Chapter 2

It was supposed to be winter. But, in Savannah, Georgia there was no snow. Just cold. Kim had no jacket. She was still wearing the clothes she had been given earlier on: white dress that looked massive on Kim’s small and malnourished body, and a pair of brown boots. The pureness of the white scared Kim, so she ran through the marshes just outside the city limits. Dirt and grass stained the dress. She wasn’t sure what she was doing. High tide would come soon, and the chances of blundering into an alligator were high. But the idea of danger seemed to drive Kim further into the muddy marshes, staining the dress even more. The sudden lack of confinement, and the feeling of finally being free, left Kim feeling numb. She was unsure of what to do, where to go, what she needed. So she kept running, hoping some spark of knowledge or inspiration would hit her. She knew she needed a home, or at least a place to stay, but she had nowhere to go. Kim had no money, no friends, and definitely no family. She didn’t have an education, and she had a lack of confidence at the thought of getting a job. One needed to be sane in order to acquire a job.

Wrapping her arms around herself, she shifted from a run to a fast walk. Kim lost a boot as she stepped into a particularly deep area of the marsh. She tugged her foot back out, leaving the boot stuck in the mud. Kim turned back around; clearly she could not go any farther. She wasn’t sure how long she had been outside. The sun had started to set and she could hear the cicadas come out, their constant chirping making her grind her teeth. Chirp. Chirp. Chirp. Kim shrieked in annoyance, and covered her ears as she stormed out of the marsh. She hoped she would squish a few of the damned bugs. It was like the dripping water. They both made her head spin, and made it hard to focus on what was right in front of her.

It had never been like this before she met Clara, before she was let out of that prison. There had always seemed to be a separation between her and the world. It was like she was there, but at the same time, she wasn’t. Her feet never seemed to stick to the ground like normal people. Kim knew she was far from normal. It felt like she was floating, so surreal, yet real at the same time. The noises made it worse. They made everything even more out of focus, and it hurt her head. She covered her ears in an attempt to block the noise; she didn’t want to float.

“Crazy, crazy, crazy,” Kim mumbled to herself as she walked along a highway.

Kim knew anyone driving by would think she was crazy. Wasn’t that what she had been telling herself only seconds before? She walked on. She wasn’t sure where she was going, if she was heading into Savannah or just walking further away. She didn’t really think it mattered as long as she stayed out of trouble. Kim knew she should head into town; she should find somewhere safe to sleep for the night. It was getting dark quickly, and soon she would be unable to see the road. But she just wanted to walk. It had been so long since she had been able to walk this far without hitting a cell wall. Now she could go wherever she wanted; she was free.

Free? Hardly! You should have killed them all.

Kim shook her head, as if by doing so the voice could be shaken out. It never seemed to work, no matter how long and hard she shook. Letting her hands fall from her ears, Kim stopped by a large live oak and fell to the ground. Her head fell into her hands, and she let a small chuckle escape her lips. She was so crazy, so messed up. The Kimberly Wake that had entered that prison fours years ago was long gone. She was no longer the spoiled daughter of the famous pop artist Waverly Wake and divorced drunken Daddy, whom she had never met.

Crazy, crazy, crazy, she repeated to herself again. Kim stayed there, under the tree with her face in her hands for a long time. She no longer laughed, staying perfectly still under the leafless tree. Only Spanish moss remained, drooping lifelessly from the branches. Kim didn’t move from her spot until the sun had set and night had taken over.

Kim decided to make her way into the city, and slowly got up, but she had been walking for only a few minutes when a sudden light nearly blinded her. In spite of the brightness, Kim stared at it intently. Maybe she would go blind. The notion was thrilling, but within seconds the light was shut off. A red pick-up truck was parked in front of her, the paint chipped and the bumper smashed. Kim stood warily in front of the truck; the dark made it impossible to see the driver and it unnerved her.

“What are you doing walking in the middle of the road?” came a male voice, highlighted only slightly with a southern drawl. “You trying to get run over?”

Kim didn’t say anything because of her lack of social skills. The man, or rather teenage boy, walked up to her. From what Kim could tell he looked to be her age with pale skin and short hair. He was taller than her, and though he wasn’t to muscular Kim felt extremely small in front of him. He was wearing what looked to be a school uniform, probably for some private school, and it made Kim wonder why someone going to private school would drive such a beat up truck. As the boy walked up to her, his eyes roamed over her and made Kim feel uncomfortable.

“You should be more care---” he began, then stopped when his eyes landed on Kim’s wrist. Kim looked down with him and saw what he was staring at. It was the small tracking device Clara had clipped onto her wrist. Kim quickly yanked the sleeve of her dress down, but it was too late. He had already seen the metal bracelet and blinking light. Kim looked up at him, waiting for the questions and prodding.

“So, I’m guessing you’re not from this area,” was all he said. He walked back toward his truck. “Well, come on,” he said, looking at Kim. “You can’t sleep in the streets, not during the winter.”

Kim didn’t want to trust this boy; he was a complete stranger. But she walked over to the passenger’s seat of the truck and got in with him. Once inside, kicked herself for doing so.

Yay! Second chapter! Thanks a bunches to my lovely friend Kat for editing this. She is AWESOME! So hope you enjoyed.