On the Lam (Wistful Beast and Vermiciro)

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Following Callie's example, Judith begrudgingly began to roll the legs of her ill-fitting jeans. She had hoped that since they were baggy she would be able to roll them higher, possibly high enough to evade the water altogether. But with each roll the ring of denim grew tighter around her leg until they were eventually stiff and nearly tourniquet-tight just above her knees. Judith didn't reserve any hope that they'd remain above water, she was well aware of her vertical dearth.

With a vexed sigh, Judith handed a bag over to Callie. She stuffed her shoes into the one she carried and tied the handles. "No point puttin' it off." with a derogatory farewell to Trevor, Judith stepped ungainly off the side of the boat, sinking into the soft silt and sediment of the creek. The water rose over the rolled denim of her jeans. She supposed it was Murphy's law. "Let's get moving Huckleberry Finn." Judith called over her shoulder to Callie. "I just had about all the nature I can stand squelch between my toes. I'm overdue for some creature comforts."

The looming trees, choked with thick vegetation and gathering nocturnal insects still lay ahead. Judith didn't want to think what viviparous quadrupeds they might disturb in the brush. She didn't want to think of the possible snakes wending through the shallows either. She just wanted a bed. Judith was ready for sleep. She'd had enough excitement.
 
Callie took to placing her own shoes in the bag that she now held. She had managed to roll her jeans up to her knees, but she was still pretty sure part of her jeans would be wet after this endeavor. She gave no farewell to Trevor, not easily willing to waste what little energy she seemed to have left in her system. Callie eased herself down off of the boat and into the water. As predicted, the water rose above her jeans a few inches, earning an aggravated sigh from Callie.

Callie tried not to make a disgusted face when she felt the soft river bottom underfoot, not daring to let her mind lurk to guesses on what may be dwelling in the murky water. This made her pick up her pace a bit, eager to get to land and out of the reach of slimy water dwelling creatures. She reached Judith's side. She nodded in agreement in response to the comment about wanting to get away from this damned river. Callie couldn't have even imagined having to be awake during that boat ride.

Callie soon reached the shore and proceeded to roll down her jeans. She tried to rub what dirt and water she had on her feet off of her skin before she placed her socks and shoes back on. Her feet were still damp and felt gross, but there was no way Callie would walk through the upcoming forested area while barefoot. She had no idea what may be crawling in the shadows of the vegetation and didn't really want to become acquainted with any peculiar insects or other creepy crawlers.
 
Judith, with less grace and fortune, crawled hand and foot up the embankment. The viscous, sucking mud of the creek had taken more effort to slog through than anticipated and left gritty remnants up to her ankles. With fistfuls of grass, Judith wiped what she could off and slipped back into her prison issued shoes. Upon unfolding the tight rolls of her jeans, Judith discovered with ambivalence that only the portion around her knees was wet. The rest along the calves and ankles was relatively dry. She didn't even have the will to sigh over it.

"Trevor said if we just head straight from here we'll hit a back road." Judith explained. "It should be lined with seasonal water-front real estate like cabins and shit. They're likely to be occupied, bein' summer and all. If we're lucky we'll hit the road by nightfall. By then, keep your eyes peeled for any houses without lights on. Rather break in than start racking up a body count first day out of prison."

With that Judith began to advance into the tangle of undergrowth, trying her best to walk a straight path despite the impassable thorned bushes and downed trees. The last thing she needed was to get turned around and lost in the unforgiving American nature. Hopefully, with Callie beside her, they'd keep from such a fate.
 
Callie finished putting herself back together, taking to actually putting the hooded sweatshirt on and wearing it normally. She kept the hood up of course. Even though they were in a different state, they were close enough to the border for her to show some caution. The slog through the mud had made her even more exhausted than she already was thanks to a long day, alcohol, and even muscle relaxant pills. So when she followed Judith into the wooded area her steps were not very careful. She did her best to avoid the sharp clutches of the thorn bushes, but a few had snagged her jeans a few times.

Callie stayed close to Judith, wary of their surroundings. Even in a different state she felt far from safe. After all, it was a tad bit suspicious for two random women walking through this dense vegetation to emerge in the populated area that was predicted to be near. "Sounds good."Callie managed. The sooner she was in somewhere where she could sleep, the better. Even if it meant breaking into an empty house for the night. Callie would usually be very paranoid, and she still was apprehensive, but her growing desire to collapse outweighed her usually well defined morals for now.
 
