"Excuse me." Anton looked up from the gas tank to see a blonde girl bundled in a winter coat, her cheeks and nose flushed from the cold. She had on a backpack with a purse and duffel bag slung over her shoulder, and was dragging a small roller suitcase behind her. There was an unmistakable look of desperation in her eye. "Are you headed out of state?" Holly asked. "I'm looking for someone to give me a ride out of town. As far as you're willing to take me." Judging from the way the girl kept looking over her shoulder, Anton was certain she was running from something.
I asked her "Why do you want head out of states. How can I trust you. That you dont have any funny business with me"
Taken aback by Anton's suspicion, Holly fumbled for an answer. "I-I just need to get away," she stammered. "My boyfriend... he's been hurting me for years, and I think I might be in danger now. I don't have any money or family; I need to go somewhere where he can't find me." She tried her best to sound sincere, even as she realized how little context Anton had to go on. "I promise I won't cause you any trouble,"
I said shruggingly. "Look. I am sorry to hear that. But you are still stranger to me. How can I....."
Holly looked down at her battered hands and bit her lip. "I know I can't make you trust me," she said softly. "But please... if you could just give me a ride, somewhere far away? Just long enough for me to figure things out?" She glanced back over her shoulder again, her desperation growing more apparent.
"Look," Holly continued, pulling a small wad of crumpled bills from her pocket, "I can pay you back for gas or whatever you need."
I said "No. I dont need your koeny. Besides Why do you want to go far away anyway. Is he really that bad"
Tears welled up in Holly's eyes as she fought to keep her voice steady. "He's worse than you can imagine," she whispered. "Every day, I wake up hoping that it will be different... but it never is." She swallowed hard and forced a shaky smile. "I just want a fresh start, somewhere where he can't find me and hurt me anymore."
She offered Anton a pleading look, her hands trembling as she held out the money. "
I said "Okay. Lets suppose. I can help you" She said desperately "Thanks" I said "I said supposedly. Suppose. If I help you. He is now looking for you. If I finds you with me. My life would be also in danger."
"I-I understand," Holly stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "If there's any way I can help protect you... to make sure nothing bad happens..." Her hands shook as she tried to think of what else she could say. "Just please, give me the chance to start over."
There was a long pause as they locked eyes. Finally, Anton nodded slowly. "All right," he said gruffly. "Get in."
I took her to my panel wagon. I said opening backdoors. "We are going very far far away. Up north. Journey will be long and snowy as well. My car can broke down in middle of night, middle of road, darkness and wilderness. Are you okay with that?
Holly nodded slowly, her face pale beneath the winter coat. "I-I'll be fine," she managed to say, her voice shaking slightly. "As long as I can get away from him." She took a deep breath and climbed into the back of the panel van, doing her best not to let herself shiver too visibly in anticipation of the journey ahead.
Once settled in, she glanced over at Anton, who was already starting up the engine. "Thank you," she murmured, her eyes fixed on his profile. "
I took her to my panel wagon. I said opening backdoors. "We are going very far far away. Up north. Journey will be long and snowy as well. My car can broke down in middle of night, middle of road, darkness and wilderness. Are you okay with that?"
"I-I'll be fine," she managed to say, her voice shaking slightly. "As long as I can get away from him." She took a deep breath and climbed into the back of the panel van, doing her best not to let herself shiver too visibly in anticipation of the journey ahead.
I said "You put your belongings here. Watch out there is my stuff there as well. You will sit with me on passenger seat" After I set up the things on back. I made her sit on passenger seat and said from outside "I am going to the shop and grab some snacks. And remember one thing. No funny business. I am armed okay??? Whats your name by the way"
Holly nodded, her expression serious as she moved to put her belongings in the back. "Okay," she murmured when Anton asked for her name. "It's Holly." As he left to go get snacks, she glanced around the van, taking note of the weapons and other suspicious-looking items lying about. She tried not to seem too alarmed; after all, this was likely just how Anton lived his life.
After grabbing boxes of snacks and drinks from shop. I wemt out and placed on back of panel van. And sat on driver seat. I said "So are you ready for the journey. I am John by the way. Can you give me the ID or license please. Thats all I can trust on you"
Nodding, Holly dug through her bag and pulled out her wallet. Inside was a battered driver's license with her photo and the name "Holly Ericsson." She handed it over to Anton, trying not to appear too nervous as he examined it.
"Okay," he said finally, returning it to her. "Now we can get started." He shifted into gear and pulled out of the parking lot, heading north toward the mountains.
Holly was looking at side mirror seeing her hometown fade away in distance in cold night. Her departure was sudden and unexpected.
Holly couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness as she watched her old life disappear into the darkness behind them. She took a deep breath and tried to focus on the future, telling herself that this was for the best. She glanced at John Anton out of the corner of her eye and offered him a tentative smile, hoping to reassure him that he hadn't made a mistake by giving her a ride.
I asked her tentatively "Can I lit the cigarette if you dont mind. I am an addict."
Holly hesitated for a moment before nodding slowly. "I guess it's not like I can smell anything in here," she said with a weak laugh, gesturing to the closed vents. "Go ahead." She tried her best to keep the disgust from her voice, remembering how often her ex-boyfriend would smoke around her.
She turned back toward the window and stared out at the passing scenery, wondering what lay ahead for both of them.
"Thanks,"
I asked her "So Holly. What were you doing for living before this"
Holly shrugged as she turned to look at him. "I was a waitress," she said quietly. "It wasn't the greatest job, but it paid the bills." Her expression darkened for a moment before she forced a smile. "So what about you? What do you do?"
She leaned back in her seat, trying to get comfortable as they drove through the night. The snow was starting to fall more heavily now, and she could feel the van's tires slipping on the icy road every now and then.
I said. "Well I was a salesman before. Now I am trying to move out of town ofcourse. And with you" I chuckled then my expression turned neutral and said "I am thinking of starting my own business. I tried in this town but cost of living is too high. Now I am going where it is cheap. Its difficult to leave the town but it is what it is"
Holly nodded thoughtfully as she listened to Anton talk about his plans for the future. "That sounds like a good idea," she said slowly. "Maybe when we get there, I could help you start it up, if you need someone who knows about... you know, customer service and stuff." She smiled tentatively, not wanting to sound too forward or presumptuous.
The van hit a particularly rough patch of road, causing them both to lurch sideways in their seats. "Sorry," Anton muttered, glancing back at her. "
It's okay," Holly said with a small laugh, trying to sound more confident than she felt. "I've been through worse rides." She took another deep breath and let it out slowly, feeling the weight of her past pressing down on her chest like a leaden blanket. "Thanks for doing this, you know," she added after a moment's pause. "For giving me a chance."
The silence that fell between them was thick with unspoken words and uncertain futures.
I said to myself. "I try so hard to not be nice to someone as world always treated me like nothing. Still ended up being nice"
Maybe he's just a genuinely nice person underneath it all, Holly thought to herself. Or maybe he's just trying to be nice because he thinks that's what she wants to hear. Either way, she decided not to dwell on it too much. There were more important things to focus on right now, like finding a new life for herself and making sure her ex-boyfriend couldn't find her.
She glanced out the window again as they continued to drive through the night, lost in thought.