Mari Mancusi - Scorched

“Look, I’m sorry I had to trick you, but trust me, it was for your own good. If you’d just get back on the damned bike, I’ll explain everything.” He made a step toward her.

“Get the hell away from me!” she hissed. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

Caleb regarded her, a regretful look on his face. Now that she realized it was him, she could clearly see the differences in their eyes. “I’m sorry, Trinity,” he replied. “But I’m afraid you have no choice.”

He lunged at her with lightning speed. But she was ready for him. Grabbing the backpack, she slammed the egg at his head with all her might, half praying it would just break, then and there, and end this once and for all.

But the egg remained intact. Caleb, on the other hand, collapsed onto the ground, out cold.

Trinity: one. Crazy evil twin from the future: zero.

Trinity tossed her head with satisfaction, kicking him a few times to make sure he was really out. Then she turned to the motorcycle, giving it a doubtful look. Even if she did figure out how to turn it on, she’d never be able to ride it. Instead, she yanked out what appeared to be an important wire, then took off down the road on foot. She turned back once, to make sure Caleb hadn’t made a quick recovery. But he was still prostrate where she’d left him.

“Come on, dragon,” she whispered to the egg in her pack. “Let’s get out of here.”

Trinity’s skin glistened with sweat as she stepped into a sleepy little diner a few miles from where she’d left Caleb lying unconscious on the roadside. She’d chosen to skip the first town she’d come to—feeling it would be too obvious a hiding spot—and forced her feet to keep moving until she came across this tiny restaurant completely off the beaten path. There was no way he’d find her here. At least not anytime soon.

The bells hanging from the front door chimed merrily as she entered and the few locals sitting at the counter gave her curious looks before going back to their breakfasts. After catching sight of her reflection in the beer sign mirror hanging on the wall, she could see why. She was red-faced and wild haired from her run in the early morning air.

Breathing in the comforting smells of frying eggs and burnt coffee, she walked purposely through the diner, stopping at the ancient pay phone at the very back. Picking up the receiver, she shoved some change in the slot, then forced her trembling fingers to dial her grandpa’s number. When there was no answer, she tried her best friend Caitlin’s cell—the only other number she knew by heart.

After a few rings, her friend’s cheery voice greeted her into voicemail. “Hi, you’ve reached Caitlin! I’m either on the other line or purposely ignoring you. Or maybe Mrs. Mitchell confiscated my phone for texting in class again. That bitch. Leave a message and if I deem you worthy, or at least hot, I’ll call you back. Mwah!”

Trinity’s heart sank. Of course. Caitlin’s family had gone to Disney World for Christmas. They were probably hurtling down the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror that very second.

Leaving Trin stuck in this real-life version alone.

“Caitlin!” she cried into the phone, not willing to give up. “It’s me, Trin.” Feeling the eyes of the other patrons on her, she lowered her voice. “I’m…well, I’m at this diner. In some town in New Mexico.” God, she didn’t even know where she was. How could she expect her friend to help her? “I think I’m in trouble, Caitlin!” she confessed, her breath hitching. “And…well, I don’t have my cell anymore. But I’ll wait by the payphone, okay?” She read the number off the phone’s base in case it didn’t get picked up by her friend’s caller ID. “Call me as soon as you can!” she pleaded before reluctantly hanging up.

“You just here to make calls or you want breakfast too?” asked the blond, ponytailed waitress behind the counter. Her voice was gruff, but there was something kind in her brown eyes, which crinkled at the corners. Trin slunk over to one of the red-vinyl stools and took a seat. Reaching her grubby hand into her pocket, she pulled out a few random coins—all the money she had in the world after making her calls.

“Can I get a cup of coffee for this?” she asked. She wasn’t the biggest coffee lover in the world, but she was exhausted from her all-night ride.

The waitress—her nametag identified her as Mary—studied Trinity for a moment, then seemed to make up her mind. “Sure, honey,” she said, reaching under the counter to pull out a cracked ceramic mug with remnants of pink lipstick still clinging to the rim. “In fact, we’re running a Christmas special this morning. Buy one coffee, get eggs and toast free. And bacon too if you’d like it.”

“Hey, Mary, how come you ain’t told me about that special?” called the old trucker at the other end of the counter. The waitress shot him an amused look.

“Shut up and eat your oatmeal, Stu,” she scolded. “Your wife would skin me alive if I let you eat bacon and you know it.” She gave Trin a knowing look and Trin found she couldn’t help but smile back. The down-home normalness of it all was starting to help her relax. All the horror of the last twelve hours was beginning to feel like a bad dream. “Now, did you want those eggs scrambled or sunny side up?”

Trinity ordered scrambled, her empty stomach growling in anticipation, and Mary turned to the griddle to start preparing her breakfast. Sipping her coffee, she looked over at the pay phone, praying Caitlin would call her back soon. Not that she had any idea how her friend would be able to help her. Especially from inside the Magic Kingdom. How would she even be able to explain what was going on—when she didn’t even know for sure herself?

She closed her eyes, feeling defeated. What was she going to do?

“Are you sure you’re okay, hon?” Mary asked, coming over to refill her mug. “No offense, but you don’t look so good.”

Trin’s first instinct was to say she was fine. But something in Mary’s face made her change her mind. “There’s this guy,” she confessed, squirming in her seat and sneaking a peek out the window into the nearly empty parking lot. “He’s…well, I think he’s after me.” God, she sounded like a paranoid freak.

“A boyfriend of yours?”

Trin shook her head. “No. Just someone…I met.” She looked up at Mary. “I’m in trouble,” she confessed. “I’m far away from home. I don’t have any money and I’m afraid he’s going to find me.”

Mary frowned. “That’s it. I’m calling Sheriff Baker.” She walked over to the phone behind the counter. Trin wondered if she should try to stop her. After all, she was a wanted felon at this point. If the police figured out who she was, they were going to take her away. Though at the moment a jail cell seemed like a better alternative than running into Caleb again. At least she could keep the egg out of his hands. Connor had told her the government was the least of their problems, that the Dracken were the biggest threat.

Connor. Where was he now? Did he have her grandpa with him? If only she could figure out a way to get back to Old Oak Grove. She looked around at the other diners. Maybe one of the truckers was going her way and could give her a lift. Of course it was dangerous to just get in a truck with a stranger. But considering the alternative…

A flash of movement outside caught her attention. She turned, her eyes widening in horror as they fell upon none other than Caleb himself, striding purposely toward the diner, his right eye swollen into an ugly purple bruise from where the egg had hit him. She dove off her stool and straight to the bathroom, her throat closing, cutting off air. How had he found her so quickly? It was as if he’d known she’d be there somehow!