is tall and skinny with his blonde hair tangled in a bunch of dreadlocks that go mid-way down his back frame his face with a large pointy nose. He wears a tie-died tank top that’s worn out and a pair of cut off gray sweatpants.
When he steps closer, I fight the urge to vomit from his stench. While I know this lifestyle isn’t the cleanest, I use every opportunity I have to clean up. Body odor can be controlled.
“Name’s Chrome,” he greets extending his hand to me. “Rail Wreckers.”
I nod and shake his hand even though I don’t want to. I’m outnumbered here so I have to play things smart.
Chrome is not his real name. It’s a street name of sorts. I know who the Rail Wreckers are. And well, it’s not good. While I’ve encountered the Freedom Riders, the Rail Wreckers, the Metal Monsters, and a few others. Gangs, cults, whatever anyone wants to call it, I’ve been around the battle for the rails.
The Freedom Riders are more of a West Coast group, while the Metal Monsters are found chasing the border of the United States and Canada up North. Rail Wreckers tend to tag and stick to the South.
“Where are we?” I ask Chrome trying to sort out what I need to do next. It’s obvious Katie doesn’t want to go home so the plan to head West is out.
“Georgia,” he tells me with a smirk, “Sweet as a peach, all the goodies we got right here.”
Well, I didn’t anticipate being here. Making it this far East isn’t a bad thing. Maybe I can make my way down to Florida. If I can find a place to settle, get a job that pays cash and actually have a life … well, I can hope.
“Atlanta? Savannah?” I ask trying to play over the things I remember form Geography all those years ago.
“Uprising technically, but we ain’t far from Atlanta. You gonna catch out already?”
I nod. “I gotta get to my sister,” I lie. One thing I know is you never let these people think you’re alone. The thought of someone potentially looking out for me prevents the thought that I’m disposable.
“Is she as pretty as you?” he flirts and my stomach rolls.
“Prettier,” I reply stepping away. “Well, I’ll be on my way.”
“No,” Chrome says. “Stay, eat. We have some food. We’ve got some blow.”
I nod and decide I need to appease the man for now. Eventually he will let me off the hook and I can make my way to Atlanta.
With a plan beginning in my mind, I get comfortable. At least for the next few hours I can keep an eye on Katie and who knows, maybe she will decide to come with me.
Having a few crackers from Chrome, I sit down while Caleb keeps Katie glued to his side and the others ramble on about their lives or the voices in their heads.
The sun sets and I notice a light in the distance. “I’m going for a walk,” I announce really just needing to find my escape.
Deciding that sleeping in the woods is safer for me than staying here, I sling my backpack on my back and begin to head to the light I see through the woods. While I don’t know what is on the other side of the woods, I do know if I can find a road, I can certainly find my way to the city.
I don’t make it out of the train yard before I hear the conductor moving out to the trains. Quickly, I move to a single boxcar sitting on the back tracks. It’s locked as I make my approach so I just slide under the car and hide against the wheels. With the woods on the other side of the tracks, if I need to make a quick escape to the trees I can, otherwise, I’ll at least have shelter for the night. Getting comfortable I don’t go to sleep since I’m not sure if the Rail Wreckers are looking for me to return or not.
When I was a little girl, my mom taught me about the bible. God made Eve to be a helper to Adam. God didn’t make man to be alone, she explained. My entire life I was raised to be the helpmate to a man. Our culture groomed all females to know that every breath we take is to serve a higher purpose. To be born a female is to be born subservient in my culture.