Page 36 of Rum and Roses
I made my way to the doorway of the garage, standing there for a moment. I pulled a box of matches from my pocket. Lighting a singular match, I flicked it inside. Watching the flames begin to engulf the house, I pulled the door closed, locking it before climbing into the driver's seat of my truck.
“Ready?” I asked Rosalie, putting my seatbelt on.
She was hugging her teddy bear she loved so much, hesitantly nodding. “Ready.”
I reached out, patting her head a few times. My hand slid to her cheek, cupping it. “That’s my girl. How about you pick out what we listen to?” I asked, gesturing to the radio. I turned the truck on, shifted the gear and put the garage door back down before pulling out of the driveway. The house was already burning, and far quicker than expected. Good. My eyes drifted to the clock, knowing twenty to thirty minutes would pass at minimum before anyone would come. That was more than enough time. If Uncle Joe didn’t burn to death, he certainly would suffocate from the smoke.
Either way, Uncle Joe was a dead man.
Rosalie shifted through the radio channels until she found one she really liked.
I reached over, grabbing her hand. I kissed her knuckles as I drove us out of this shitty ass town once and for all.
This was the start of our beginning, and the smile on her face was worth it. All of it.
24
Rosalie
The engine rumbled steadily beneath us as we cruised down the highway. The landscape was a blur of greens, browns, and occasional bursts of vibrant wildflowers. We had been on the road most of the day, but it was so mesmerizing just looking out the window. I couldn’t remember the last time I had seen the sun, given how long I was in Silas’s basement. It was nice, freeing. I felt so alive. I leaned back in my seat, a lazy smile spread across my face while classical music played from the speakers. I really was happy, and I had Silas to thank for that.
Just like Silas said, everything was going to be okay.
“Vegas, baby!” Silas shouted, his eyes filled with excitement.
I almost couldn’t believe this was real, but Silas had always been a man of his word. “We still have a few hours left… more than a few,” I replied, peering at the GPS on his phone showing five and a half hours until we reached our destination.
We were so close, yet so far.
“True, but every minute I’m driving is another minute closer to our destination, my love.” Silas grinned. His eyes drifted to the billboards we were passing. “How about we stop? Grab a snack, stretch our legs.”
I nodded. “That sounds like a great idea.”
Silas pulled into the gas station. It was old and rundown, but that checked out given we were in the middle of nowhere. The paint was peeling from the walls, and since the sun was going to go down soon, the flickering fluorescent lights buzzed overhead. It was almost eerie. I stepped closer to Silas as I got out of the car. The smell of gas and stale coffee filled my nose.
Yuck.
I stayed close to Silas, holding his hand only to part ways to go to the bathroom while he headed for the snack aisle. I was quick with my business before returning to his side.
The place was filled with an odd assortment of items: dusty souvenirs, an array of energy drinks, all sorts of things. My brow furrowed, noticing something by the entrance. A small kitten huddled against the wall. Its small frame shook as it stared at me with wide, terrified eyes. It was pathetic—dirty, a bit dusty, and certainly in need of care. She had big blue eyes, and while I wasn’t a cat expert, she looked like a mix of a Siamese and a tabby, if I had to guess.
“Hi there, little baby,” I cooed softly.
Oh my gosh, I love her. She’s the cutest thing ever, awww!
The kitten blinked at me before inching closer. I couldn’t help myself, scooping her up, I cradled her against my chest. She was warm, and oh so very soft.
“Rosalie,” Silas called out, approaching me with a basket full of food, snacks, and drinks. His smile faded when he saw the kitten in my arms. “What do you have there?”
“It’s a kitten. I found her. Can we keep her, please?”
Please, please, please say yes.
“Are you serious?” He lowered his basket and approached both the kitten and I. “You want to keep it?”
I nodded. “Mhm. I want to name her Socks. Look at her little paws—it looks like she is wearing little socks.”
“How can I say no to you?” Silas replied, kissing my forehead. He then reached for the kitten, giving her a few chin scratches. “Ugh… fine. Let me go look for cat supplies while I’m at it, then we can hit the road. I'm sure they have something here for her.That thing needs a bath, though.”
