Bless the Broken Road
Finally Leaving Florida
I sat in my living room of my Sew Smyrna beach house, organizing my income to take a well deserved vacation to a place where I’ve never been, Las Vegas, Nevada. I know it’s not the best destination choice but I’ve never had the chance to get out and about and explore the world. It’s one of my dreams – to travel to far and different places of the world either with myself or a person I fall in love with. I finally had enough money for gas, food, and a hotel. And I know I’m crazy for wanting to drive all the way to Las Vegas from Florida, but I love to travel! You can’t see different and amazing cities from the sky! Well you can, but it’s not as fun. Back to the story, I added up all of my expenses for the trip. I was more than ready to leave tomorrow! My time was consisting of two days on the road. It didn’t bother me, I was driving and it was something to keep me occupied. I managed to get three weeks off of work at the Veterinary Clinic for Equines (horses) in which I specialize in. I have to say that I will miss the horses I take care of, including the two horses I have of my own. As I was putting my money in a locked box, I noticed on the television that “Ghost Adventures” was making its usual Friday night runs. I was a fan of the show and met the guys at a lockdown that they were having in Florida. As the show was closing out, I decided it was my time to get some sleep for my very long journey starting tomorrow. The sunshine and the warm ocean breeze awoke me from my deep slumber. All I could think and dream about was the two day trip to Las Vegas. I grabbed my suitcase and purse and headed to my gorgeous prized possession that will be carrying me on my journey, my Dodge Challenger SRT/8. I saved up my extra money for three years to purchase this car. I’m very proud of it and can’t wait to show off my possession I spent so much time on. I was packed up and ready to go. It wasn’t but maybe five seconds before I was on the road heading to Las Vegas. Within an hour into the trip Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash’s music was flowing through my car. I was still in Florida, nowhere close to the border to Georgia. I sang ‘Daddy Sang Bass’ to myself like I was performing with Johnny Cash. A few hours and a few more classics later, I was now in Missouri. Full tank of gas and food in my belly, I was ready for sleep. But I’m not letting it get to me. I was excited. The clock read 6 a.m. and I was getting more and more tired by the minute. I was now in New Mexico running on half a day with no sleep. And surprisingly, I was not tired. I felt like a child on Christmas Eve – not wanting to go to bed and eager to find what Santa brought them. I decided to stay at a motel for the night.
The next morning, I was on the road again right away. Soon enough I was finally in Nevada! About another six hours later, I arrived dead in the heart of Las Vegas. I found a motel to stay at that was cheap compared to big hotels like the Luxor. I soon got settled in and decided to walk on the strip and get some exercise and have a meal. Wearing my stylish blue jean jacket and skinny jeans I headed into a local restaurant close to my motel. I didn’t care what kind of restaurant this was, I just wanted some food in my stomach. It looked casual yet crazy on the inside. There were pictures of Elvis and other 50’s movie stars on the walls with music playing low in the background. The hostess led me to my table and I soon noticed three men sitting in a booth laughing and having a good time. I paid no attention to them because it wasn’t my business to stare. The waitress brought me my drink and took my order. I was playing on my phone when the sudden urge to use the restroom came over me. I got up, still looking at my phone screen, not paying attention to what I was doing. I bumped into a man chatting to his friend. I stumbled into the man and he caught my arm. “I’m so sorry!” I apologized with a laugh. “Oh you’re okay sweetie.” Smiled the man. He