Enervated, Judith didn't bother with banter, couldn't even quip about the state of the woods. All she wanted was to find the road and a place to rest her head. Placing one foot in front of the other was the only way to see herself to it. Sleep, even restless sleep plagued with anxious nightmares, was better than none. Their trek was slowly descending into an exaggerate death march away from the whirling sirens, police blockades, and K-9 unites with bear-trap jaws that were soon to follow.

Night came slowly. The sky, blotted out by overlapping branches above, offered little light. Darkness grew thick as fog, knitting tight around them. The whine of cicadas and answering chirp of crickets became a white-noise ambiance. Worst of all were the mosquitoes. Judith's skin, slick and salted with sweat, was an ideal meal for the hemovores. Even the thick fabric of her jeans didn't prevent their penetrating, needle-like mouths. Her skin was soon spangled in white-pink bite marks. They itched. They itched like hell, but worse was when they passed close to her ear, their high frequency thrum tickling like a stray hair.

Despite her mounting aggravation, it wasn't until she saw the faint ferrous-orange glow of a street light that she spoke. "Fucking finally! I am sick of nature."
 
Callie wasn't doing much to be stealthy, not that they had to at the moment. She trudged through the plants, kicking any small obstacles aside instead of walking around them. The darkness that soon enveloped them and took hold of the forest didn't help either. Callie nearly walked face first into trees a few times, regarding them bitterly before making a point to skirt around the reach of their branches.

Mosquitoes soon descended upon them too and the insects took to trying to pierce through Callie's jeans. They landed a few bites, but they couldn't breach the fabric of the sweatshirt. Their shrill noises couldn't find her ears through her hood and mess of hair, which she wouldn't have heeded much if they were able to do anyways. She felt like she was in a fog, not thinking much. Instead she just walked and that was in, almost lulled to sleep by the constant song of the cicadas.

Like Judith, Callie was relieved to see traces of civilization. "Oh thank god..."she mumbled lazily as she headed towards the light.
 
The unforgiving, hard asphalt underfoot was more welcome than dry land in a flood. Judith would have kissed it, whole body prone against its surface in raw gratitude if she thought she'd be able to get up from it. She was so tired. She hadn't walked so far in so long, she thought her feet might have been swollen. But despite weariness, dampness, and incessant itching, Judith knew she needed to find her second wind. They were about to walk down a residential road and break into an abode. Circumspection and perception were necessary. They couldn't risk drawing attention.

"Remember to stay calm." Judith advised her partner. "If we act like we belong here people'll be none the wiser." She tucked her hands in her pockets casually, and tried not to overtly inspect the houses flanking either side. Campfire smoke wafted down the street. A cacophony of electronic noise, likely music, thumped distantly in a home. Though the sun had set, people were still lively. Judith hoped whatever home they chanced entering was actually empty, and not too close to its neighbors.
 
Callie was relieved when asphalt replaced undergrowth and light returned to the world in the form of artificial bulbs. Callie looked around to see houses positioned along each side of the street that they were now on. Callie noted the sound of music playing as well as campfire smoke that reached her nostrils, judging that people in this area were still active and therefore may be aware of two strangers walking along the relatively empty road.

Callie nodded a few times in Judith's direction. She would try her best to keep her cool. It wouldn't be as difficult to do so as usual considering her current level of energy. She wanted to look a little less brain dead so she straightened her back out a bit and followed Judith's action of stuffing her hands in her pocket. Callie hoped that she still looked presentable even after her trek through the forest.
 
Being a wanted felon had turned even the most mundane street into a lion's den. Any curious onlooker could place a call and end their sojourn north. A dull, electric frequency of awareness crackled along Judith's nerves, the last trickle of adrenaline pulsing into her system. She wasn't looking for a fight, not in her state, but was willing to drop a motherfucker and curb-stomp their girlfriend if they approached.

They had passed under ten widely spaced houses, lights and parked cars in all of them. Judith would have settled for a shed with a rusted corrugated tin roof, suffocating with summer heat if she had to. She wanted to slink out of sight, if only long enough to rest. Everything appeared unapproachable and if history could attest to their skill, they weren't consummate cat burglars. Judith cursed under her breath.

"Nothing's ever easy for us, is it?" she asked Callie rhetorically. "If we don't find a place soon I'm gonna kill some fucking campers." Judith threatened in jest, but under stress it could easily become fact.
 
Callie's hope began to dwindle as each home they passed proved to be occupied. Of course nothing would ever come easily to the two felons it seemed. Life on the run sure wasn't simple at all. It was a risk to even be in public view, let alone manage to break into someone's house.

