Grant and Dixie

"Will it hurt when...." not being able to complete the sentence Dixie trailed off, tears she so forcibly held back ow free flows down her cheeks.

Grant held onto her her tightly as she looked away from his sullen gaze.

"No sweets, it will be like going to sleep, but..." now it was his turn to discontinue.  

He would give anything to take this away from her, anything to let it only be him and not this precious little gift to this broken world.  After several of minutes of crying Dixie looked up at her long time friend, if it had to be the end it could not be any better with her long time friend.

Grant looked back at the miniature figure cradled in his beefy arms, he himself stood an inch 
below three feet, tall for his kind, but towered over his friend by two thirds.  As he gently stroked her wings, a commonly soothing gestured between the two, she gave him the best smile she can muster under the circumstances.  A grin reserved only for him.

They sat there for hours, as Dixie slept in his arms.  He stayed awake admiring the love of his life, careful not to wake her he stared out over to the east watching his last sunrise he contemplates a possibility of an afterlife, he fantasizes an eternity with  is favorite little pixie.  Running through the vastness of the elysian fields.  Exploring many new worlds and going on adventures each more extraordinary than the last.

"A with the old ones my sweets our time here is finished."  Dixie stirred slightly in his arms, he stroked her tiny face "shh sleep my love, sleep."

As the light of the morning sun crept up to their place on the grassy hill, the lifetime friends were no longer there.  In their place a bed of sunflowers had sprung up marking the only sign of the unlikely friendship of a Gnome and a Pixie.

Epilogue:

New York City, the street packed with the array of taxis and other commercial vehicles, as the city's morning commuters bustled about making their way to the various jobs that ruled their short lives.  A packed Time Square no one paid attention to the faces masses that shared the sidewalks, so the sudden appearances of an unusually small in a grey three piece suit and bowlers cap went completely unnoticed.

Brandishing a walking stick the tiny gentleman made his way through the sea of legs.  Walking a straight path he seemed to avoid any collisions.

A small girl around seven or eight did in fact see the doll sized man and with a smile lighting her face of wonder only someone her age can behold she attempts to gain the attention of her mother, who at the time was preoccupied by a small device seemingly attached to her ear, only tugged the girl along the way.

The small stranger simply returned the grin of the girl and tipped his hat to her gaining a renewed cheeky grin.  He made his way east 46th street whistling a tune from a long forgotten song without a care in the world.

Sent from my jPad

  ©2013 Kinse, My Sweet Hero

Dead Lover

Once as beautiful as herself her lover shared the night

Her love for him so powerful he lit up her darkest night

He would visit her seven times a year

They would make love under Sol and spend the night lost in each other

He returned to his spot to bask in her beauty while she spins below his shadow

Now and then he tugged on her sides teasing her 

Aroused she hid her blushes with the autumn leaves

During the winter months she grew cold at the apex of his departure

But when his visit grew near the was a Spring in her step

And his love alone warmed her spirits 

Tears of joy washed over her anticipating his arrival

Tears of sorrow knowing his visit would be brief

Over the millennium his visits grew shorter as the distance between them lengthen

Even during his visits the light in his eyes dimmed

She knew the old ones soon will depart

The effect on her lover would be immense

His ailing health a product of their departure

If he goes he will live but without him she will spin off into a chaotic death

If he stays he will perish but at least he will see her until his dying breath

And what remains of him will sustain her for million of years to come

Now when she watches the night sky she sees the body of the one she loves

So dearly and so completely a reminder of what they used to have

"I love you my sweet moon" she whispers as his body passes along a predictable path

She cannot scorn the old ones for even thought their departure sealed his fate 

They needed to see to the lives of the children who they left behind will flourish

So she continues to live on as their children rape and destroy the body that was once worshiped byt the moon and the stars

  ©2013 Kinse, My Sweet Hero

Impression

We stood at the entrance of the club as we waited for Stacey to get off the phone.  She was having another argument with her boyfriend and this time it seemed brutal.

The security at the door was beginning to get impatient he may have to turn us away, Donna was trying to will Stacey off the phone with the crazy “c’mon already” look she does.

It is five of us, NYU students, out on a girl’s night celebrating Stacey’s 21^st birthday.  Of all days Steve chooses now to pull one of his bull headed acts, originally he was supposed to be taking her out to dinner but never showed up.  After waiting two hours for the jerk we kidnapped Stacey to make sure this night was awesome. 

But Steve chooses now to return her call, he completely forgot, surprise, and found a way to blame her, another surprise.  Albeit Stacey is furious, she is a simple chic, but my gods she has quite the temper.

Donna is Stacey’s childhood friend, they were buddies in since birth, and they lived in the same apartment building one floor apart.  If it wasn’t for Donna black with a rich dark chocolate skin and Stacey a pasty while red headed Irish gal you would think they were identical twins by their mannerisms, how they complete each other sentences, and almost have a psychic connection to know when the other is in trouble.

