Page 45 of Claimed by an Alien Warrior

Chapter Ten

Zoey was surprisingly refreshed when she woke curled up against Rendash. They brushed their teeth and got dressed, and he offered no complaint — unless she counted his sneer — when she smeared foundation on his face.

After she checked out and they climbed into the truck, she checked the road atlas. If she was finger-measuring the distance correctly, she guessed they could make it through Colorado and well into Kansas within ten hours. That’d be the farthest she’d traveled in a day since leaving Santa Barbara. It would feel good to put real distance between them and the people hunting for Ren.

They pulled onto the interstate under an overcast sky, but the weather held until they were winding through the mountains of Colorado several hours later. She saw a single, fat snowflake tumble into the windshield, and then the snowfall began in earnest.

Their pace slowed to a crawl as snow accumulated on the road and greatly reduced visibility. Before long, traffic came to a near-stop. For a while, it felt like they’d be better off measuring their speed in inches per hour rather than miles.

She turned on the satellite radio and searched through the channels until she found a weather station. The droning meteorologist reported that the snowfall was the leading edge of a massive storm system expected to intensify over the next few days. If she’d had her phone or had turned on the local news in the hotel room before they left, she might’ve seen some warning, but what good would it have done?

Somehow, she hadn’t put together the obvious pieces — December plus the Rocky Mountains meant winter weather.

Maybe we can drive through it. If we get past this traffic and make some distance, get out of the mountains…

Finally, they rounded a bend and discovered the reason for the long delay. The flashing lights of emergency vehicles illuminated the surrounding landscape. Police officers in heavy coats with reflective strips were directing traffic around an overturned SUV while a tow truck with a winch slowly hauled a second vehicle up a drop-off at the side of the road.

She caught herself holding her breath as they neared the police, forcing herself to keep her eyes ahead. Not only was she traveling with an illegal alien from outer space, but she was in a stolen car that belonged to a man who’d been murdered the night before. Her tension didn’t ease until the flashing lights had vanished behind them as they rounded the next bend.

Zoey had made more than her share of dumb decisions during her life, but this was the first time she was a criminal because of them. How was she only now recognizing the potential consequences of her choices over the last two days? Accessory to murder was just one on a growing list of crimes.

And yet, if offered the chance, she wouldn’t change any of it. She was doing the right thing. Helping Ren escape from unjust imprisonment — from torture and eventual death — was what any kindhearted person would do, regardless of what the law or the government said. Whether or not Ren was human, their treatment of him waswrong.

The eight-hour mark since their departure from Green River came and went, and though the traffic was moving steadily, it was still slow going. The heavy snow continued after the sun went down, and darkness descended over the interstate. A sign appeared out of the gloom declaring they could find food, gas, and lodging at the next exit — Vail.

“I think we should stop and find a room in this next town,” Zoey said, glancing at Rendash.

“I will welcome the chance to stretch my legs, though you do not sound happy about it.”

She sighed, and — not for the first time — attempted to turn the already frantic windshield wipers to a higher speed. “Because…we might need to stay longer than one night.”

His lips fell in a troubled frown. “The weather they spoke of on the radio is that severe?”

Zoey would have given him a droll look if she didn’t have to keep her eyes on the road. Instead, she lifted a hand, palm up, to indicate the conditions in front of them. “I can barely see where we’re going as it is, Ren, and this is supposed to get worse.”

“We still have a long distance to travel.” Ren pointed in a direction she thought was northeast. “That way. Farther still than we have already come.”

“Ren, we can’t travel in these conditions. It’s dangerous.”

He half-grunted, half-snorted. “I will trust your judgment. If you say we must stop, then we will stop.”

Zoey was surprised he didn’t put up more of a fight.

She pulled off the interstate when the exit came up and stopped at the first hotel they came across. It had no vacancy, and neither did the second; they informed her that I-70 was being closed east of Vail due to the hazardous conditions, causing an influx of guests. At the third hotel, Zoey stood with her mouth gaping at the desk clerk, stunned to temporary silence by her disbelief.

He had a room available with a single queen bed foronlythree hundred dollars.

“That’s insane!” she yelled.

The clerk gave her Zoey a look that made her feel like a piece of trash that had blown in through the lobby doors. “Between ski season and the blizzard, ma’am, you’re not likely to find accommodations in town for anything less.”

“Aren’t there any places around here with rooms for like…sixty bucks a night?” she asked hopefully.

The man tilted his head back and laughed. “Are you serious?”

Zoey scowled. “Why wouldn’t I be? What you are asking is robbery!”

“Under the circumstance, it’squitereasonable. If you prefer inferior accommodations, that’s your business, and you are free to look elsewhere.”

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