Chapter Four

“So, for starters you are no longer Abigail” Whiz had produced a thick manilla envelope from a pocket in the side of his chair. He opened it and pulled out a new identification card that had my picture and most of the details were correct, but now I had a new name. “Clara is on her way over here she is going to give you a new hairstyle as well. Most of your background information does not need to change. I find that if I can stick as close to the truth as possible people have a better time absorbing and becoming their new selves.” I don’t know if Whiz could see that I was getting overwhelmed, but he reached over and patted my hand in reassurance. Once I nodded that I was ok he continued.

“I am sure that you have already been told but you can not contact anyone from your old life. Even if someone you love passes away, you can not go back.” Whiz was very adamant.

“I don’t have anyone to go back to honestly. I don’t have a family, and I lost any friends I had the longer I stayed with Vex. I never got close to anyone in the club, and I certainly wouldn’t want to trust any of them.” I leveled with Whiz.

“Good now you’re going south to Alabama, specifically to Mentone.” I had never heard of the place which I am sure Whiz caught my look of confusion. “I am not surprised you haven’t heard of it. Mentone is a very small town settled on Look Out Mountain. It has a population of less than five hundred people, and almost no one has heard of it. It has amazing views though, and we have a local doctor that does house calls there. I already have you set up to waitress at the Wildflower Café, and your apartment is over the old coin laundromat, and it is fully furnished.” Whiz continued telling me about all the great points in living there.

The truth was I did not care where I was living as long as I was away from Vex. From there everything moved quickly. Whiz gave me two cell phones, one to use as a personal phone, and one to use only in emergencies.

Now here I am three months later having to use the phone for emergencies. I had followed all the rules, and I never contacted anyone. I had adopted my new identity flawlessly I had thought. Honestly, I had started to feel like this little town was home. I liked the café and enjoyed working. The owner had explained that we wouldn’t see big rushes until the fall, but there were enough regular customers that I made decent tips. I like the small general store, and the people were incredibly kind. I had learned how to cross stitch and had regular checkups with the doctor. Damn Vex for ruining this for me.

Still in full panic mode, and half hysterical I was trying to pay attention to what June was telling me.

“I have three different people on their way to you. Grab your personal stuff, and your medication. Do not leave anything that has your name on it. Have you started receiving mail there?” I quickly replied that I had not received any mail.

“Ok listen to me carefully and try not to panic. One of our spotters has seen a large group of motorcycles about fifteen miles from you moving quickly. Sam is going to transport you, but we want to get you away from the apartment as quickly as possible. Grab your bag, stay on the phone with me and quickly get over to the back side of the café, to where the storage shed is.” I tried to calm my racing heart and listen to June. I quickly finished stashing everything in my bag quickly. Taking one last look around the small apartment I was sad that this would no longer be my home.

There would be time to mourn later, right now I needed to get out of here. Tossing my shoes on quickly I unlatched my door and stepped out it for the last time. My heart was beating so fast I thought it would come out of my chest as I carefully cradled the phone and held my bag as I descended the stairs.

“Try to stay off of the main roads, stick to the alleys as much as possible.” June’s instructed.

“June how did he find me?” The suspense was killing me, and I couldn’t help but wonder if I had messed up somewhere.

“I don’t know yet, but I promise you I will find out. How close are you to the café?” I told her that I was still about three minuets away, and I could hear her clicking some buttons rapidly. “Great Sam will be there waiting for you. I promise we will get you out of there.” June was trying to be reassuring but tears started to fall as I swear, I could hear the roar of motorcycles coming into town. I quickened my pace, but I was too afraid of falling to actually run.

It did not take long to get to the café, and relief flooded my body as I found Sam around back. Sam had been the physician taking care of me. He was well into his seventies and completely bald, but he was kind.

“Here child give me your bag, I want you to lay down in the backseat as best as you can while I get you out of town. Stay down low and cover with the light blanket I put back there.” Sam quickly told me as he took my bag and placed it in the trunk.

“Alright love Sam is going to get you to the next transporter, I am going to hop off of here and get the team running so that we can get your next placement started, and I promise I will figure out how he found you.” I could feel the steel in June’s voice, and I had no doubt that she would stick to her word. “I want you to give Sam your personal cell phone. I just want to make sure that he has no way of tracking you.” I quickly fished the phone out of my pocket and handed it to Sam. He carefully placed it under the wheel of his car, and I assumed that he planned on running it over.

I said goodbye to June and climbed into the back of Sam’s car. Just as I got covered, I could definitely hear the motorcycles now. I tried to stop the shaking of my body, as Sam started moving. I couldn’t help but fear that somehow Vex was going to find me in the car. I could feel the car winding down the mountain and I finally breathed a sigh of relief that I could not hear motorcycles anymore. Now that I was moving farther away from Vex my fear was quickly turning into anger.

I allowed the anger to flow through me. It wasn’t fair that once again I had to turn everything upside down to get away from him. I was really starting to enjoy my life. Granted Mentone mainly had older people, but they were kind and generous. I was enjoying the peace and quiet of the mountains and loved seeing the waterfall. Even the small apartment had been nice. I enjoyed sitting in the recliner learning to cross stitch, and just listening to the sounds of nature floating in the open window. My anger grew as I realized I forgot to grab my cross-stitch supplies from beside the chair. Damn Vex for all of this.

Eventually the adrenaline from running and the gentle sway of the car lulled me into sleep. I quickly came to when I felt Sam stopping the car, and fear rushed through my body.

“Ok we are here.” Sam’s voice instantly calmed the fear, and I finally removed the blanket and sat up. I had no idea where we were, or who we were meeting but we were stopped at a run-down older gas station. “Missy should be here shortly to pick you up. I sent your records to Whiz; he will make sure your new doctor gets them and I grabbed another bottle of prenatal vitamins for you.” Sam kindly handed me back the bottle and I thanked him. We both got out of the car and stretched.

I was still slightly sore in my ribs from breaking them, but everything else had healed rather well. Sam had worked some magic, and most of the lacerations didn’t even scar. I was going to miss him being my doctor. Just as I had that thought a big semi with live poultry pulled into the gas station. I was surprised when an older woman hopped out.

“Hells bells Sam what did you get yourself into this time?” The woman had a raspy voice like she had smoked most of her life, but she had a smile.

“Well now Missy you know I can’t stay out of trouble.” Sam chuckled as the woman came and wrapped him in a big hug.

“Ok but really what is going on Sam?” The woman questioned him after she released him.

“This is a patient of mine, and I need to get her out west. I heard you was headed for New Orleans so I thought perhaps she could catch a ride with you. She has another ride waiting for her there, not too far from Bourbon Street.” I listened closely to what Sam was telling her. I had no idea I was headed to Louisiana, but I guess it was good information to have.

“Yeah, that won’t be a problem I can get her there safely.” Missy took a good long look at her semi and the road. “You know Sam we are getting too old to be doing all this. One of these days the reaper is going to come knocking. We should retire before then.”

“Oh, Missy we both know that we wont stop until we go out. There is too much evil in the world for us to stop, and at our age we wouldn’t even know what to do with ourselves.” Sam affectionately patted her arm.

“Well let’s get these chicks on the road. You let me know when you make it back safely Sam.” The woman wasted no time and started walking back to her truck. I gave Sam a hug goodbye and he handed me my bag.  

“You be safe out there. June will call as soon as she has everything set up for you.” Sam told me as he ushered me over to the big semi. I crawled up into the passenger seat and tearfully waved goodbye. Out of everyone in Mentone, Sam was the person I had gotten the closest with.

With a quick blow of her horn, Missy pulled out and once again I was on the road.