Chapter 4 04

Norah's tired eyes scanned the road ahead, each mile bringing her closer to Bellvale, her mind growing more and more desperate for a place to rest. The road seemed endless, the rain relentlessly pelting against the windshield, blurring her vision. She hadn't realized how drained she'd been, how much she craved even the simplest comforts, like a hot meal and the luxury of a proper bed. The thought of lying down in a clean, dry space seemed almost surreal after the long hours of driving, but the excitement was marred by a faint sense of unease.

She wasn't quite sure if it was the exhaustion or something more primal-the feeling of being alone in the world, of having nowhere to call home.

She let out a sigh and turned the stereo dial up, the familiar strains of The Kinks filling the car, offering a sense of nostalgia she didn't know she needed. Singing softly under her breath, Norah closed her eyes for just a moment, letting herself drift with the music, the hum of the engine, and the rhythm of the rain. She didn't even notice the figure at first-a young woman walking along the side of the road, her silhouette barely visible in the downpour. It wasn't until Norah's eyes caught a flash of movement in her peripheral vision that she realized the girl was there.

For a brief moment, Norah's heart skipped a beat, her instinct telling her to just keep driving. But there was something about the girl, something in the way she walked, the way she seemed so out of place in the storm, that made Norah's foot hesitate over the accelerator. She glanced in the rearview mirror and saw the figure of the girl growing smaller as she passed by, but something inside her pushed her to stop. She didn't know why. It was silly, really-she was so close to the bed that was calling her name, the bed that promised rest and warmth. But then again, she would never be able to sleep if she didn't at least see if the girl needed help. Her eyes flickered to the side, checking the road behind her. The rain hadn't let up, the streets still eerily empty. With a heavy sigh, she checked the mirror once more and did a U-turn.

It was the right thing to do, she told herself, as her car turned back toward the girl. The rain had soaked her to the bone, and if Norah could offer her shelter, even for a short time, it would be the least she could do. She glanced at the passenger seat, her fingers curling around the handle of the knife she'd left there. She'd been keeping it nearby for protection-it wasn't that she thought she'd need it, but the world had a way of surprising people. She tucked it under the seat, out of sight. She'd make sure the girl didn't feel threatened. The last thing she needed was someone thinking she had bad intentions.

Pulling up next to the girl, Norah rolled the window down. The cold air rushed in, sending a shiver through her bones, but she didn't care. She had to ask. "Uh, hi. Can I give you a lift somewhere?" Her voice sounded almost too bright, too forced, as if she was trying to sound more casual than she felt. The girl hesitated, her gaze flicking from the car to Norah's face, uncertain.

"Where are you heading?" The girl's voice was wary, guarded, as though she'd been asked that question a thousand times before, each one from someone she didn't trust.

"Bellvale," Norah said with a soft smile, trying to reassure her. "I'm just headed there, passing through. I can drop you off wherever you need."

The girl paused, considering the offer. Norah gave her a smile, trying to make it as friendly as possible. "If you don't feel safe, I understand. I can give you an umbrella instead?" she added, her voice a little lighter, though she wasn't sure what she expected to happen. She fumbled for the umbrella in the backseat, but the girl was already moving closer, her footsteps heavy on the wet pavement.

With a quick motion, the door opened and the girl slipped inside, her drenched clothes leaving wet streaks on the seat. Norah couldn't help but chuckle as the girl settled into the car. "It's okay, I'll accept the ride. You don't scream 'highway murderer' to me."

A laugh escaped Norah's lips as she relaxed a little, feeling the tension slip away. "Good to know. I prefer back roads with less traffic when I do my murdering," she said with a wink, trying to make light of the situation.

The girl grinned, rubbing the rain from her hair. "Thank God we didn't meet on the back roads then," she said, her voice warm with the faintest hint of humor. "I'm Olivia Montoya, by the way."

"Norah Jacobs," Norah replied, her tone softening as she turned her attention back to the road. She couldn't help but feel a little more at ease. Something about Olivia seemed genuine, despite the uncertainty in her voice when she first spoke.

"Thank you for stopping, Norah," Olivia said, her eyes meeting Norah's with an almost grateful intensity. "Most people don't stop for strangers around here, especially at this time of night."

Norah pulled onto the road again, the car's engine humming steadily as the heat kicked in, filling the car with a warmth that made her relax just a little more. "I guess I'm not most people," she said, her gaze flicking over to Olivia. "What were you doing walking out here at this time of night?"

"This time of night? It's only eight," Olivia grinned, wiping her face with a towel Norah had handed her. "Well, I was out here with Rylan, my brother's friend. He had to pick up something from the mill, and I went along for company. So, anyway, we're at the mill, and he gets a call from this girl he's been seeing. Poof! Just like that, he up and leaves while I'm out answering nature's call. Stupid jerk."

"So he isn't your boyfriend then?" Norah asked, raising an eyebrow.

Olivia let out a sharp laugh. "God, no. If I had a dollar for every time he said he was going to be somewhere and then bailed, I'd be a millionaire by now. No, he's just a guy my brother knows. But it's fine, I wasn't planning on staying at the mill anyway. I just thought it would be nice to have someone around while I waited." She paused, her eyes wandering to the window as the rain continued to pour. "But people are funny, you know? They'll say one thing and do another. He was all excited to hang out, and then he gets distracted by some girl."

Norah gave a small, sympathetic nod. "Yeah, I get that. People can be... unpredictable."

"Exactly," Olivia agreed, shifting in her seat, trying to get more comfortable as the car sped down the road. "It's just annoying. But hey, here I am, with a nice stranger offering me a ride. Could be worse."

Norah smiled at the thought. "Could definitely be worse."

As the car sped along the wet highway, the two women fell into a comfortable silence, the occasional hum of the tires on the wet pavement filling the air. It wasn't much, but for the moment, it felt like a small piece of peace in a world that had seemed too loud and too fast, a chance for two strangers to share a brief moment of connection amidst the chaos.