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</span>​</div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">It had been a long time since she had traveled outside of her territory, breached the border of her hometown on her own for her purposes outside the Order’s purview. There was a sense of guilt that accompanied the anxiousness, but frayed nerves quieted the further she ventured from home, toward rural landscapes that left her with nothing but her thoughts as she drove along a lonely road.   She was surrounded by gloriously empty space,  lit by the breathtaking golden rays of the sun descending on the horizon. The colorful twilight held such warmth, lighting up the sky with fading hues of warm amber, peachy beams that left lovely streaks in the clouds. The countryside stretched on for miles and miles, untouched by modernity and teeming with the kind of wildlife that was uncharacteristic of the city she left. Roaming cattle foraged on tall grass and birds with large wingspans flew overhead. The air was fresher, and the scent was earthy as it circulated through the open windows. It was quiet and peaceful, a refreshing departure from the hustle and bustle of the city. She found herself appreciating the simplicity, admiring the solitude though she was reminded of human existence here and there; the occasional farmhouse or dilapidated structure reclaimed by the earth, an old gas station or mom-and-pop convenience store scattered between the miles. <br/>
<br/>
<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FF87kcr6.jpg&amp;hash=0143f99628e79ae5cb7887818b2be394" href="https://i.imgur.com/F87kcr6.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">Ava</a> needed some place out of reach for the weekend, a location where she wasn’t easily followed by prying blue eyes. Ever since Callahan had been home she felt as though she were under the lens of a microscope, like a specimen to be monitored at all times. The unshakable feeling that everyone knew something she didn’t was becoming more and more of a possibility. It made her feel foolish for tip-toeing about, for the plans she was making unbeknownst to them and the rules she broke in response to their secrecy. But, it couldn’t be helped. She was the good soldier, loyal and obedient to a fault. After all they’d done for her, it felt wrong to go against their wishes. <br/>
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The sun had almost set when she arrived at the motel. She pulled into a space, the dust of powdery dirt billowing around the black vehicle. Stepping out she moved to the front door, a pronounced jingle signaling her entry. The lobby was cramped and hot. There was hardly a distinguishable difference between the outside and the inside. It was far from the quaint bed and breakfast, none of the charm or homey appeal. Though clean enough, it was clear that hospitality was not high on the list of priorities-- along with air conditioning or the peeling wallpaper, the outdated magazine collection or the stained carpet. Ava was not deterred, not even when a portly old woman came from the back room, a slow waddled that ended with her grunting deeply as she eased herself into the seat behind the counter. She fanned herself with a brochure or a pamphlet, a tourist guide that was likely as out of date as the old stack of Time magazines. And she looked tired, like the very sun had been beating down on her all day. Sweat marked the collar of her patterned blouse, the underarms saturated. Even her skin was glistening. The woman must have seen the alarm she tried to suppress at her condition.<br/>
<br/>
“Don’t worry. Rooms got air. Stupid thing busted this morning. The only thing keeping me alive in the place is the fan in the back. We got rooms, though . . . Unless . . . You lost or something?” She peered around Ava’s form, to the sleek, black Rover behind her. <br/>
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“No, ma’am, I’m not lost. I just need a room for the night-- two rooms actually. I’ve got someone on the way.” Ava produced her credit card and ID, letting the woman work her magic on the senior piece of equipment. It took her a while, a few frustrated wiggles of the mouse and irritated groans as she visibly denied herself the satisfaction of slamming her hand against the side of the monitor. <br/>
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“Fifty bucks for the night.” She slid her cards across the counter, then plucked a pair of keys from the drawer in front of her. “Rooms 7 and 8 just to your left.”<br/>
<br/>
“Thank you.” Ava collected her things and stepped back outside, the air cooling in the absence of the sun. She tapped a button on her car keys, letting the trunk door open. Her bag was there, accommodating a rifle and her handgun, a knife and ammunition, things she could manage without drawing too much suspicion. She would have her own stockpile soon enough, eliminating the need to rely on the family armory for her weapons. As she sat in the back compartment, she could imagine the relief, how she would only have to worry about fabricating a good story for her whereabouts. And, of course, who she was with. While it wasn’t against the rules to work with other Hunters, she knew how wary her Order was of outsiders. The lone Hunter she came across all those nights ago was an enigma, even to her after she had glimpsed into his past. She understood his need for revenge, how personal the situation was to him. The Coven leader had killed the woman he loved, and in the process he claimed the life of his unborn child. Most men would succumb to their own emotional scars; turn to alcohol and other vices. Others would heal from the trauma, still bear the battle wounds beneath tender flesh, and move on with their lives. <br/>
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Ava wasn’t quite sure which camp the Hunter resided in, but there was something behind that smile he wore like a mask. Whether it was the face of a broken man or one ugly and contorted with rage, she would have to take a chance and find out-- trust that she could rely on him to see their endeavor through. She leaned back, hands interlocking behind her head while she waited for him to show. Her legs dangled over the edge, boots swaying back and forth lazily as she stared up at the ceiling of her car, the interior light glowing above her. </span>