tree that stood out alone in the middle of the road. I panicked as I hold onto Madison's hand.
'Nothing is going to happen to either of us' I kept muttering. But that didn't stop the car from crashing into the tree.
I groaned trying to open my eyes and move the airbags that had gathered in my face. My sight went blurry for a second.
I turned to Madison realizing I hadn't noticed any movement from her side. I shook her once but she didn't move. Panic washed over me instantly. I struggled with my seat belt trying to unhook it. When I did eventually unhook it, I bent to Madi's side and started to call out to her. But there was no response.
I spotted the blood from the corner of her head. And tears I didn't notice that had started falling started to blur my vision.
"Madi? Madison?! Please no… please… Wake up! Wake up Madison!" I cried.