Texas out of Texas, part I.

2012, March 7th.

Texas blinks feeling tired. she is driving a car. the girl is on the backseat. she is sleeping. Texas asks her if she needs anything. the girl makes no noise. Texas keeps driving.

it has been raining hard for weeks. the sky is grayish, dark. there is barely any visible form of life around them. as she keeps driving. she takes a detour. Helen looks at a cloak on top of the seat next to her. she looks around it, until she finds a pack of cigarettes. she puts one between her lips without lighting it. she keeps driving around the forest.

it feels weird. Helen looks through the rear-view window. there is something that appears to be a sinister face drawn by clouds. it looks like it smiles at her. the moon is stationed right on the position of the eye. it is as bright as sinister.

if that wasn't enough of a bad omen. there had been crows following her around. it seems like she is running out of time. Dallas' birthday was last week. it feels like the time has come for Texas to face whatever the world is sending on her way.

Helen stops by a gas station. she asks Dallas to stay in the car. the car still has some gas to keep running for about another two hours. but there is no telling if she would be able to find another gas station between those two hours. Texas comes out of the car. she walks inside the mart holding a feastful of dollars. she looks around. the place looks mostly abandoned. almost haunted like. there is one more person inside there.

"Hello there gorgeous." said a person that is supposed to be dead. a phantom from the past you may say. a man that walks and acts more alive than ever.

"That can't be possible. I could swear. I saw you die that night." commented Helen as she trembles feeling horror and confusion. 

"Truth to be told. I don't know how I am in here either gorgeous. it's good to see you well and alive Helen. or you prefer the name of Texas?" said the middle-aged man.

the man in there 'died' during the events of the previous rounded meeting. he is no other than the man who goes by the code name, London. he fell into the pit and never came out of there and was presumed to be dead until now.

London looks the same he used to look back then. he has short black bright hair with some gray and white hairs. a freshly shaved face. pale skin. he has that kind of hot older guy features he was known for. nothing about him has changed. on the contrary she looks more mature and older. not old of course, but not great either.

"How did you come back to life? you were gone." said Helen feeling scared.

"It is hard to explain. all I can say is that we have a friend in common. he also gave me a coin or two." commented London smiling.

Helen isn't sure if she could trust him or not. he is the same in the outside, but he is clearly different from before. he seems more insecure and emptier. there was a time in which they would flirt between meetings. she had some feelings for him. 

"It is coming. the ending started long ago. the nine gates had come one after another one. but you won't be there to see it. you won't get to live for long." said London.

Helen didn't find the words to speak up. there was a great pain on her chest. she felt awful to think that her actions had taken her nowhere. it feels like if there is an invisible force leading her into a pointless war. and now she is about to die for nothing.

"Is there anything that I can do?" asks Helen feeling frustration.

"To be frankly honest, no. I am so sorry. but the only thing you can do is to protect the girl. someone has to take care of her now that your time is coming." said London.

Helen falls on her knees. she feels broken. London pays for her gas. he then walks out of there without saying anything else. he had done his part. there are places to be. things to do to prepare for the end. London walks out without looking back.

Helen calls some of her friends. no one answers the phone. she then sends a message to one old friend. almost right away Tequila answers the message. he was ready to meet. they used to be close friends once. to be more precise, childhood friends.

Tequila is a loyal friend. once he is told a friend is in danger. he would be driving towards their location ready to fight for them. he is that kind of guy.

Texas sighs. she then looks at her teenage girl outside in the car. the rain was gone. they are in a forest in the middle of nowhere. it would take long for Tequila to come. Texas feels melancholy to know that she won't spend many more years with her child.

even when she isn't Dallas' mother. their bond is that of a mother and daughter. tears start coming out. no one wants to die, especially when they are young. but there is nothing she can do about it. it was meant to be.

"How much long do I need to wait. he is taking too long." whispers Helen.

eventually Helen went back to the car. she had a small conversation with Dallas. she said goodbye on her own way. she doesn't want to explain the whole thing. it has to be hard for a kid to lose a paternal figure once more. 

"You are leaving. aren't you?" commented Dallas with tearful eyes.

"It isn't about me leaving. it is just. I don't have much time. sooner or later, I will be out of your life. I have no power. I have no control. I will be gone forever." said Helen crying.

"It is okay mom. I understand." said Dallas crying.

after one or two long hours. Tequila finally arrives. he comes out of a blue car. he is well dressed in a suit. he has his long hair combed. he seems to be doing fine. Helen greets him forcing a smile. she then asks him to take care of her child. 

Tequila was feeling some sort of Deja vu. Tequila didn't come alone. his own son was also on the car reading a magazine. the seven years old Miguel salutes them. he then keeps reading a magazine about airplanes. 

"I didn't know you had a son/ daughter." commented both Texas and Tequila at the same time before answering by saying, "Oh, no. not my blood child. my adopted child." also both commented at the same time. 

after some long conversation. Tequila left with both kids. he had somewhere else to be. and now Helen is alone by herself. it feels weird. there without her child. there are tears that don't stop coming out. but it is for her own good.

then Helen left. she keeps driving for a while. she tries to put some music. all the songs are off putting with strange lyrics. as she keeps driving there are worse and worse things she sees on the road like omens warning Helen of her destiny. 

there are inhuman figures on the dark trying to attract her attention. Helen drives nervously trying to ignore it. there are other things approaching. then it all stops out of nowhere. Helen finds herself in front of a hotel.

Helen could tell that no matter what she does. she won't survive today. whatever was happening around her. it was all leading her towards the hotel. something sinister hides behind those walls. 

Helen exits her car. she approaches the hotel. she then knocks on the door twice.