He is probably awake right now.

I had just booked a 2-night stay at a motel in a small town, and even though it looks ancient and as if the building was about to crumble, it felt amazing to be surrounded by other people, strangers, now.

No one's eyes were all over me as I walked downtown from the motel and tried the local bakery, making a friendly conversation with anyone I could- they didn't know a single thing about me and nor did I about them.

But there was a pit in my stomach, I had planned to stay, but I knew that he would figure that I found out sooner or later and come after me as quick as possible, probably whilst I'm in this town.

And I needed to be prepared for anything.

When I escaped, I took a few knives and one gun with me, just until I could get my own. And I had already spent some of the on this motel stay and a bus ride that leaves soon enough.

For now, I could just enjoy my time here, in this crusty motel room.

I twirled the stolen black pen in my hand, some ink smudging on my hand in the process. I furrowed my eyebrows and thinned my lips, pictures of him kneading through my mind.

What if he did manage to bring me back? How would I face him?

Shudders ran through my spine at the thought, and I immediately closed my eyes trying to fall asleep.

Only a few more days and I would be free of him, hopefully forever.

It was my last night here and I was at the pub to celebrate it. I only asked for a beer, not wanting to get drunk and have a hangover on the bus trip.

All of it was so surreal, playing pool and darts, chatting with random strangers like we had known each other for years . Everyone was nice to each other since everyone in the town knew each other and it seemed lovely.

It felt like I was leading a new life, no strict mother hovering over my shoulder all the time and no overprotective boyfriend breathing down my neck every second.

It was like a breath of fresh air.

Except, I know that if I didn't want to be found, then I would have to travel to a big city, then it would be harder to track me, although, I'm surprised that I haven't seen any of Francis's goons.

But they could be in disguise.

I sighed to myself and rubbed my temples as I thought about all the possibilities, I was going to end up over thinking about this and become paranoid.

Just as my mind was about to become another whirlwind, I froze as I saw a suited man standing in the corner, his eyes drew a bit too close to mine for comfort.

I got out of my seat to go but was stopped by a hand reaching from another table. Another suited man. My breath hitched and I yanked my arm from his grip which only made him stand up in front of me.

Looking around the bar, there were more of them coming into view and approaching me, nobody would notice me since it's too busy, but there is one thing that could get a bar going.

"I am not going back." I utter and punch him in the face and push him into a table, breaking it in the process and spilling drinks all over him. As I'm about to step back my arms are pinned behind my back, but I use my feet to kick behind me and ended up hitting him in the groin and hit him with the empty beer bottle in my hand, making it shatter over his head.

The bar pauses to see the commotion going on when suddenly there was two words yelled that brought out all chaos.

"BAR FIGHT!"

The bar goes into a fighting frenzy and the room is buzzing with violence. I smile to myself and grab a billiard stick and snap it in two on my leg.

Looking around there were two suited men heading towards me and I charge towards them. I could see they had guns on them, so I quickly hit it out of their grasps with the broken stick as start to repetitively hit them in the neck and chest, making one lunge for me but I duck and they fall onto the pool table, damaging it.

Everyone in the bar was now breaking tables and the cops were going to be called soon so I need to get out of here. Fast.

I look for an exit and quickly run out of it and jarring the sticks in the handle, locking it before any goons could follow me.

Letting out a sigh, I turned to leave but I was stopped by a familiar face. I pursed my lips together not knowing what to say to him.

"Xavier." I utter, crossing my hands and he looks saddened.

"Valentina, you need to-"

"What, come back? I don't care about Francis anymore, okay?! What he did just made me leave faster. This would've happened sooner or later." I raise my voice at him, and he just looks at me with tired, sad eyes.

"I was trapped in that shithole and now I'm free so don't you dare try and stop me." I try to say but my voice cracks and he reaches behind his back slowly.

"I can't let you do that." he says and holds up a gun.

A tranquilliser gun.

I step back suddenly, and my eyes widen.

"Please don't make me do this..." he whispers and my face morphs into pure rage.

"Big mistake." I say and flare my wings, swinging myself towards him and before he could make a shot, I grab the gun out of his hands and smash him in the face with it.

I run away, leaving him the alley groaning in pain and tuck my wings in, heading to the motel and fast as I could but when it came into view, I could see a SUV parked in the guest parking.

I knew it wasn't coincidental so I went to my hotel window and removed the screen so that I wouldn't be seen entering.

My bag was already packed so I was out there in a second and I headed straight for the bus stop.

Looking at the chart there was a bus that was supposed to be here any minute.

I tapped by foot impatiently but stopped as I saw the peak of blue over the hill.

When the bus stopped and the doors puffed open, I turned around once more to see the chaos of the motel.

Suited men rushing into the motel, thrashing around my room, they attracted passing attention, but it differs once the police cars pass and screech to a halt in front of the bar.

I was interrupted by the bus beeping its horn and I turned away to board.

I get onto the bus and sit in the back, hugging my bag as it was the last thing I had right now. I looked at the map that was given for the ride and looked at my final destination. Los Angeles.

It may seem odd that I'm going to such a place that is filled with media, but I know it would be the last place that he would look for me in. It was far away and overpopulated so even if he did search there, it would be hard for him to even search for me after I change my name.

And even though I wanted to, I knew could never go back to San Francisco. If I appeared out of the blue after presumed dead, they would ask questions and sooner or later the word would get out about what really happened.

I may hate him, but I wouldn't want him to get caught, I guess I'm still hanging onto that little bit of love I have left for him.

As I look out the window, the countryside was whizzing past, and I found my eyes becoming droopy.

The next time I wake up, I'll be nowhere near him.

After a while I heard the bus beep and it halted to a stop.

I wearily opened my eyes to look outside the window and I'm bewildered at the sight of huge skyscrapers towering over me and I walk off the bus and my ears are greeted with the sounds of what my old city used to sounds like.

How long has it been since then? I walk to the bus driver to ask for the date and I almost stumble backward as he tells me the date.

I had been trapped for over a year. No wonder it felt like it.

Walking around the busy streets, there was so many people and I felt like I couldn't contain my smile. Even though everyone was rushing around, and it was so loud- it felt like heaven to me.

So many strangers, and none knew what I was associated with!

Eventually I got tired of walking and sat down on a scrappy bench, laying my head back, so I could fully see the large skyscrapers surrounding me.

Now, I need to make a living for myself... all over again.

Letting out a groan, I pulled myself up, walking over to the nearest bank.

But nothing is going to stop me again.