Callie still kept an eye out for opportunities. She knew they had to find someplace to rest and soon. Even Judith seemed exhausted even in her sober state. Taking down three people in a day probably did have a toll on one's energy. Callie didn't seem amused by Judith's comment, not thinking it was wise to even dream of taking people down in such a populated area. "Let's not."Callie replied, looking carefully at each house they passed.
 
When they finally reached a darkened house, Judith was reluctant to let herself feel relief. There wasn't a car in the driveway, but it still appeared anything but vacant. The gravel leading up to the garage had shallow ruts from tires. The grass was cut recently, dried clumps from earlier mowing were piled intermittently along the lawn. The curtains were still open in nearly every window as well. Someone had been there, the problem was whether they had left for the season or were coming back soon.

Judith didn't consider herself a gambler, wouldn't even place a bet unless the odds were stacked in her favor. But this was a circumstance she couldn't rig. She couldn't even weigh the probabilities. All she could go on was perspicacity and luck, one of which Judith felt there was a paucity of.

She paused in consideration of the house. "What do you think?" she asked Callie, unable to come to the decision alone. "You wanna risk this place or keep looking? God knows what'll happen either way."
 
Callie stopped to observe the house in question. It seemed like it had been recently tended too, but it wad missing a car in front. This meant that either the inhabitants could be gone for a trip for groceries or even to leave for months at a time. If they entered they could either have a place to stay uninterupted for the night, or have an unexpected visitor that can have the cops on them in a matter of minutes.

Callie tried to think harder and weigh the consequences, mind struggling to work at its normal ability. "I think...we should keep looking for a few minutes and can return here if we find nothing else."she decided. She didn't want to take a risk if she didn't need to.
 
"I ain't opposed to that." Judith admitted, relaxing her posture as she continued to watch the house. It had two stories and maybe, just maybe, it had an attic. A dusty ceiling recess where old toys and Christmas decorations were left to the brittle desiccation of time. Judith could almost hear the creak of the ceiling beams under their weight if she imagined hard enough.

Without looking back, Judith asked, "What if we don't find another place and who ever lives here comes back before we do?" it was a prognosis she'd been reluctant to entertain, but felt it was necessary. "What if this is our only chance at shelter for the night. And I don't know about you but I'd rather not piss in the woods and make my bed with the mosquitoes." Judith didn't know why she was arguing to break into the house until she said it. "Are you sure you wanna keep looking?" she asked again for confirmation, and ultimately to blame Callie if they had to spend the night in the woods.
 
Callie seemed conflicted now. She held her her temples with careful fingers, screwing her eyes shut to allow herself to think for a moment. It was either take the opportunity with a risk of being caught, or don't take it and get stuck in the woods. The woods would present their own challenge and were probably not that safe, but if the home owners returned soon they could be carted to jail after all of their efforts so far. She didn't think there would be another place to stay and maybe they could easily dispatch the owner if needed and given the essence of surprise.

She released a sigh, opening her eyes and dropping her hands from her head. "I'm not sure...let's just check this place out and...let's be careful, okay?"she replied. This was a risk she didn't want to take, but it seemed she had to.
 
Judith nodded in understanding, giving their surrounding's a furtive survey for any watching eyes. The houses in proximity had an angled view of their movements at best and there weren't any people on the road in either direction. It was the best opportunity they had to enter. Trying to take casual strides, Judith crossed the lawn, heading to the front door when a motion sensitive floodlight illuminated the front steps and half the lawn in a blinding white light that could have rivaled the intensity of a lazer pointer.

Shrinking in consternation, Judith tried not to let it phase her course of action. She blinked the spots from her eyes and tried the door. It wasn't locked. It wasn't fucking locked. Judith could hardly believe the full rotation of the knob. She opened to door, still nearly dumbfounded, and looked into a blue-dark living room. Nothing moved. Aside from the floodlight, there wasn't any further surprise that came to greet her.

Looking to Callie, Judith could only mouth "Fuck yeah.", unable to trust her voice not to ascend to higher decibels. They still didn't know if the owners were going to return, but Judith was already feeling like she'd rolled snake eyes and swept in stacks of chips. Maybe they had more luck than she'd earlier believed.
 
Callie cautiously followed Judith across the well kept lawn. She stopped and flinched when light assaulted them, covering her eyes momentarily with an arm. She soon adjusted when no danger seemed to emerge, continuing to make her way towards the door behind Judith. She watched as the woman tried to open the door and continued to observe as the door swung open without any trouble. who was dumb enough to leave the door of their home unlocked in the middle of the night? Callie was a bit skeptical of the situation, but it didn't seem like there was any movement in the house.

