“Do you, by any chance, know of a town somewhere around here? In the mountains?”
“You would have to be more specific. There are a few towns that meet that description."
I look around at the few other customers, but they’re all older folks, who seem to be minding their own business. “A town for... ah, for people like me.”
“Homeless?” She gives me a playful smile.
I snort a laugh. “No. Omega.”
Her face softens, and she watches me for a long moment.
“I knew it was too good to be true.” I sigh in defeat when she doesn’t answer me, looking out the window to watch the few passing cars.
When I turn back, she’s gone.
Fuck. Maybe I can ask around. Someone else might know something, right?
I’m standing up, ready to leave when she comes back. “Here’s your receipt.”
“Oh.” I blink down at her. “It’s okay, I don’t need it.”
“Take it anyways,” she insists.
My brows furrow, and I look down at the piece of paper. Turning it over, I see an address. No, more like coordinates.
“If you see a dead-end sign, don’t believe it.” She winks. “Good luck.”
“Thanks.” I’m a little dazed and confused as I head out to my car.
I enter the coordinates into the GPS, and it drops a pin on a place an hour north of here.
Looking out the window up at the massive mountains in front of me, I smile, a new excitement and renewed hope bubbling inside.
“There’s the sign,” I say, looking at the small sign at the beginning of what looks like an old logger's road. It says dead end, and I can see why.
If this road did go anywhere, it wouldn’t be far. It’s nothing but steep mountains. There’s no way anything could get past there.
“Can’t hurt,” I mutter, turning onto the road.
The rocks make it bumpy, and I start to worry that my shitty car isn’t going to make it.
With each bounce and groan of the car, I start to sweat. “No, no, no.” I groan as the dread hits me. “Not here. Not now. Just hold out a little longer!” I shout as my engine starts to sputter. “Goddamn it,” I hiss, carefully moving the car to the side of the road and turning off the engine as smoke starts to pour out from under the hood.
“Shit.” I lean my head back against the headrest, closing my eyes.
I could get out of the car and check to see if I can fix it myself, but I know fuck all about cars, which is how it got this bad in the first place.
Still, I get out of the car and run my hands through my hair in frustration. It’s about... maybe an hour walk back to the main road. I can do that.
But do I want to leave my car unattended?
I look down the road and squint. Maybe this is the wrong road. I can’t see shit through all that dense foliage.
It’s not like my car would have been able to get over that hill anyway.
Checking my phone, I look to see if I have any service. Just my luck, not a single bar.
“Not gonna get anything out here. You’re right in the thick of a dead zone,” a deep, gruff voice says, making me jump and scream so loud that I sound like a little girl.
