Run to the perimeter

Looking underneath the car once again, the rear axle catches her eye. It’s hanging low, and Jen estimates it’s likely going to hit her once the car starts moving.

Okay, the bushes then, she thinks.

Without further hesitation Jen gets up and starts running. Her bare feet quietly slap on the asphalt as she sprints. It’s only just audible to Jen, but she still prays the approaching woman doesn’t hear anything. With there being no street lamps along the route to the perimeter she’s less worried about remaining unseen, but still knows there’s the slight chance the movement might catch the lady’s eye.

Covering the distance as fast as she can manage, Jen slows her pace and darts around the nearest bush once she arrives. Peering through the leaves she watches as the SUV’s lights briefly flash when the remote unlocks the doors. The woman opens the door of the car, the overhead light popping on as she climbs in. The woman looks exhausted, but not remotely concerned or confused as Jen would expect if she’d seen someone running away from her car. A minute passes as the lady situates herself before starting her vehicle and shifting into drive.

As the SUV starts to move, Jen looks around. She sees no one moving about the city streets, either on foot or by vehicle. She can hear cars in the distance, but luckily she’s alone for now.

The woman’s vehicle reaches one of the exits and heads towards the street. Jen stands and moves back to the other side of the bushes, away from the public roads and back on the side of the near-deserted mall. The lady’s SUV turns right, and the headlights arc towards Jen’s position. Ducking low, Jen stays out of sight until the woman passes.

Once she knows she won’t be noticed in the woman’s mirrors, Jen gets up and starts moving. Keeping a brisk pace, she starts working her way around the perimeter of the mall, pausing as she reaches clusters of bushes, tall grasses and trees to make sure she’s safe to continue.

Several yards into her journey she hears a car approaching from behind. A quick glance over her shoulder confirms that it’s coming towards her, its headlights ablaze. Jen darts forward to the nearest bush and hunkers down. As the vehicle approaches she leans to her left, keeping the bush between them. The car moves alongside and Jen shifts her position to the right, doing her best to keep out of view of the driver’s window. She’s hiding in a dark position, now that the headlights have passed, but she’s not willing to chance giving any sort of silhouette of her body standing out against the lighting along the mall.

As the vehicle drives into the distance Jen gets up and starts scurrying forward. Occasionally pausing behind shrubs and bushes to make sure no one is walking through the parking lot or on the city streets across from her, and that she doesn’t hear any other approaching vehicles.

Several yards further another car passes without incident. Peering out from behind a tree trunk, Jen is happy to see the dark profile of the driver staring straight ahead. As the taillights recede into the distance, Jen stands back up and moves further ahead.

Now quite some distance away from her last position, Jen looks towards the mall. There’s no indication of anyone moving about, sitting in cars or walking towards their vehicles. She notices that she’s nearly directly across from the mall entrance and she can see the service door Eve is expecting her to come out of. Peering through the parking lot, she eventually spots Eve’s car, parked in a place with a few other vehicles nearby.

Realizing she’s so close, Jen gets up and starts jogging along the malls’ boundaries, occasionally letting her hands come free from her body to move faster, but more often than not she covers herself as she moves. She gets near Eve’s position and pauses.

Maybe I can get her to come to me, she thought.

Looking at the ground in front of her, several small pebbles litter the ground where the asphalt stops and the cement begins. Jen lifts one, pulled her arm back and tosses it. The pebble travels several yards before striking the ground with a soft clattering sound. Seeing no indication that Eve heard this, Jen tosses another one, harder this time, aiming for Eve’s driver-side window. The pebble again falls short and Eve doesn’t seem to hear anything.

Jen stands and moves another few yards down the perimeter, getting as close to Eve’s car as she can without getting too far from the possible hiding places behind her. This time, gathering several of the small rocks, Jen throws them towards Eve. The rocks land near the car, scattering on the ground. Eve quickly glances over, obviously hearing something, but then turns back towards the mall.

It’s too dark for her to see me, Jen realized.

After another look around, Jen quickly stood up and started jogging towards Eve’s car, her eyes scanning for any onlookers as she runs. As she neared the car Eve suddenly turns toward Jen and shout a quick yelp of surprise, obviously not expecting to see anyone approaching her. Eve’s fear quickly gives way and her expression changes to one of amusement.

As Jen runs around the car, Eve unlocks the doors and starts the engine. Jen loads herself into the passenger seat, greeted by the sounds of Eve’s laugher. Jen says nothing while reaching into the backseat for her clothes.

Finally Eve’s laughter pauses long enough for her to ask “what the hell happened?”

“I hid in a trash cart,” Jen said, “and a janitor pushed it outside.”

Eve’s giggling renews itself at hearing this, and she asks “did he throw you out with the trash?”

“No, he had to go back inside for a job. But I was locked out.”

Eve laughs again while Jen pulled her bra onto her shoulders. Without another word Eve shifted the car into park and began driving towards the mall exit.