New Roots

Rayna stripped her loud, red hair back to her natural brown, deleted every social media account, and vanished. Driving in her beat-up sedan across state lines she finally pulled off the road. Down a shallow ditch there was a river flowing by, dark and fast. Rayna reached into her purse, grabbed her phone, and chucked it into the river.

This was not fueled by angst—it was survival. Someone had once sworn, they’d find her again.

She watched the phone plop into the water sending droplets into the air. A bitter cold wind cut across her face sending shivers down her spine. His words haunted her in her dreams, a promise not made of love but obsession…or something far worse.

All she knew was that she needed to become someone new—someone he would never recognize.

Rayna leaned against the side of her car, she pulled out a cigarette, putting it between her lips. The click of the lighter and smell of smoke drifted her back to old memories.

The apartment always reeked of stale cigar smoke. Crushed beer cans littered the floor, and the broken blinds let in scattered light. Dusty shelves and stained carpets were the silent witnesses of forgotten arguments and abandoned dreams. This night would be no different. Rayna was sitting on the lumpy couch, a book in her hand, she hadn’t read in years. Her smile faded as she heard the click of the front door being unlocked. He was home.

“What are you doing?” he scoffed.

“Reading, this book is re—” he cut her off mid-sentence as he stalked towards her grabbing her book out of her hand. He flipped the book to see the cover then hurled it at the wall. The spine cracked and pages drifted to the floor.

“What the hell Ryan?” Rayna yelled. This was the final straw.

“I told you I didn’t like you reading those romance books,” his words escaping through clenched teeth.

“Ryan, it’s a book. Its fiction,” exasperated, Rayna made to retreat to the bedroom.

Ryan seized her wrist, tight.

“I wasn’t done talking.”

“Well, I am. This argument is ridiculous. I’m done Ryan I can’t do this anymore,” the desperation in Rayna’s voice made even herself feel pitiful for her circumstances.

His grip tightened; his knuckles white. This wouldn’t be the first time he would leave bruises on her body. But it would be the last time, Rayne decided silently.

She leaned into him surprising him and then with all her strength she pushed him to the floor. She grabbed her purse off the counter then bolted through the door. She raced down the three flights of stairs as Ryan followed. Insults echoed off the walls as he chased her gaining on her. She finally made it to the bottom floor and flung her body at the door. The cold rush of wind starved her of oxygen for a second before she searched for her car parked somewhere on the street.

“Rayna!” Ryan was close.

Rayna found her car, pressing unlock, and looked back to see he was three feet away. His arms were outreached ready to take her back to the nightmare she had been living for three years. Just as his hands grazed her back, she was able to get into her car and lock the doors.

He banged on the glass as Rayna stared at him a mixture of sadness and fear twisting in her insides.

“I will find you again Rayna. There is no escaping me,” his fist slammed against the window once more before Rayna gunned it out of there not stopping until she was miles away from him.

Wind rustled her hair, a gentle reminder that she was free—for now. Her cigarette had burned to the filter. She rubbed her wrist where a hand sized bruise still showed. She tossed the cigarette then got back in the car. Five hundred miles from Pittsburgh, with a long way still ahead. She was heading to Montana.

Day turned to night as Rayna drove past the Montana state line. She pulled off an exit ramp into a small town and pulled into a lot of a nondescript motel. No one would ask questions for this was a place people with secrets found solace.

She stepped into the lobby, the door jingling with bells alerting the man behind the desk. Her eyes watered as she adjusted to the bright, fluorescent lights overhead. “Need a room?” a brusque voice jolted Rayna’s nerves as she stepped closer to the desk. The man put down the newspaper he was reading to help Rayna.

“Yeah, just one night,” Rayna fidgeted with her fingers.

“Name?”

She hesitated. She couldn’t use her real name; Ryan would be looking for her.

“Anna,” she whispered, “Anna Reed.”

He nodded, not paying any mind to her shaking hands as she slipped sixty dollars across the desk. He handed her a key and the transaction was over.

Rayna opened the door to room eight and the scent of bleach and mildew overpowered her senses. She walked into the room and put her bag on the bed. She made sure the door was locked then collapsed on the bed. The weight of the past day pressed in on her but as she released a sigh, relief calmed her. The quiet hum of the air conditioning lulled Rayna into a deep sleep.

She awoke to a car door slamming outside of her room. It was still pitch black outside so she wasn’t asleep long.

