The highway unwound before Rory like a serpent, promising adventure and uncertainty.

As she drove, the landscape shifted from familiar streets to uncharted terrain. “I think we are off from greed now, what exactly do you need my help for?” The driver asked.

“What exactly do you want from me? Why are you so interested in what is happening in my life? Are you in any way connected to me or what?” Rory asks in her voice with a surge of surprise.

“I can be of help if you let me in or know what exactly you are facing right now. I can help you if you want me to” he replied.

“Well, right now, the only help I want you to do for me is to focus more on your driving, I think it would make me feel more comfortable,” Rory said.

“I don't think so, what you need right now is for you to feel good, okay, but if you insist I should stop talking I think I would follow your orders” the driver said.

Grey wood's path loosened with each passing mile. Rory's thoughts catch up to the mysterious contact her aunt had left her – a single name, a phone number, and an unknown message. Who was this person, and what did they want from her?

“Well, I actually think that you might be of help to me right now more than ever, I have something for you” she said to the driver.

“What could that be?” He asked.

“It's the same card with me. There is a phone number in it and I think I should call, but I don't really trust my aunt since you know more about this city. Can you please identify the card” Rory said.

“Yes, I know the city well, but you don't expect me to just identify a phone number with a card. I am not a cybersecurity or something, I am only a driver, but you could stop by and help yourself with the identification of the number” the driver said.

“Okay, I understand you, but I think there is more to this card than that. I have to know what it's made of before I bump into it, thank you for your concern” she said.

“I think I would drop you down on ash wood. I think you would find your way to Manhattan through the town, but you think you would have to study your paths well” the driver said.

“What do you mean by studying my paths?” Rory asked.

“You said something about the Stone Enterprise having a job offer there, you have to be careful, okay, if you decide to still take one,” he said. The driver's words echoed Rory’s memory. Each word dropped a sign, and she had to make her kids settle down for ash wood so she could still get a job there and start up a new life.

Rory's mind roamed with questions to ask, but the open road seemed to give out answers. She turned up the radio, letting the music get over her as she sped toward the unknown. Freedom felt pleased.

Rory stepped out of the bus and into the loud streets of Ash wood, a small town that felt like a fresh start to her. She had to stop nearby the road so she could think more on how to continue her life in Manhattan and know how she could get to her new self.

She breathed in the venting air, feeling a sense of possibility sketch over her. As she roamed around the town, Rory saw from sight a small and colorful café where she landed a job as a waitress to work with them while finalizing her plans for Manhattan. The owner, Mrs. Jenkins, became a kind mentor, offering words of wisdom and warmth. “Good day sir, Good day ma” she greeted the both of them”

“Yes, what help can we give you?” Mrs. Jenkins asked.

“Well I saw the vacancy for a waitress, I am actually new to this town and I have nothing to do. I think I should start the job immediately,” Rory said.

“Okay, have you worked as a waitress before? Because we wouldn't condone any mistake from you” Mrs. Jenkins said.

“Honestly, I haven't worked as a waitress, but I have worked in a club where I offer a whine to people. It's more of something like that. I think they are connected” Rory said.

“Okay then I think you are given the job and like you said earlier, you have to Begin immediately because we would be having more customers by day” Mrs. Jenkins said.

“Thank you so much, ma” Rory said.

“We didn't ask her about her game,” Jenkins said. “What's your name, please?” He asked.

“I'm Rory, Sir," she said.

“Okay then, nice to meet you” he said, shaking hands with her.

“You mentioned coming here, and you are new, why are you here? What happened? Because I want to believe that you are safe with us” he said.

“I actually would like to be honest with you, I had to go away from greenwood to here because of my aunty. I had no chance to stay with her, so I had to leave her and come here” Rory lied, her voice low and with a surge of sobbing.

“I'm sorry if I made you remember what you actually want to forget, but I just want to know if you are actually going to stay with us on safer ground, but it appears that you are good with us. You can feel comfortable and feel at home. It's good to have you with us. All you have to do is work with us with dedication and commitment, okay” Mr. Jenkins said and left.

Rory began to build a new life in ash wood as she was getting out of plan to go ahead to Manhattan, one free from the shadows of her past. But as she settled in, she wondered: would her secrets remain hidden in Ash wood?