In Heat

Mystril had smoked three more cigarettes during the next 30 minutes they spent driving, in the car much to Aiden's displeasure. He had made the rough mental compromise that the pair were more than likely over-stressed, and he fully understood that this was probably the only thing keeping Mystril from having a breakdown. Aiden had loaded up on convenience store goods alongside the smokes, and they were going to lay low for a while. At the edge between the commercial districts, and the city center, there was a handy complex of motels that often served as lodging for society's less fortunate. You know, the crack heads. The parking lot wasn't pretty, and neither was reception when Aiden stepped inside.

The dingy white room was accented tastefully by a number of neon signs. A cheap drink machine covered with scabs of dried coffee, and of course a very elderly Caucasian man behind the counter, separated from the guest by a number of solid looking metal bars. He wasn't very talkative. It ran Aiden's pockets right around 250 for a week stay in a room. He was given the keys, and made his way back to the car, shaking his head as he opened the door with an exasperated, "This plan is fucked." Mystril watched him, right leg constantly bouncing, but said nothing. Her appearance could very accurately be described as being that of a fish out of water. The cigarette somehow made her seem even younger, like the adult act juxtaposed her diminutive appearance, and somehow accented it.

Aiden did an inventory of their provisions as he handed them to Mystril. He kept a small sack for sake of an impromptu camping trip that seemed to come around more, and more scarcely. Of course there was a sleeping bag, a small mess kit, and all the things you would need for a vehicle in an emergency. Then in a second pack was his day to day load. A laptop, a few odd snacks, phone chargers, all the good stuff.

This, and a bag of assorted ramen noodles, and canned meat that ran just about 26 dollars for a week of “eating.” It wasn’t good living, but it was sustenance. Lastly he handed her the keys to the room, which she gripped oddly between her pinky, and ring finger. Now she was too encumbered to shift around like she normally did. After draping the last of the goods over a very encumbered miniature woman, he closed up, and sat in the driver’s seat.

There he instructed her, like a dad traveling with a kid for the first time. "If you need to set anything down, set it in the bathroom. Don’t sit down on any of the furniture until I get up there." Mystril didn’t actually understand why, but she nodded diligently. He sounded serious enough anyhow. She adjusted the bag on her shoulders, pulled up her hood and then started walking clumsily in Aiden’s flip flops up the stairs.

Aiden watched her for a moment, and then pulled the car to the exit of the parking lot. He did math in his head as he considered which way to turn. A devious thought crossed his mind. He could park the car across the street like they planned, and take a long way back to the motel room, or he could go back home, and make a phone call or two. This was probably his last real chance to wash his hands of this before he got too far.