Heavy footsteps crunched closer, stopping right outside her door. Rayna’s heart began to race. Her eyes stayed glued to the door.

Three heavy knocks rattled the door.

“I know you’re in there Rayna.”

Her blood turned to ice. It was him.

Rayna crouched by the bed; paralyzed. The doorknob slowly turned before the door swung open.

“I’m not going to hurt you, I just want to talk,” Ryan’s tender voice held menace.

Rayna’s gaze flicked from Ryan to the door judging the distance. Could she make it past him? She didn’t have much choice.

She shifted her feet as she prepared to bolt. His footsteps grew close, the tip of his boot was now in Rayna’s sight. She bolted.

“Not so fast,” Ryan smirked then lunged for her. His hand gripped the back of her shirt, pushing her to the floor with a thud.

Rayna swallowed a lump of fear as Ryan crouched getting into her face. He brushed a strand of hair from her face then raised his hand.

Rayna screamed—

Sweat soaked clothes clung to her as she jolted awake.

Her breath came in shallow bursts as she scanned the room, her eyes landing on the door. It was just a horrible nightmare, she convinced herself. It felt too real though. She shouldn’t stay here too long. Just before the sun rises, she’ll be out of here and in a new town.

As promised, the sun kissed the sky, and Rayna had already packed up and left the dingy motel behind. She drove for a hours before eventually landing in a quiet, quaint town nestled beneath snow-capped mountains. She only had two hundred dollars left but if she could find a job and a place to sleep, she would be okay. She was free now.

She pulled into a small, nicer looking motel and was greeted by an older woman at the front desk.

“How can I help you sweetie?” her country accent told Rayna she was also far from home.

“Uh, just one night please,” Rayna felt oddly comforted by this woman whose nametag read Sandra.

“You got it. That will be one sixty-five,” Sandra smiled showing off her bright red lipstick in contrast with her yellowing teeth.

Rayna sighed. That would leave her with just thirty bucks. Reluctantly, she pulled out the cash and slid it across the desk.

“Alright, here’s your key. Holler if you need anything.”

Rayna nodded and headed to her room. When she opened the door she was greeted with the scent of clean laundry and lemon. The room was simple but spotless. She didn’t need much—just a safe place to rest her head.

Now she needed to find a job.

She stepped back outside and followed the sidewalk into town. There were a couple of cute boutiques, a café, hardware store and a bookstore. Rayna walked past the displays in the store windows before she landed outside of the tiny bookstore. On display there were the latest books, a poster promoting a local author's book signing, and a “Help Wanted” sign. Rayna’s grim frown softened into a hopeful smile. She pulled the door open and stepped inside.

The smell of books was intoxicating. All the different genres, covers, and sizes. Rayna’s hand brushed the spines as she walked further into the store. Lost in the shelves, she walked right into someone.

“I-I’m sorry,” Rayna’s voice was no louder than a mouse.

The man turned around revealing a kind smile with white teeth beneath soft lips. “You’re quite alright miss. Can I help you find anything?” His voice was soothing, calm. His wavy brown hair hung a bit in his hazel eyes as he looked at her.

“Um,” Rayna stuttered, fearful and curious of the man before her, “I was actually looking for a job.” Rayna’s fingers picked at her skin as she looked down at her feet.

“Perfect! Name’s Joel,” Joel stuck his hand out and Rayna flinched. “Oh, I’m sorry. I get a bit excited.” Joel stuffed his hands into his pockets and walked Rayna to the back of the store where the office was.

“If you just want to fill out this W-2 we can get you started today,” Joel’s smile unnerved Rayna. She took the paper from his hand and looked at it briefly.

“Do you think we could do this without me filling this out? I’m just—” Rayna set the paper down and willed her eyes not to cry.

Joel’s face twisted into confusion and walked towards Rayna with a tissue in hand. “Hey,” his hazel eyes held no ill intent only concern. “I want to help you. So yes, we can do this under the table just—don’t tell anyone, especially Greg.” Joel’s eyes darted to an older man wearing a bedazzled blazer and designer bespoke glasses.

Rayna bit the inside of her cheek, then smiled softly. “Thank you,” she whispered. She looked at Joel. At Greg. At the rows of books and the sunlit mountains beyond the windows. And for the first time in a long time, she took a deep breath — steady, unafraid. This is where she belongs.