JP - On the Road

Alex yawned as he woke up, silently moving as he slowly untangled himself from Megan so not to disturb her. Checking his phone he got up and began to pack.

Megan woke up and even stretched out like a cat, yawning. This caused her claws to show off a little before she looked at Alex. “Morning already?” She asked him.

"Yeah how did you sleep?" He asked her as he packed up.

“Okay, I think,” Megan said and got out of bed. “I’m gonna go get my stuff.” Leaving the room, she would go to the room she shared with her cousin, sibling, and Joel. They would all pack up and head downstairs.

Colt would toss their stuff into the trunk of his mustang, now dressed properly in a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and his signature biker jacket. Kicking the tires gently with his boot-clad feet, he smiled and twirled his keys.

“I swear you’re obsessed with that thing.” Klaire said with an eyeroll as the kids got into the car she shared with James.

“It’s a cool car.” Piritta said, Ami and her large backpack on her shoulders and Cody’s bookbag tucked under one arm.

"I'm surprised Delilah has been able to fix it over and over again" Riley added.

“She’s not the one fixing it now.” Colt said. “I am.” He got in and started the mustang up, engine roaring happily.

Cody climbed into the van with River and Amber.

Tzeitel threw her bags in her car’s trunk and watched Colt worriedly before tossing Piritta her keys. Tzeitel slid into the Mustang’s passenger seat.

Megan and Annie looked at Tzeitel from the backseat. “Hi,” They said.

Colt turned and looked at Tzeitel before chuckling. “What? Bored of your own car already?” He teased.

“Hi.” Tzeitel greeted the catgirls. She shrugged at Colt. She was worried about him.

Piritta revved the engine of Tzeitel’s poor car. “Hei Riley! I bet I can drive faster than you!”

“Are you sure you want to let Piritta drive your car?” Colt asked, looking toward the car.

Tzeitel watched Ami get in Riley’s van with Cody. “Yeah, I’m sure it will be fine. Most of the luggage is replaceable and I was thinking about burning my file anyways.”

“Okaaaay then,” Colt shrugged and just waited for everyone else to get ready. “You think James is really gonna set this place on fi - never mind…”

James finally set the hotel on fire once they were all out, flipping the bitch at the front desk off with both hands before getting into his car.

“I can’t believe Klaire and James ever thought any of the rooms there were soundproof.” Tzeitel rolled her eyes.

“I think they figured it out the first night, but chose to complain today and got their money back…” Colt said with a chuckle as they all started to head out. “Where to next, by the way?”

“Not sure, I usually just follow Riley.” Tzeitel said, watching Piritta drive her car alongside Riley’s van.

Riley hopped into the van with others, driving away from the burning hotel "you know it's weird we're driving away from a burning hotel with James this time" he spoke looking out of the window.

“Why?” Ami asked, watching Piritta speed her sister’s car ahead of the van.

"Back in the day James was still working for Megacorp hunting us" Riley explained "we were taking a break at a hotel on our way to the Appalachians when we ran into him needless to say the whole hotel burned down but I got everyone out."

“Oh.” Ami said, watching her sister’s car disappear in the distance. “Does Piritta know where we’re going?”

Riley nodded "Yeah I texted her we're heading to a place that Lyle owns it's a cabin in the middle of nowhere, we're going to Lay low for a little bit before we break the others out of prison from there we're going to head towards Frisk."

As they drive Riley would get a text that would cause him to curse on his breath.

River looked at Riley. “What’s wrong?” She asked.

Riley handed river the phone so she could read it, it was obvious that he didn't want Ami finding out right now.

River swore under her breath, giving it back. “What are we going to do?” She asked.

"Text Klaire let her know about it and how we're going to have to have a meeting once we get to the cabin" Riley sighed.

River nodded and did so. After a moment she giggled. “Ami, remind me to have Klaire add some money to the swear jar.” She said and blinked when she glanced out the window. “Who’s that?” She asked, pointing toward a woman walking along the side of the road, which was empty at this point because they had chosen one of the long back roads to travel.

Riley looked out the window time seeming to freeze as he as looked at the woman. Eyes widening he pulled over and grabbed the gun from under his seat before stepping out of the van. "Don't move Loreen" he spoke aiming the gun at her.

Ami watched the grown ups passing the phone between themselves, she did not know what it was but she could tell they did not want her to know what was on the phone. “What’s going on?” She whispered to Cody, her eyes widening when Riley got out of the van with a gun.

“I’m not sure, but he said Loreen, so…something bad, maybe?” Cody replied as the woman stopped and turned back to them.

It was indeed Loreen, but her clothes were not the usual cute sweater and skirt with a labcoat, but a simple pair of pants and a t-shirt that MegaCorp gave her. The clothes were even torn up a bit as she stared at Riley and the gun, confusion written on her face. “What did you call me, sir?” She asked, blinking.

River just stared, noticing the confusion on Loreen’s face was genuine.

Riley stood there staring at her using his powers to enhance his observation and take in every detail of her, This was the same woman that had kidnapped River and made their lives living hell for months but she really didn't remember them "you don't remember things do you?"

“Before Loreen…” Ami watched the exchange outside.

“What am I supposed to remember?” She asked and coughed a bit, rubbing at some pain in her side. “Did I…do something?” She tilted her head, trying to remember as her matted hair flopped about behind her.

Cody watched as well.

Riley sighed as he lowered his gun, This was not the butcher that he had spent months fighting, she was somebody who needed help. "That doesn't matter right now are you hurt I've got a first aid kit.

“Uhm…I don’t know…my side hurts…” Loreen attempted to pull the fabric of her shirt away from her side, but it seemed stuck. There was a very dark stain along the fabric as well.

River poked her head out the window. “What’s going on, Riley?!” She called.

"We'll discuss it once we get to the cabin" Riley replied approaching Loreen and guiding her to the van "in the meantime I need you to look at her side she's injured."

River nodded and got to work on Loreen, having to be very careful as she did so. “Jesus, who did this…?” She whispered.

"How is she?" He asked climbing back in and driving.

“Well, it’s going to take a bit to get the fabric to separate from her skin. I’m slowly soaking it in a plant salve to help loosen it. Almost looks like a giant bite of some kind…from what, I don’t know.” River explained.

“Did something bite me?” Loreen asked, a little hazy now. That salve was making her a bit sleepy.

"Just try to get some rest for now we can figure things out later" Riley replied.