as she could, she excused herself and walked out for some fresh air. It was dark now and with all the might she could muster, she fled into the night. Running like the devil was after her, she didn’t once look back. She figured it would take Kayden a while to react as he would think she had run to the horses and would be thinking he would pick her up on the way. It seemed likely they had to go into the paddock to get to the portal anyway.
As Cassie pushed her legs to get her further away she contemplated how crazy she was to get involved with a man who had two heads. She would get over him and this would all become a nightmare that one day she would forget. She had no idea where she was going. This was where the cars came from and she hoped it would be the way out and onto a highway. The opposite direction took her straight to the horses so unless she wanted to be found, that was not the direction to be going.
She ran, walked, and then ran for many hours before exhaustion got the better of her. She found a tree to curl up against and slept. She knew they would be on their mission and no one would be looking for her now so she could rest here for a while.
Cassie woke hours later and cried for the man she had fallen in love with who had obviously bedded her without remorse and with the intention of using her powers for his strange cause. Cassie reflected on the shows she had watched and the many novels she had read about such behaviour. She was young and green and thought it was love he shared with her but it must have just been lust and greed.
She awkwardly stood and pushed on, her mind and body numb from being so stupid and thinking he cared about her. She heard trickling water and looked around. The vegetation was a little greener and as she pushed through the scrub she found a river. The sun was high in the sky now; she knew it was at least mid-morning. It shone on the water making it sparkle and inviting. Cassie took off her clothes and went for a refreshing swim that rejuvenated her aching legs.
When she emerged from the water and dressed, gone were the tears and sour mood. She had replaced them with a more positive and determined attitude. She would go and find a life for herself, one that didn’t involve conniving men. She had a plan—sort of—and to accomplish it included pushing every sad feeling she had deep inside. That definitely meant no more feelings of such raw passion. Cassie slipped on her shoes with determination as she built a wall inside her heart that would keep the last nineteen years of her life from escaping. Today is the first day of the rest of my life and I’ll be damned if I will take that frightened, broken child with me.
She scowled, then strode off with purpose. She followed the river that eventually thinned out to a trickle before leading her straight onto a road. Cassie understood how dangerous it was to hitchhike. Young women like her disappeared, more often than not turning up dead or worse: drugged and shipped overseas and sold off as slaves. She shrugged, knowing exactly what that was like. She knew that things like that could happen even from your own bed.
Lessons in Life
Squaring her shoulders and holding her head up, she put out her hand and began to beg for a lift as car after car drove straight past her. She was only walking now and she had lost all motivation when she heard a car slow down. She stopped and looked inside the window, finding a kindly elderly couple inside.
They introduced themselves as Ruby and Jim. Both seemed very sweet and told Cassie they were on their way to the city of Perth, right where she wanted to be. Jumping in, she pushed the last of her past behind her. Cassie confided that she had come to Western Australia for a holiday and even though thugs had mugged her of all belongings, she loved this part of the country and had decided to stay. She was on her way to Perth to get a job and make a better life for herself.
Her story moved Ruby and Jim.
As Cassie pushed her legs to get her further away she contemplated how crazy she was to get involved with a man who had two heads. She would get over him and this would all become a nightmare that one day she would forget. She had no idea where she was going. This was where the cars came from and she hoped it would be the way out and onto a highway. The opposite direction took her straight to the horses so unless she wanted to be found, that was not the direction to be going.
She ran, walked, and then ran for many hours before exhaustion got the better of her. She found a tree to curl up against and slept. She knew they would be on their mission and no one would be looking for her now so she could rest here for a while.
Cassie woke hours later and cried for the man she had fallen in love with who had obviously bedded her without remorse and with the intention of using her powers for his strange cause. Cassie reflected on the shows she had watched and the many novels she had read about such behaviour. She was young and green and thought it was love he shared with her but it must have just been lust and greed.
She awkwardly stood and pushed on, her mind and body numb from being so stupid and thinking he cared about her. She heard trickling water and looked around. The vegetation was a little greener and as she pushed through the scrub she found a river. The sun was high in the sky now; she knew it was at least mid-morning. It shone on the water making it sparkle and inviting. Cassie took off her clothes and went for a refreshing swim that rejuvenated her aching legs.
When she emerged from the water and dressed, gone were the tears and sour mood. She had replaced them with a more positive and determined attitude. She would go and find a life for herself, one that didn’t involve conniving men. She had a plan—sort of—and to accomplish it included pushing every sad feeling she had deep inside. That definitely meant no more feelings of such raw passion. Cassie slipped on her shoes with determination as she built a wall inside her heart that would keep the last nineteen years of her life from escaping. Today is the first day of the rest of my life and I’ll be damned if I will take that frightened, broken child with me.
She scowled, then strode off with purpose. She followed the river that eventually thinned out to a trickle before leading her straight onto a road. Cassie understood how dangerous it was to hitchhike. Young women like her disappeared, more often than not turning up dead or worse: drugged and shipped overseas and sold off as slaves. She shrugged, knowing exactly what that was like. She knew that things like that could happen even from your own bed.
Lessons in Life
Squaring her shoulders and holding her head up, she put out her hand and began to beg for a lift as car after car drove straight past her. She was only walking now and she had lost all motivation when she heard a car slow down. She stopped and looked inside the window, finding a kindly elderly couple inside.
They introduced themselves as Ruby and Jim. Both seemed very sweet and told Cassie they were on their way to the city of Perth, right where she wanted to be. Jumping in, she pushed the last of her past behind her. Cassie confided that she had come to Western Australia for a holiday and even though thugs had mugged her of all belongings, she loved this part of the country and had decided to stay. She was on her way to Perth to get a job and make a better life for herself.
Her story moved Ruby and Jim.
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