Hiding

Mary pov

I have been hiding out in this shelter for 3 days now. No sign of the man that turned into some sort of monster. I have spent the last few days trying to figure it out. My instincts about people are usually bang on, but my instincts were telling me I was safe with that man when clearly that wasn’t the case.

Now I am not sure if I can trust myself to know who’s good or bad, and living on the streets on the run that is a very important ability to have.

“Why did I ever go into that restaurant “ I mumble to myself not for the first time.

“Mary, if you plan to stay another night you need to join group” Kristen says. Kristen is the head of the shelter and has it in her head that if we as a group talk about our lives and problems we can get past them and make better lives for ourselves.. sure like that’s gonna work. I roll my eyes and get up to follow her to group, after all it isn’t like I have anywhere else I can go tonight.

“Ok ladies and gentlemen, today I want some new voices to be heard…. James let’s start with you, tell us about you, what got you here, what can we do to help you improve your situation…”

Kristen rambles on for a few minutes as I tune her out… she means well and all but she really has no clue.

“Umm okay” James says finally. He is maybe 17 looks like he has been addicted to drugs for at least a few years. He is underweight, has clear track marks, is nervous and twitchy and I can tell he wants to do this about as much as I do.

“Umm I guess I come from LA, umm life was okay until mom died in a car wreck…… ummm my grandma didn’t want me so I ended up in the system. Ummm some shit happened “

“Language please James” Kristen interrupts,

“Huh? Oh yeah sorry, umm some stuff happened and well I figured it was easier to go my own way than deal with that umm stuff anymore and well you know, life on the streets is what it is, you do what you gotta do to survive…and here I am.” James awkwardly looks around the room before looking back at the floor embarrassed and uncomfortable.

We all knew what life on the streets was like for most kids. Prostitution, drugs, sleeping on park bench’s or in alleys… getting mugged and assaulted, cold, hungry lonely. There was nothing glamorous or fun about it.

“Mary, you’re up” Kristen says in her forever perky tone.

“Umm can I pass?” I really don’t want to talk about my past… like at all.

“If you want to stay, you have to talk it out” Kristen says calmly.

Another eye roll from me, “fine; I was born around here I think… my mom died when I was a baby, never knew my dad……in the system since mom died I was like I don’t know 2 maybe 3. I almost got adopted a few times but always ended up getting sent back. One of my foster parents said it’s cause I am a freak, not sure why but I guess maybe she was right because clearly no one wanted me for long.”

Kristen nods her head signalling me to continue.

“Ugh umm after about 15 foster homes, none of them any good by the way, I decided to do it on my own… I panhandle for money and sleep in shelters when I can. Can’t wait till I am 18 so I can stop running from social services and just find a job and a place of my own. That’s it.”

Kristen smiles gently “thank you for sharing.”

A few more people get forced to share before Kristen decides it’s enough for the day.

After group it is dinner time. We eat and head to our beds (there are literally 40 bunk beds crammed into this old gym) no privacy, but it’s a bed and it’s warm so can’t complain.

I am just rolling over to go to sleep when I hear people banging on the main door. (Kristen locks the door after dinner so we don’t end up with too many people in here.)

“Excuse me miss” I hear a man at the door say to Kristen as she investigates who is knocking.

“Yes can I help you? I am sorry but we are already full for tonight” Kristen says kindly “ if you need shelter maybe try down on 5th they might have some room.”

“No, no ma’am” the man at the door continues “my name is Greg and I am looking for someone.”

“Excuse me? What do you mean you are looking for someone? Are you the police? Social services? Do you have a warrant to come in here?” Kristen is now nervous and worried for the kids she has staying here. I can hear the worry clear as day in her voice so I know I still have it, so why was I so wrong the other night?

Oh did I forget to mention that one of my strange things people didn’t like about me was my ability to accurately read their feelings and intentions without them saying a word? Been able to do it since I was little, not sure why… also not sure why I am so much faster than everyone else, or stronger, or able to get hurt and heal almost instantly… guess maybe I am a freak…

“No maam” the guy at the door says patiently,” the girl I am looking for is family and she is lost… I am just looking to find her so she can come back home. We are really worried.” The man says.

And just like that the warning bells start going off in my head the man is lying, I can feel it… he is looking for a girl that much is true, but he isn’t her family…. His intentions don’t seem to be bad, but then why lie? I Hope Kristen keeps him out because I want nothing to do with this man at the door.

“I am sorry, I don’t give out information about my residents,” Kristen says “if you tell me her name and leave me your name and number I will let her know you are looking for her if I see her.”

“Miss I am sorry.” This is a new voice… but a voice I recognize. It is the voice of the man from the other night… oh no is he looking for me? Is he afraid I will go to the police and he wants to get rid of me?

“Look, my friend here is telling a bit of a fib you see the other night I ran into this young woman in an alley and there were some men after her… well umm I helped her get away from them but I fear I may have scared her off in the process and I am very worried about her. Please help me find her.” The man pleads with Kristen.

I find my self shaking and crying. I can feel the concern from this man… he seems to really be worried, but I saw what he did, I saw what he became…. He is clearly dangerous and somehow messing with my abilities… if Kristen makes him stay out I will have to find a new hiding place tomorrow. This one isn’t safe anymore.

“Look sir, I am sorry for your situation, but it is my job to keep my kids safe and I can’t do that by giving out their information. Please understand and be on your way.” With that Kristen shut the door and locked it.

I heard the men walking away and heard a car start and drive away, but I spent the rest of the night sitting up on edge waiting for them to come back.