Gone (Parallel Trilogy, Book 1) by Christine Kersey Read Free Book Online

was now on, I concentrated on using my best penmanship.
    Find a computer and Google them or find a phone book and look them up.
    I stared at what I’d written. “It’s not much of a list,” I murmured. Pen poised over the paper, I had no idea what else to write.
    The rumble of a bus saved me from thinking too hard about my situation. Quickly stuffing my notebook and pen into the side pocket of my backpack, I pulled out my wallet. The door to the bus whooshed open and I climbed the steps, stopping next to the bus driver.
    “How much to ride the bus?” I asked.
    He barely glanced my way. “Two dollars.”
    Unzipping the compartment on my wallet where I kept the bills, I frowned as I looked inside. I was living off the cash I’d had in my wallet and I didn’t have a penny over thirty dollars.
    Maybe I can stop by the bank and withdraw some of my savings, I thought.
    The bus driver cleared his throat and threw a look my way. Frowning, I dug out two dollars and shoved them into the receptacle then turned toward the seats. There were only a handful of people on the bus. I sat in the first empty seat, which was in the front row, but not the one behind the bus driver. I never liked to sit right behind the bus driver; I always felt like I was being watched when I sat there.
    He pulled the handle to close the door and we lumbered down the road. I knew it would take at least ten minutes to reach town, having driven there with my family a few times. I watched the blur of trees as we sped past the forest. The trees changed to meadows and I stared at the few houses we passed, wondering if my family could be in one of them.
    When the bus stopped in the center of town I climbed off, dragging my backpack with me. I headed down the main street, on the lookout for a place to use a computer. Starting off in a random direction, I looked at the store fronts as I passed. Boutiques, bookstores, and mom and pop diners lined the road. Nothing with public access to a computer. But then it occurred to me that one of the stores might have a phone book, which would also have the information I needed.
    A few minutes later I found myself standing in front of the Come on Inn Diner . It looked like they had rooms available above the diner, which must be where the Inn part of the name came from. I opened the door and the smell of hamburgers wafted toward me, making my stomach growl.
    Ignoring my first impulse to go right to the counter, I made my way to the ladies room and pushed through the door. I saw two stalls, but both were unoccupied. Glad to be alone, I went to the sink and looked at myself in the mirror. Normally I kept my wavy dark-blonde hair under control, but now it stuck up in several places. Plus my face needed washing.
    No wonder that woman at my house looked scared of me, I thought. I’m a mess.
    I set my backpack on the floor, then splashed warm water on my face. I ran my wet hands through my hair, forcing it to behave. I grabbed a handful of paper towels and dried my face and hands, then used the damp paper towels to wipe the dirt off of my shoes.
    Tossing the dirty paper towels in the trash, I looked in the mirror again and thought I looked presentable, even if I didn’t look my best. Just then a woman walked in and went into a stall. I grabbed my backpack and left, heading directly toward the counter.
    Sliding onto a stool, I picked up the menu, deciding I could take a moment to eat something before continuing my quest. The menu choices were a bit surprising: veggie burgers, low-fat soups and salads, low-calorie deli sandwiches. I’d never had a veggie burger before, but was too hungry to be picky and decided to order one with all the fixings, along with a diet soda.
    “What can I get you, hon?” the waitress asked, her pencil at the ready on her notepad.
    I told her what I wanted and she didn’t respond, but stared at me. Finally she said, “Don’t you think you’d prefer one of our low-fat soups? The vegetable minestrone