Page 2 of Kai's Hunger

“Your lips to God’s ears,” Wyatt replied, his tone softening just a fraction.

As I got in behind the wheel, a gnawing sense of unease settled in my chest. I knew this wasn’t over. I could feel it. I revved the engine and made my way home, but every mile felt like a betrayal of my instincts.

Chapter One

Lily

I glanced in my rearview mirror. There were no headlights. No one followed me. I wasn’t sure what I’d expected when I left my hometown for parts unknown. The town lights behind me dwindled to pinpricks. I gripped the steering wheel of my trusty van with excitement and attempted to ignore my rising anxiety. The deserted roads stretched ahead, illuminated only by the van’s headlights slicing through the darkness. The dependable hum of the engine cruising along was a testament to its age and the miles it had traveled. The sound was a blend of steady vibrations and the occasional sputter.

The night air was alive with the whispers of unseen creatures, a symphony of nature’s secrets that accompanied my solitary journey. The road was a ribbon of uncertainty, leading me away from the familiar and into the unknown. Emotions intertwined in my chest—hope for the adventures awaiting me, anxiety for the challenges ahead. The open road was my canvas, and as I ventured forth, a new chapter of my life unfurled, a story of dreams pursued and fears confronted in the solitude of the night.

Walnut Ridge, Ohio, boasted a whopping population of just over two thousand. Two grocery stores, one bank, and all of three stoplights. During football season, the entire town could be found at the local high school on Friday night cheering on the Tigers. I hadn’t hated small-town life. My job at the local bank afforded me a two-bedroom apartment in the center of town, which put me within walking distance of all my basic needs. I gassed up my van once every two weeks and splurged on Saturday mornings with a chocolate éclair and a cup of freshly brewed coffee from Daisy’s Café across from my building. I’d enjoyed living in Walnut Ridge.

It had been my mother’s alcohol addiction that had driven me away.

I’d made every attempt to be the good daughter. I’d managed to drag my mom to rehab. Multiple times. Only to be kicked in the teeth when she’d turn around and buy another bottle of vodka. My sister Veronica wasn’t much better. The two of them could often be found getting drunk together. Every Saturday night it was the same routine. And any time I tried to get them to clean up their act, a lecture was my reward.

“Why can’t you be more understanding?”Grace Hall would ask, slurring her words as usual.

Of course, my mother had always coddled Veronica. She’d been the pride and joy. Everything Veronica did was celebrated. If my sister screwed up, then Mom rolled out the excuses. Grace bragged to anyone willing to listen about her gorgeous Veronica. On the other hand, I had only managed to disappoint the woman. I was too plump.“It wouldn’t hurt you to lose a few pounds, dear,”my mother would say. My job at the bank had even garnered criticism. Mom had expected me to go into nursing. Sure, if I’d followed in her footsteps it might’ve gotten me a few points, but even that would’ve eventually disappointed her. The ugly truth was that I would never be smart enough, successful enough, or pretty enough to please Grace Hall. She’d already had her perfect daughter when she’d given birth to Veronica. I had simply been extra baggage.

After another blowup, I had finally had enough. I gave my two weeks’ notice at the bank, then began boxing up my meager belongings. When the day finally arrived, I suffered a bout of anxiety. Was I making a huge mistake? Should I stay and try and repair the broken relationship with my family? It’d been the text from Veronica asking for money—money she would only blow on booze—that had cinched it.

It would never change. I’d always be the doormat for them, unless I did something drastic. I had deleted the text and packed up my old red minivan, then drove out of town. I had no destination, but I’d scrimped and saved for two years in preparation for the day I’d have the nerve to leave my chaotic family behind and start fresh.

My cell phone rang and I checked the caller ID on my console screen display. Mom. I counted to ten, then hit the button on my steering wheel. “Hey,” I mumbled.

“Where the hell are you?”

Oh, goodie, Mom was already plastered. I considered it a sign from the universe that I’d made the right decision to leave and never look back.

“Lily!”

“I left,” I answered, keeping it vague. It wasn’t anyone’s business. I was an adult and didn’t have to get permission to change my life.

My mother cursed. “Left where? Your sister needs you. What the hell is wrong with you?”

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