Callie managed a nervous smile in response to Judith's silent celebration. She thought they shouldn't count their eggs before they hatched, as the owners could return. Also, though there was no car someone could be asleep inside since maybe only one or a few left which would still mean that people may be present. This thought worried Callie and she cast a cautious look at her surroundings, waiting for Judith to enter first.
 
They were lucky enough to have entered a house undetected. Though Judith wasn't willing to chance turning on the lights, not wanting to risk the attention of neighbors. Gently, the door closed behind them with a click and the world was shut out, the house swallowing them dry, enveloping them in its cloistered quiet. The sound of passing cars and summer revelry were muffled, distant like an echoing dream. Beneath the stillness of the house was a detectable air of almost eerie unease. Judith knew they weren't welcome regardless of their illegal entry.

"You still got those flashlights?" She asked Callie with an open palm, gesturing she hand her one. "This'd be a good time to use 'em." Judith wasn't eager to explore, and uncertain if they should steal. Who ever owned the residence may notice the altered orientation of things or their absence. They needed to find a secluded nook of the house to rest though. Judith was also interested in finding a restroom, she was serious about needing to piss.

Noting the stairs to her right, Judith proposed a general plan. "I'm going to check the second floor, see if I can find an attic or storage alcove. You look for similar down here, yeah?"
 
Callie pulled the flashlights out of her bag, giving one to Judith and keeping one for herself. She looked around at the silent house, not liking how still everything was. She didn't like this situation, or whole day to be quite honest. Her life had taken a turn for the worst, but she had to learn to cope with it now. This life would be shitty now, but it was hers and she intended to keep it for now.

"Oh...okay..."Callie whispered, looking at the dim area ahead that she knew she had to explore it alone now. She turned on her flashlight and caused a concentrated beam of light to emit from the smooth black cylinder. She took a few cautious steps forwards before adjusting herself into a quiet walk, looking around to see what was in this place. She was mindful of any furniture that may threaten to trip her.
 
After brusquely slapping her flashlight, the batteries jostling into alignment, Judith was able to illuminate the narrow ascent of stairs leading to the second floor. All she could see from the base was a hall wall adorned with a replica painting of a wild stallion, some kind of Frederic Remington western shit. Judith's lip curled in distaste before taking the steps. The plastic bag crinkled with every movement, the noise was loud enough to damn any surreptitious behavior, and Judith hoped Callie would be the only soul to ever hear it.

The hall at the top of the stairs was marked with three doors. Two lead into bedrooms, the third into a bathroom. Judith took the opportunity to relieve herself and search the home's sanitary goods. There wasn't anything of particular interest, not that she could take any of it at the moment any way. If the wisp and crackle of the plastic bag had been loud, the toilet flushing and sink were deafening. Judith cringed almost apologetically to the broken silence as she cleaned the dirt from her nails. She never thought to consider the damp hand towel she left as evidence.

Judith found nothing of interest in the smaller, assumed guest room. The sheets were still crisp under the glow of her flashlight and the air smelled stale, like the window hadn't been opened in months. She left for the master bedroom. The queen size bed appeared lazily made, someone had tossed the blankets up without care to detail, the pillows still creased and wrinkled from a night's weight. Judith checked the dresser drawers. There were clothes.

"Fuck." she cursed in a hiss. Someone would be coming back, it was inevitable, but Judith wasn't about to say Callie had been right in thinking they should continue searching. Lethargy had gnawed her patience thin. Judith considered stealing, to leave empty handed would only obviate breaking in all together. The thought weighed on her mind as she opened the walk in closet, bare except for suitcases, and something that twisted a grin from Judith's lips. Framed in the ceiling was a movable panel, an entrance into the attic.

They could sleep in the attic for the night and wait for the homeowners to leave before continuing north, maybe even steal another car. It was a specious plan, and Judith was willing to sell it to her partner just for a moment's respite.
 
Callie found nothing that really stood out. She passed through a living room of sorts with simple couches propped in front of a television, a short wooden coffee table in between. She continued onward to see a small bathroom as well as an office as well. peeking her head through the doorway, Callie spotted a simple lamp and a desk with an old computer perched atop the surface. Callie kept walking to find a kitchen with a quaint dining room table beside its clean counters.

Callie made her way to the fridge and opened it quietly, the light illuminating her face as she peered in. There were some essential food items like eggs, milk, and some lunch meat or something as well as another few odds and ends. Stunned, Callie closed the door as her muscles tensed. Fresh food meant that someone would be returning here. As for how soon, Callie wasn't sure. She made her way towards the front of the house and up the stairs to find Judith. She found the woman in a closet and made her presence known so Judith didn't accidentally attack her or something. "Judith, people live here. There's some food in the fridge."she whispered.
 
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