An older woman with gray-streaked red hair was staring intently at her. "I'm sorry -- did you say something?" she asked, tucking the headphones into the pocket of her jacket.
"Will you walk with me to my car once we get there?" the woman asked.
"Your car?"
"Yes, my car -- if you have a problem with strangers, I completely understand. My name is Abigail Motley. I would've never taken the bus this late, but I was visiting my nephew in Maryland and missed the earlier one -- his damn girlfriend, oh pardon my language, but his damn girlfriend insisted on stopping at Chik-Fil-A on the way to drop me off and now I'm late and..." The woman pursed her lips and shook her head. She seemed disturbed by this entire situation. "I'm sorry, dear -- what was your name?"
"Renna."
"That's an odd name."
Renna smiled. It wasn't the first time she'd heard that before. "My mother likes coming up with her own names. A quirk."
"Are you British, dear?"
"No, South African."
Abigail nodded. A bit of silence passed before she turned back to Renna once more. "So, would you walk me to my car? It's too late to be out alone, not in this city, not anymore." Emotion wiggled in the woman's voice. It made Renna want to hug her.
"All cities can be dangerous at night. I'd be happy to--"
"Not like this city," Abigail cut in. "I aim to move just as soon as I can pay off this damn -- pardon my language but -- this damn mortgage."
A shadow crossed Renna's eyes. A dangerous city. She should have guessed it. The thought made her heart jump in her chest. Danger was not something that she ever sought out, but there was a reason that she had to come to Destiny City, a reason that was greater than her fear of risk-taking and adventure.
When the bus arrived at the station, Renna helped Abigail with her bag and then crossed the street over to a parking lot where her car was waiting. They spoke briefly, but it was evident that Abigail wanted to get out of there. "Are you sure I can't give you a ride, honey? It's too late for someone your age -- hell, any age -- to be out in these streets." She had been trying to persuade Renna to take the ride for the past five minutes.
Renna shook her head. "No, really, it's okay. I'm staying nearby." Abigail held her gaze for a long time and then finally nodded. The pair said goodbye, and then Renna was alone again, watching the taillights of the woman's car disappear down another road.
It was only 10PM, but the intersection was not nearly as busy as it should have been. Taking in a deep breath, Renna fought to still the trembling in her fingers. She had come here because there was no other choice. The police weren't taking her seriously. Her mother and aunt had already cried out all their frustration, writing it off as "nothing to be worried about." But worrying was what Renna did.
Crossing to the nearest lightpost, Renna fished into the packet of papers she had been holding since she set foot on the bus in Baltimore. She pulled out a paper, held it to the pole, and then quickly taped it with her other hand. In the flickering light, it was difficult to read the sign, but by morning, Renna prayed someone would see her flyer and reach out.
Eden's flat eyes stared back at her from the printed page. One last time, Renna checked that her phone number had printed correctly on the series of tiny cut strips flapping in the wind at the bottom of the flyer. "I'll find you, cousin," she said to herself. "No matter what mess you've gotten yourself into this time." Eden might fall out of contact with some members of his family, but he always made time for Renna.
Or at least, he had.
With a sharp nod, Renna jogged back across the street and off toward the subway. No one was looking for her cousin, and so Renna Maddox had come to Destiny City to find him herself. It was only a matter of time.
