Chapter 26

The fog dissipates and I find myself standing in a dark strip of road in the middle of a rainstorm. I cross to the shoulder, making it to the grass and into the forest. I walk a little ways and find a tree that somewhat protects me from the downpour.

Setting my bag down against the trunk of the tree, I slowly strip my torso armor from my body. The blood oozes from my armor on my ribs, and I wrinkle my nose in disgust.

Stripping the rest of my clothes off, I step out from under the protection of the tree and into the downpour. I stand there, in the dark and rainy night, and let the chilly rain run over my body. Running my hands through my long hair, I scrub and then wash away the blood on my body. When I feel clean enough, I sneak back under the tree and put on a shirt and pair of shorts. I throw back on the boots I had been wearing because I had forgotten to grab a pair of shoes from the apartment, and I can't walk along a road barefoot.

Once everything is secure and I am dressed, I head back towards the road. When I reach the road, the rain has let up some, and the moon peeks through the clouds occasionally. The moon sits to my left, so I go right.

All the night drives and watching the moon has paid off. See? The moon isn't useless to watch.

I walk in the rain for a few minutes, then the rain ends and I am left soaking wet and alone to the sounds and smells of the wet woods. I breathe in the wet earth smell, being glad to be back to the earth I know. I feel like I've finally woken from a dream, a never-ending nightmare. I glance behind me to check for cars, and my heart jumps when I see car lights gradually growing towards me. I look forward again, watching the trees gradually becoming illuminated by the car. It pulls up beside me and slows, the passenger window rolling down.

"Hey, need a ride?" The driver says, and I pause, considering. I could listen to the 'don't get into cars with strangers' rule, but I also have a tad bit of magic up my sleeve. I decide to take the offer.

"Yeah, thank you." I say, opening the passenger side door and getting in. I close it and buckle my seat belt, and the guy begins driving.

"Sorry about your seat." I say, and he shrugs.

"Ah, it's fine, it'll dry. So where too?" He asks kindly.

"Uhm, Loon street, right next to Milk King." I say, and his brow furrows.

"What's your name?" His voice sounds suspicious.

"Asta." I respond, and he looks to me, wide-eyed.

"You're Asta? Are you serious? No way." He says, looking at me and almost swerving off the road.

"Hey! Don't kill us!" I hold onto the handle of the door. "Yes, I'm Asta."

"No way, they found Asta's body in the woods, not too far from here."

"Wait, they found-" I pause.

Oh.

That's where she went.

We ride in silence and he dumps me at Milk King, then speeds off. I walk home and prepare for another welcome home similar to the last.