continued to walk with his friends. I knew who they were, but I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. I’ve met them once already at one of their lockdown locations back in Florida. I used the restroom and came back to my table to see my food waiting for me. God was I hungry once more when the scent of tender chicken strips and French fries filled my nostrils. I ate fairly quickly, giving the waitress a tip and paying. The time now was 8 p.m. and I started back to my stroll down the strip when I noticed a couple of large men talking on the corner of the street, as a single young woman walking alone and you see two large men, you tend to get scared. But it was hard to scare me. I knew how to defend myself. I walked fast past them. And they just had to say something. “Hey baby, wanna be my girlfriend?” The man mumbled in a drunken stutter. I knew I just had to put up a fight to get out of this situation, “No thanks, I’ll have to lower my standards.” I said continuing to walk faster. I then saw the man I bumped in to at the restaurant, Zak Bagans. I would consider him as an immediate protector of a friend. But I met him once, well twice. We don’t know each other. But I’d rather have him protect me from two big men then me protecting myself. The large man grabbed my arm and I turned around swinging. I put up a good fight and managed to escape. I ran to Zak, who was just about to sit down in his car. I stopped at his car, making him jump. “Hey! I-I know I don’t know you but I need help!” I pleaded to him. “What’s wrong?” Zak asked. “This man won’t leave me alone and I’m by myself without my car.” “Where is he?” “He’s over there, staring at me.” “Sweetie don’t worry about it, they’re drunk. It’s typical Las Vegas citizens.” He joked as if he wanted me to leave him alone. I then saw his eyes get wide and he pulled me onto him in his car. I didn’t know what was going on until I heard a shot, sounding like it came from a BB gun, it was a real gun. “Get in the seat. I’m not going to hurt you.” Zak said sounding panicked shutting his car door and putting it in gear. This man was shooting at me and Zak. I was more afraid of them possibly finding me. “You didn’t have to do that, you know?” I said. “I felt like a cop for a second! Or like I’m in a ‘Fast & Furious’ movie!” Zak laughed. “I bet you do! Especially in a Bentley!” I said talking about his car. “So you know cars huh?” “I sure do! As a matter of fact, I have a Challenger at the motel.” I said taking in the pride I had in my car. “Really? So do I. But I’m getting ready to sell it though.” He said. “What?! How dare you sell an American muscle?!” I joked. “I never drive it. I like my Bentley better.” He laughed. “So, what’s your name?” “Destiny. Destiny Schneider.” I smiled. “I’m assuming you’re German?” “That’s where I’m from.” “Interesting. I think we’ll get along quite well. Where is your motel?” He asked. “Right down the road.” I pointed. “Thank you by the way. You know you didn’t have to do that.” “I know, but I wanted to. I know who you are, well not really, I’m not a stalker or anything, I remember meeting you back in Florida.” He laughed looking over at me. “Wow so you do care about your fans huh?” I joked with a grin. “Well duh! My fans are the world to me and the guys.” “I’m sure they are. Oh – right there is my motel!” I said making sure Zak wouldn’t miss his turn. “I know it’s your motel, I see your car right there!” Zak chuckled pulling next to my car. “Thanks for driving me here. I’ll pay you back for your gas money.” I said getting out of the car. “Don’t worry about it sweetie.” Zak assured. “Thanks again, Zak. I can sleep peacefully tonight thanks to you!” I giggled. “Just call me Superman.” “Nah, more like SuperBagans?” I asked raising my eyebrows. “That has a ring to it! Well I’ll let you go. Be safe sweetie!” Zak said before pulling out of the parking lot. I watched his black Bentley Supersport make its way down the road and back to his house. I couldn’t help but think that I might see this man again.
