Luke's Dream Read Online Free PDF

to stay the
night, she’d be on her own. They separated the men and the women
and kept watch all night.
    “Thank you for helping today,” Bob said,
after closing the slider that they used to serve food. “The three
of us will finish cleaning up and call it a night. Will we see you
tomorrow?”
    “Yeah, I think so.”
    I really had no idea how long Bethony planned
to stay here.
    * * * *
    She stayed two nights. Just as I was walking
toward the door on the third morning, she walked out with her bag
over her shoulder.
    Her scent tickled my nose. The chemicals were
still absent, but she reeked of panic and fear. None of it showed
on her face or in the way she moved. On the outside, she looked as
tired as I felt.
    I followed her as she started heading toward
the original hotel we’d used. It was close to the bus stop, which
was no doubt her destination. Thankfully, I’d parked my bike in the
hotel parking lot. The room I’d rented for the last two days had
less than an hour’s use when I showered and changed each night. The
rest of my time I’d spent helping in the shelter to keep an eye on
her or on the roof of the building across the street from the
shelter. It was the only place I could watch and listen for her
without someone noticing me.
    We’d progressed several blocks when she
stopped at a convenience store. I wasn’t surprised to see her
reemerge with one caffeinated drink to her lips and an unopened one
in her other hand. Her throat moved with each long swallow. My
mouth watered, and I stuffed my hands into my front pockets as I
followed her. She finished the first one and started on the second
before she was a block from the bus stop.
    When we’d almost reached the bus stop, I fell
back and crossed the busy street at a light. While she sat on the
black bench to wait for the next bus, I jogged around the block and
grabbed my bag and bike from the hotel.
    By the time I idled at the curb, the bus had
arrived and she had boarded. My eyes felt dry and gritty. I needed
sleep and hoped the bus wouldn’t be going too far. As it pulled
away, I nudged the throttle and merged with traffic to follow.
    The wind in my face kept me awake as I drove
for the next several hours. The cool temperature warmed, but only
slightly. Any human on a motorcycle would have needed gloves to
maintain feeling while on the bike.
    When the bus slowed for a middle-of-nowhere
town, I passed it. The motorcycle would be too loud and obvious to
try to park behind it. Instead, I turned down one of the side
roads, pulled over, and cut the engine. Ahead, an iron and wood
bridge bisected the rough road. Despite the trek looking seldom
traveled, I got off the bike and pushed it into the trees, parking
behind some leafless bushes tangled with barren vines. The dense
undergrowth hid the dark bike while I considered Bethony’s next
move.
    The town hadn’t been more than a few
buildings. There wasn’t anywhere for her to stay, which meant
another bus or hitching a ride.
    The soft crunch of gravel reached my ears. I
cocked my head and listened. Someone was coming my way on foot. I
crouched behind the bike and waited as the sound drew closer and
passed me. Carefully, I stood and eased out from behind my
cover.
    Bethony was walking the shoulder of the road.
Plodding steps conveyed her exhaustion. Why would she walk when she
was so tired? I silently followed, keeping to the trees.
    When she’d almost reached the bridge, she
paused and looked over her shoulder. Safely in the shadow of a
tree, I stilled. I doubted she’d heard me. Yet, why had she looked
back? After a moment, she started forward again, but veered off the
road. I listened to her climb down the embankment by the bridge.
Then, everything quieted. Torn, I remained were I was. Was she
listening for signs of being followed or was she escaping on a
hidden trail?
    I shook my head, denying the thought as soon
as I had it. She was human and couldn’t possibly sneak away from
me. A quiet human was as