The Hitman's Last Job(35)

“I guess so,” she relented and sat down at the back.
“See? It’s not so bad. We’re like the cool kids at the back of the bus,” Carl chuckled.


But Anna didn’t notice him. She was busy staring out the window at a city she wished she could become more acquainted with. Watching the hustle and bustle of the bus station she wondered where everyone had to go, and why they were in such a hurry. She pondered on the idea that there were countless people like her out there, on the run and in peril.

Scanning her eyes over the other passengers as they took their seats she thought everyone seemed so normal to her. That was until she caught sight of the last passenger to come on board. The girl couldn’t have been more than sixteen but had the confidence of a woman more than twice her age. She popped gum and glared at each passenger with disgust. Her headphones were blaring loudly but for some reason she had them dangling down the front of her chequered shirt.

Her eyeliner was thick around her eyes and it looked as though she’d been wearing it for days. Acne covered her chin but somehow it didn’t make her any less pretty. The girl walked to the back of the bus and nodded in acknowledgment of the runaway couple. She made eye contact with Anna for a split second before she sat in front of them. It was as if the turmoil in her respected the turmoil in Anna.

There was a roar of the engine as the driver reversed the bus out of its bay. And as he pulled out of the station she wondered if she would see Austin again someday, she hoped so. Soon they were back out on the open road with danger behind them and a life full of opportunity ahead. Carl looked to Anna and noticed the despair on her face and the thunder in her eyes.

“You know you’re coping with this really well,” he whispered into her ear.


She flinched at the words and looked to him surprised.

“What do you mean?”
“I mean most people would have gone bat shit crazy living your childhood, but you’ve gone one step further. You survived it, conquered it and moved on,”
“But what have I moved on to?” she questioned him and looked back out the window at the desert that was moving quickly passed her.


The bus reached its first stop and the girl in front of them departed. Anna watched as she descended the steps from the bus with a real attitude. But as Anna looked to see where she was heading she saw nothing in the distance. This looked like a ghost town and she felt panicked for the strange girl. As the bus pulled away from the stop Anna craned her neck to look behind her and saw the girl stick out her thumb. A car stopped beside her immediately. It seemed like such a cruel and peculiar world. Carl meanwhile followed her gaze and looked out the back window.

“Kids these days are in all sorts of trouble. Try not to think about it,”
“That’s not right though. That’s not normal,”
“Just try and focus on us and the here and now,” Carl squeezed her hand.


But it wasn’t working. She couldn’t quite shake the image of the lost girl getting in a stranger’s car. Something about the situation screamed that she wouldn’t get back out. Anna shivered at the thought despite the warm sun beaming through the windows.

“Are you cold?” Carl asked.


And he took his jacket off and wrapped it round her.

“Thanks,” she spoke weakly.


And she pulled the jacket around her frail body and lay down on across the back seats. Letting sleep take hold of her worries she let her eyes close.

~

When she woke up the sun was dipping down over the hills. She looked out the window to see the bus pull into another bustling station and soon the sign revealed it to be San Antonio. Looking over to Carl she saw him fast asleep against the opposite window. She nudged him with her foot and he woke with a start.

“We’re here,” she yawned and sat up.
“Urgh…. Fuck,”
“You ok?”
“Yuh…. Just weird dreams,” he scrubbed at his eyes with his fingers.
“Well forget about them, we’re here!” Anna giggled and stood up while grabbing her things.
“You seem in a better mood,” Carl kissed her cheek.
“Sleep can make people reborn,” she shrugged and waited for the people in front of them to depart.


As they stepped out into the station Anna felt the night descend on the city and she wondered what that meant for the couple. Another night meant another place to hide.

“So tell me,” nudged Carl playfully. “This plan of yours… Why’s it so secret,”
“It’s not secret… I just… I dunno I’m just not entirely sure it’ll work yet,”
“So it’s not really a plan then,” she rolled her eyes and readied herself for another night in a random hotel.
“No… no. Don’t be so quick to judge,” he smirked and placed his hands on her waist. “Now I want you to trust me ok?”
“Ok,” she nodded and they kissed.
“Now I want you to wait right here, on this bench. And I mean it. Don’t move an inch,”
“What? Where are YOU going?”
“I’m going to find someone…. I think. I’ll be two minutes,”
“Carl I don’t like this one bit…. What’s going on?”
“Please…. Just give me two minutes,”


She thought for a minute then relented. “Fine… But promise you’ll come back,”