The next morning, I was on the road again right away. Soon enough I was finally in Nevada! About another six hours later, I arrived dead in the heart of Las Vegas. I found a motel to stay at that was cheap compared to big hotels like the Luxor. I soon got settled in and decided to walk on the strip and get some exercise and have a meal. Wearing my stylish blue jean jacket and skinny jeans I headed into a local restaurant close to my motel. I didn’t care what kind of restaurant this was, I just wanted some food in my stomach. It looked casual yet crazy on the inside. There were pictures of Elvis and other 50’s movie stars on the walls with music playing low in the background. The hostess led me to my table and I soon noticed three men sitting in a booth laughing and having a good time. I paid no attention to them because it wasn’t my business to stare. The waitress brought me my drink and took my order. I was playing on my phone when the sudden urge to use the restroom came over me. I got up, still looking at my phone screen, not paying attention to what I was doing. I bumped into a man chatting to his friend. I stumbled into the man and he caught my arm. “I’m so sorry!” I apologized with a laugh. “Oh you’re okay sweetie.” Smiled the man. He continued to walk with his friends. I knew who they were, but I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. I’ve met them once already at one of their lockdown locations back in Florida. I used the restroom and came back to my table to see my food waiting for me. God was I hungry once more when the scent of tender chicken strips and French fries filled my nostrils. I ate fairly quickly, giving the waitress a tip and paying. The time now was 8 p.m. and I started back to my stroll down the strip when I noticed a couple of large men talking on the corner of the street, as a single young woman walking alone and you see two large men, you tend to get scared. But it was hard to scare me. I knew how to defend myself. I walked fast past them. And they just had to say something. “Hey baby, wanna be my girlfriend?” The man mumbled in a drunken stutter. I knew I just had to put up a fight to get out of this situation, “No thanks, I’ll have to lower my standards.” I said continuing to walk faster. I then saw the man I bumped in to at the restaurant, Zak Bagans. I would consider him as an immediate protector of a friend. But I met him once, well twice. We don’t know each other. But I’d rather have him protect me from two big men then me protecting myself. The large man grabbed my arm and I turned around swinging. I put up a good fight and managed to escape. I ran to Zak, who was just about to sit down in his car. I stopped at his car, making him jump. “Hey! I-I know I don’t know you but I need help!” I pleaded to him. “What’s wrong?” Zak asked. “This man won’t leave me alone and I’m by myself without my car.” “Where is he?” “He’s over there, staring at me.” “Sweetie don’t worry about it, they’re drunk. It’s typical Las Vegas citizens.” He joked as if he wanted me to leave him alone. I then saw his eyes get wide and he pulled me onto him in his car. I didn’t know what was going on until I heard a shot, sounding like it came from a BB gun, it was a real gun. “Get in the seat. I’m not going to hurt you.” Zak said sounding panicked shutting his car door and putting it in gear. This man was shooting at me and Zak. I was more afraid of them possibly finding me. “You didn’t have to do that, you know?” I said. “I felt like a cop for a second! Or like I’m in a ‘Fast & Furious’ movie!” Zak laughed. “I bet you do! Especially in a Bentley!” I said talking about his car. “So you know cars huh?” “I sure do! As a matter of fact, I have a Challenger at the motel.” I said taking in the pride I had in my car. “Really? So do I. But I’m getting ready to sell it though.” He said. “What?! How dare you sell an American muscle?!” I joked. “I never drive it. I like my Bentley better.” He laughed. “So, what’s your name?” “Destiny. Destiny Schneider.” I smiled. “I’m assuming you’re German?” “That’s where I’m from.” “Interesting. I think we’ll get along quite well. Where is your motel?” He asked. “Right down the road.” I pointed. “Thank you by the way. You know you didn’t have to do that.” “I know, but I wanted to. I know who you are, well not really, I’m not a stalker or anything, I remember meeting you back in Florida.” He laughed looking over at me. “Wow so you do care about your fans huh?” I joked with a grin. “Well duh! My fans are the world to me and the guys.” “I’m sure they are. Oh – right there is my motel!” I said making sure Zak wouldn’t miss his turn. “I know it’s your motel, I see your car right there!” Zak chuckled pulling next to my car. “Thanks for driving me here. I’ll pay you back for your gas money.” I said getting out of the car. “Don’t worry about it sweetie.” Zak assured. “Thanks again, Zak. I can sleep peacefully tonight thanks to you!” I giggled. “Just call me Superman.” “Nah, more like SuperBagans?” I asked raising my eyebrows. “That has a ring to it! Well I’ll let you go. Be safe sweetie!” Zak said before pulling out of the parking lot. I watched his black Bentley Supersport make its way down the road and back to his house. I couldn’t help but think that I might see this man again.