Page 6Planning lessons

The floor was not a nice way to wake up. It was cold, which wasn't too bad, but it was also very, very hard. Now, you'd think that after a year of sleeping in the ground, I wouldn't care. But the ground is surprisingly soft to sleep either on or in. Sand has this way of forming itself around your body if you dig yourself in and grass just feels nice and soft when you lay down on it. However, my mood wasn't too bad despite the temporary physical conditions because I had decided to leave town.

And I had a destination.

As I woke up, I felt I needed to be somewhere else entirely to find my own path again. And it made perfect sense where to go. Mareana. Besides my love of water, I hadn't been there for more than long enough to make it feel both like a new place again as well as somewhere I'd feel welcome. The was only one major obstacle in the way. Getting there.

By plane would be the fastest way. But buying a ticket was expensive and I'd have to find an evening flight, preferably something soon. All of which made it more expensive and more impossible for me. I had no money, at all, and nothing to sell. There were people I could ask for money but that felt not right. I wanted to be independent, free and self-sufficient. There was no way I knew of that would get me that amount of cash in such a short time without getting noticed.

By car was possible, if I remembered my geography well. It was doable in an evening even having a few hours to spare. But that presented two other irritating problems. I had no car and didn't know how to drive. Well, the latter was not completely true. My dad, surprising as it may seem, did teach me to drive a little. It wasn't enough to be safe, and unnoticed, on the roads though. But... That might be a lot easier to solve than the money thing. Getting a car was tougher though. I had no money to buy one and stealing one, while easier than stealing a plane, wasn't really on my wish-list either.

Those thoughts all raced through my head, asking for attention, while I got up. Soon after, however, I felt the hunger again, the thirst for blood. It was almost pleasant, like a feeling of glee just before the deed. The feeling of hunger, the need to hunt and the preparation for the hunt. And I had an interesting idea to combine two problems. It was a bit risky, but nothing that would bring me into trouble. I'd have to move fast though. Every minute wasted counted.

Well, alright, nothing as dramatic, but I felt like hurrying this along.

I left the building, making sure that I didn't forget my diary and pen, and...

I had no idea where to go.

There had to be many car-dealers in the city, but it wasn't something I usually payed attention to. So, I'd have to ask. It was still fairly early evening, but it was getting close to ten already. The downside of summer I suppose. But maybe I was lucky enough to find a shady car-dealer that would love to 'show a cute little girl like me how to drive, pretty please?' And of course it would be only polite to take his blood afterwards. I wouldn't steal that car then, because he would have seen me, but at the very least I would know how to drive by dawn.

It turned out to be a lot easier to find a willing car salesman than I expected initially.

Asking for directions was straight-forward enough. It was a bit of a walk towards the car-lot but as I arrived a dangerous smile started to play on my lips. The guy was perfect. He might have already closed up for the day, sitting in his office with a glass of, probably, something strong. He even had a sleazy little mustache that he probably thought made him look more handsome and trustworthy. It had the complete opposite effect on me. Perfect. The only thing I needed to do was try and be innocent and wanting. I wanted him to teach me, to learn me things so bad. Maybe even seduce him, give him the impression that he was the hunter and I was the prey. He would probably love it, revel in it and be completely off guard. I was loving it already.

So there I was, walking into the parking lot, between the many second-hand cars, with an innocent expression on my face, tight enough jeans and top and a bag in my hand. He noticed me soon enough. I walked into the parking lot towards his office and smiled kindly as I knocked on the window.

He opened and smiled at me. "Yes, can I help you?"

Definitely strong liquor on his breath.

"Well, I hope so. I want to buy a car but I'm not that good at driving it yet. Daddy told me I should come here because he always got a good deal here."

He looked at me through a gentle haze of alcohol and, as far as I could tell, liked what he saw. "Well, it's quite late already, you can come back tomorrow morning and I'll see what I can do."

I put on a sad face. "Aw, but I have to work for daddy during the day. I'm sure that if you'll teach me I can... help you a little?"

The grin on his face was priceless. This was the moment where he thought he had control and was the hunter. "Well, if you put it that, we'll start with some lessons, alright?"

"Sure!"

He walked to a car at the side of the lot and looked around if there was nothing amiss. The car itself was like all the cars in the lot, though maybe a little less washed. Maybe he expected police to follow me or something. When he was satisfied he held the door open for me and allowed me to get in. I got in and put my dairy in the door-pocked after he closed it. The seat-belt on my side was a little fiddly I had to put it in just right for it to work. I waited patiently for him to get into the other seat, fasten his seat-belt and hand me the key.

"Alright, do you know what the pedals are for?"

I nodded. "Gas right and break left, right?"

"Very good, let's start the car."

I took the key and slid it in easily. With just a little turn the car started. I was a little surprised to find how easy it started. From the lot and the outside I would have expected the car to be in a very bad state, especially engine-wise. But, it made some sort of crooked sense, as this wasn't a car he was selling, so he had a reason to keep it in good shape.

This was going to be fun.

Sometimes I do wonder if Amy has seen too many classic movies. I mean, sleazy mustache?