TAG Part 6

TAG Part 6

I drove.  Just drove as fast and far as I could.  I knew it was dangerous.  I knew it was foolish.  But I also knew that I had to get out of that hospital.  I could not stay a prisoner there forever. 

I imagined that poor man with the flowers rushing back to his car only to find it gone.  I did feel bad for him, but I also knew I would return it.  In fact, I realized that I didn’t have much time to use the car.  The owner probably called the police right away.  The police likely arrived and did a preliminary investigation to make sure that the guy hadn’t simply forgotten where he had parked.  That gave me less than 30 minutes, which meant I had to think logically and quickly. 

OK – first step, get far away.  Step 2, do not drive home, that is the first place they will look for me.  Also, they may track my phone, so turn it off for now.  Step 3, ditch car and find a new mode of transportation.  That sounds easier said than done.  Think, Ally…. Think!   I took a deep breath.  Then it hit me.  Thomas.  Thomas can help me.

I drove the car to the furthest point that I could think of that was opposite of Thomas’s house.  I dropped it in a public parking lot at the airport.  I wrote a note using a pen and a napkin I found in the car, “I am really sorry!” and left it on the car seat.  I scoured the car for loose change and was able to scrounge up 2 scrunched up singles, a half a roll of quarters, and 4.63 in assorted change.  11.63 cents wouldn’t get me far.  But for 3.75 I could take the bus that would take me within walking distance to Thomas.  At least I had part one of a plan.  I added to the note, “PS I owe you $11.63”.

Before I could get on the bus, I needed a little preparation.  I ran into the airport and snuck into the convenience store.  It was very crowded, so I was able to go in and out very quickly.  I am not usually a criminal mastermind, but I did watch a lot of TV and read a lot of John Grisham novels.  I figure they key was speed, not being obvious, and acting like you own the place.  I can’t even believe I did this, but I walked over to the clearance winter section of hats and gloves.  I grabbed a hat and put it on, covering my hair and eyebrows.  I wrapped a scarf around my neck.  I put knit gloves on my hands.  I had to be sure I was covering myself to avoid being identified, but more importantly – I had to avoid any physical contact with any person at all.  Gosh, I really felt like Rogue from the X-Men.  I ripped the tags off and stuffed them in my pocket.  I walked out of the store and into the stream of people in the airport main terminal.  And just like that, I was lost in the crowd.  No one noticed me at all. 

I left the airport and hopped on the cross town bus.  I paid with exact change.  I didn’t want to draw any attention to myself.  I sat down and leaned my head against the glass window.  As the bus pulled away, I felt myself starting to relax, to feel sleepy.  I must have nodded off, because I awoke suddenly with a jolt.  A realization popped in my head.  I couldn’t go to Thomas.  I couldn’t put him at risk.  And I realized where I had to go.  I had to go to the place where I saw the boy.  That is my only option.  I had to go home and follow him.  But how do you follow a ghost?  How?  With instinct, that’s how.  I will go where my inner voice tells me to go.  I will follow my instincts.  They have gotten me out of that prison of a hospital. 

I got off the bus at the next stop, and looked around to get my bearings.  I wasn’t familiar with this part of the city – but I knew it was closer to my house than I expected, so that was good news.  I headed south, walking briskly.  Again, my goal was to blend in.  Be invisible.

I looked up at an intersection, when a flashing neon sign caught my eye: “Gypsy Fortune Teller – Open 24 Hrs”.   Gypsies… Fortune tellers… all scam artists as far as I was concerned.  Yet, against my intellect, I headed right for it.  I walked with an intention with which I was unfamiliar – as though I knew all along that this was where I was heading.  Almost autopilot, like morning commuters heading to their jobs when they get off the train.  No thought required, just a direct path.  I walked in, very relieved that they were in fact open.  It smelled of vanilla incense and spices.  As I shut the door behind me, I heard the bells on them indicating a person had come in. 

I walked further into the small, crowed shop, looking at the oddities on the walls and shelves.  Jars of potions in various colors.  Candles in various stages of burn.  Spell books.  Photos on the walls of so many interesting looking things, people in odd dress, ceremonies taking place.  I was so absorbed that I almost forgot why I was there.  I continued walking around and examining the fascinating room.  More creepy items, some for sale, some not.    A lot of statues… angels smiling, angels crying.  Witches.  Cats.   A statue of a dragon with wings.  Wait, was it a dragon?  Maybe a demon of some sort?  Glowing eyes, sure seemed evil.  And it seemed like he was looking right at me.

I was deep in thought when I heard her enter the room.  And that is how my heart skipped a beat as she said, “Finally.  You are here, Allison.  I have been waiting for you.”