This chapter contains real places. All uses of them and associated names in this chapter are used purely for fictional purposes. Any relevance to any real world persons or events is strictly coincidence.
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READ FIRST!
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This chapter contains depictions of emotional trauma that may affect certain readers. The events described are purely fictional but may trigger a reaction in those who have experienced similar circumstances.
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I powered through this chapter in a single night of writing, so I hope you enjoy it. This is by far the hardest chapter for this story I will have to write, and you will soon see why.
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If they hadn't been so hungry, the food would've been completely forgotten in this sudden revelation. Rose had remembered a very crucial piece of her past, one that could possibly lead them to discovering who she really was. The both of them had scarfed down their plates and had brought out the laptop to pull up a map.
It took her a few minutes, but she eventually saw a road pattern she recognized, and she found the town a few seconds later.
"There. That's the place."
She was pointing to a small little town that was hardly more than a few houses. There was barely anything there, aside from the post office, a single church, and a tiny local grocery store.
"Centerville, Ohio" Danny said as he read over her shoulder.
"Population just barely over 100, and surrounded by farms and a few small forests. Might explain your love of the outdoors. Do you remember where you lived?
She nodded and scrolled a little to the left and up. She pointed to a small bit of trees just on the north side of the highway. There was a small break in the trees in the image, and a roof was only just barely visible. Danny nodded and then swung the laptop to face him, and he punched in his address to get directions. When it popped up the time, it also showed tolls, so he switched those off in the options to avoid them. It thought for a second, and then popped up a route that avoided tolls. Danny let out a low whistle.
"Over 13 hours counting fuel, restroom, and food stops. That is going to be a long trip indeed."
He clicked on the 'HOTELS' button at the top of the screen, then looked for ones along their route that were close to the town.
"Hmm, looks like the closest ones not out of our way are here, in Chillicothe. It's roughly an hour away, and no major hotels either. Should be able to keep a low profile and not draw any attention, especially if we check in later in the evening."
He turned and looked at Rose, who looked determined. This was the first actual critical piece of info she had remembered, and she was adamant that they go there and see what she could remember. At worst, it would be a nice road trip, but she was hoping to learn who she really was, and maybe why she couldn't remember anything.
"So... tomorrow morning?" Danny asked her.
He already knew the answer, but wanted to ask her anyway. Rose sharply nodded her head.
"Yes. Tomorrow morning."
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The sun was barely even a glimmer on the horizon when they left. The antics of the previous day had proven to be greater than her excitement, and so Rose had fallen asleep faster than she normally would have. Once she was awake though, she had packed her essential travel items up quickly and had made them a stack of toast with honey and marshmallow fluff for breakfast.
Danny hadn't needed to pack nearly as much, and so they were on the road within an hour of waking. They stopped at place called Watertown after a few hours and filled up, and both made use of the outdoor restroom. Rose had put on a lovely orange sundress that went down until it almost touched the ground, a light yellow jacket to cover her arms, her balaclava, which covered her nose, and her headband to cover her ears.
No one had paid her any attention, for which both were thankful. She had been complaining about her stomach for the last half hour, to which both knew it was likely nerves. She was nervous, and they both knew why. What if she didn't remember anything, and the trip ended up being for nothing? What if she had misremembered and this was actually where a relative lived?
There were many what ifs, and she had voiced a few out loud, worrying herself even more. It wasn't until Danny had reached over and put a hand over her mouth to shush her that she realized she had been talking aloud. She had grabbed his hand at that point, squeezing it and holding it close to her chest. They had been like that up to their first stop, and once they were back to a full tank and loaded up with some snacks for the road, he held his hand back out for her.
She took it, pulling it up to her face and kissing the back of his hand lightly, and then holding it tight to her chest with both of her own. She looked calm now, but he could feel her heart beating rapidly through her chest. She was a bundle of nerves right now and he was her ground in this storm of emotions, so he kept his eyes on the road, but his mind on her.
They stopped several more times, during which Danny also picked up some Tylenol and Pepto for Rose. She had been getting a headache as the drive went on, and her stomach had been giving her trouble as well. She had eaten a few things that she'd never had before to his knowledge, and they both agreed it was very likely indigestion. After taking both she felt much better, and so they carried on towards their destination.
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By the time they reached Chillicothe it was early evening, and the sun was nearing the other side of the horizon. Danny parked and went inside to check in while Rose finished up her nap she had been taking in the jeep, and a few minutes later he returned with a key. They had next to no guests at the moment, so they had let him pick his room at check in. He had picked one near the end of the building on the ground floor, with only a single adjoining room and one above.
They were far enough from any other guests that no one was likely to see or hear them, even if they had shouted at the top of their lungs while inside their room. This was exactly the privacy they both wanted, and after quickly moving their things inside, Rose flopped herself onto the large and incredibly comfy looking bed.
"Oh my god this bed feels amazing right now" Rose said, her face buried in the blankets.
Danny chuckled at her and tossed his wallet and keys onto the small desk next to the TV stand, making himself at home as well. He threw himself backwards onto the bed, vaulting Rose up a little as he hit the blankets. She let out a small squeak, which made him start to crack up and snicker at her. She rolled over and smacked him on the shoulder, but the scrunched up look on her face told him that she was trying hard to not laugh herself.
She held out for a few more seconds, but when Danny stopped, he puffed up his cheeks and crossed his eyes, making a stupid face at her. If Rose had been drinking anything, she would have spit it out at that moment. His ridiculous face caught her off guard, and she laughed heartily to the point that she had tears in her eyes. She was on her back, kicking her legs and howling with laughter, and Danny followed suit, laughing right along with her.