Claude parked the car in the middle of town and turned the engine off.

“I thought you said the bus stop was just out of town?” I said as I looked out the window at the store fronts and open grassed area.

“I did, and it is. But the next bus doesn’t leave for another thirty minutes. So…”

“So, what?”

“So, did you want something to eat? A new set of clothes?” Claude looked down at my muddy converse.

I felt my cheeks flush and quickly turned my head toward the window. My denim shorts were muddy and my black singlet had some tears in it.

“They probably won’t let you on the bus looking like that.” Claude said in an attempt to reason with me.

“I don’t have the money for new clothes.”

“Then how did you plan to pay for the bus fair?” Claude turned in his seat.

I sighed and shifted in my seat to look at him. “I was gonna palm someones wallet.”

“Is that someone me?” Claude smirked as I frowned and looked away. “Look, I’ll buy you some new clothes, take you to the bus stop and give you some cash.”

“Why?” If my limited experience had taught me anything, it was not to trust people to do things out of the goodness of their hearts.

Claude scoffed and replied, “let’s just say you remind me of someone I used to know.”

“Please don’t tell me they’re dead.”

Claude chuckled darkly and then opened the car door. “Come on, humour me.”

I frowned but found myself getting out of the car and following him into the shopping centre.

“So, where are you going?” Claude asked as the aircon blasted through the automatic doors.

“I don’t have a destination in mind.”

“So, you’re just wandering aimlessly?”

“No, I’m just…”

“Running.” Claude said the word with a depth of knowing that resonated within me.

I am, but from what?

“I think so, are you?” I replied as my eyes wandered to the stores in the shopping centre.

“I was for a long time, but Elijah helped me out. What do you mean you think you’re on the run?” Claude questioned sounding confused.

Elijah? The same guy from before?

“It’s complicated.”

“It always is. If you’re not sure, why not hang around and figure it out?”

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair, my fingers catching on a tangle. “I don’t fancy waiting around to find out.”

“Fair enough,” Claude sighed as his pace slowed, “so, what kind of clothes do you like?”

What kind of clothes do I like? I don’t remember.

Claude stared at me waiting for an answer. I glanced at him and then at my clothes.

“Same as what I’m wearing?” It sounded more like a question.

“Alright, well let’s try and find something you like in here.” Claude motioned to a store.

I nod and we both wandered in, Claude followed me around the store. A change of clothes could help to throw them off my trail. I decided should go for something different to what I was wearing, but it was also the middle of summer. I’d die of heat exhaustion if I wore jeans. Skirts and dresses are definitely out of the question. That left me with shorts.

I flick through the racks of denim shorts and found a nice dark blue colour. The bottom of the material was already ripped, so any future tears would fit right in. When I went to grab a pair off the rack I hesitated.

What size am I?

I don’t remember.

I pull a pair off the rack and hold it against my hips trying to figure out if it’s the right size. I float between the racks looking at shirts and singlets, debating which one would be more inconspicuous as Claude patiently drifts behind me. Once I had a rough idea of what I wanted Claude paid and directed me to the bathrooms.

“I’ll wait here.” Claude said as he stuffed his hands into his pockets.

I quickly changed into my new clothes, blue denim shorts with a black and red checkered long sleeve cotton flannel shirt. I tied up my blonde hair with a matching black and red check scrunchy, fiddling with the bun so it sat right. Taking off my converse I gave them a quick wash in the sink and used the hand drier to try and dry them off.

Behind me two women entered the bathroom. I hastily tuck the socks into the shallow pockets of my denim jeans and quickly pad across the tiled floor barefoot. As I passed them I caught a glimpse of red hair out of the corner of my eye. Panic slams into my chest as I quicken my pace, clutching my wet shoes against my stomach.

Was that them?

I didn’t get a good look at them, but if it was, wouldn’t they recognise me?

I’m being paranoid.

“We need to go, now,” I told Claude.

His brow furrowed in concern as he looks back down the hall toward the bathrooms. He didn’t say anything, just motioned for me to start walking. We briskly left the shopping centre. I glanced over my shoulder, but I didn’t see them anywhere.

Am I being paranoid?

How did they find me here?

We reached the car and Claude unlocked it. I quickly get into the passenger sid. Claude turned the car on and we drove through the main strip toward the outskirts of town. My shoes were still wet, so I hold them out the window. I watched the cars side mirror for a silver car.

“Do you want to tell me who you’re running from?” Claude asked, breaking the silence.

“I don’t know,” I said quietly.

“You don’t know? Well, what do you know?”

“I don’t know,” I snapped in frustration and pull the shoes back inside the car. “I can only remember bits and pieces of the past week. Beyond that I don’t remember anything, okay?”

“Okay, do you remember your name?”

“Yea, it’s-”

What is my name?

“Uh…”

No, oh no, no, no, no.

My name, I swear I know it.

My head started to ache as I tried to remember. I heard my shoes fall to the floor of the car as I clenched my fists, pressing them against my forehead as the pain intensified, lancing through my temple.

“Hey, are you okay?” Claude’s voice sounds strained as the car speeds up. “Hey? Come on, talk to me.”

“Yea,” I gasped and curled in on myself.

What is my name?

“You don’t look okay.”

I lean against the door as the car turns and then fall back into my seat.

“It’s okay if you can’t remember.”

“I can, it’s there, I just…” I grit my teeth together and focused. Someone must have called me by my name at some point.

“Just relax, okay?” Claude gently touched my shoulder.

…

Te…Ru...?

Te…ra...rb..?

Terra…r…

My name is Terra.