I would not believe it myself if I have not witness this phenomenon in action.

Sue and Mary joined us, all from the same dorm floor we quickly started our own clique from freshmen year.  Now three years later we are standing in front of Sha-Bang, the hottest club at the moment, looking all sexy about to be let in and the patience of the bouncer only can go so far on our looks.

When Stacey started drifting toward the corner, Donna followed suit.  The three of us gave up our spot, who are we kidding they’ll let us in when we flash the big guy our ruby red smiles, and moved to catch up with the other two.

Stacey was about twenty feet ahead of Donna about to turn the corner when she screeched at her iPhone in rage obviously hanging up and stomped off disappearing around corner.  Whenever she gets furious enough she prefers to be left alone, most of the time stomping off and reappearing and hour later cool as a cucumber.  However although the club is exclusive, the neighborhood is iffy and Donna, as well as she can in her tight skirt and six inch heels,  attempted to speed up to catch Stacey before getting to far.

Donna stopped at the corner looking confused, when we arrived we found out why.  Stacey managed to disappear.  Donna called out without success Mary and Sue moved across the street to see of she was sitting on a stoop there as Donna and I moved down the one side.

“Out of all the fucked up times for her to pull this shit” Donna commented with apparent anger, but I could hear the underlying concern.

“I think we should wait back at the corner” I respond, “In case she returns, there is a couple of alleys here and a side street she can easily take to come up the other side of the club.”

Donna nodded and we turned around.  I looked over to the others and they were already taking our hint.

“What the hell?” Sue asked as the two approached.

Donna shook her head, “She wouldn’t do something this dumb unless Don seriously pissed her off.”

We all shifted in place looking away uneasily.  For some time we suspected that Stacey’s boyfriend, Don, was cheating on her, never admitted it.  Donna had attempted to broach the subjected with her best friend, it ended up causing a rift in their friendship for two weeks.  She was in love, blinded by what they shared for a week in the Catskills.  He was too sweet to her, in a romantic cabin stuck in a power outage due to Sandy hitting NYC, surrounded by candles, still caught up in the moment.

Donna looked obviously concerned, not only was her friend distressed about a serious relationship issue, now she is wandering the streets of New York.  I stepped beside her and tentatively placed my hand on her back.   Sue and Mary instinctively moved in closer.  All of us peering down the block.

At this point Donna slipped her iPhone from her pocket and speed dialed Stacey. 

“Dammit” she exclaimed when the call obviously went straight to voicemail.  Without waiting for the greeting to complete; she forcibly thumbed the red ‘End Call’ button and slammed the phone to her side.

Not knowing what to do next she took a half step toward the block, I moved my hand to her shoulder to stop her.

“Donna wait” I said “I will look for her, you wait here”.

Without responding she stepped back.  Sue and Mary looked to me, I shook my head slightly as to say stay with her, and made my way in the direction I guessed Stacey took.

The block was short and I was at the other intersection in less than a few minutes, I peered over my shoulder and saw Donna on the phone again this time waving her free hand franticly.  It seems she changed gears and called Steve, tearing him a couple of new ones.  Seems like I the safe decision to seek out our lost girl friend, Donna’s wrath can be a bit uncomfortable, I feel for the ones I left alone with her.

A shuffling noise around the corner at this end of the intersection caught my attention.  Looking over I spy two men jogging off around the next corner.  Something of that scene seemed real suspect.  The men seemed to be trying to catch up with someone.

Hoping that someone was not Stacey I cautiously made my way toward the direction they were headed.

As I made my way around the next corner I already see the three men at the other end about to turn the next corner, they are joined by three more making them a group of five.  Almost completely out of sight two hung back, moving back down the block, toward me!

My heart pounding I ducked into the doorway of a now closed drycleaners, the inset of the entrance way before the door giving me enough cover.  Great place to keep from view, but a horrible trap if I were spotted making an easy prey.

After a few breathless moments, nervously my hand made its way my necklace.  Whenever I get agitated I always fiddled with charm around my neck.  A gift from my mother with a simple note that it was a family heirloom.

Grasping the jewelry I dared to peak from my cubby hole.  Relieved the two men didn’t notice me, but were more interested with something down a nearby alley way. 

Or someone!

Quickly I started to feel sick, the worst came to mind that Stacey may have been hiding down the alley and these to animals were in pursuit.  I felt sick, my legs were cemented to the ground.  Screaming in my head to move forward, to run down the alley, but what if?

What if Stacey was nowhere near here? What if the other three decide to return? What if…

It was all I can do to keep from hyperventilating, I held onto my necklace, feeling the smooth side of the back of the jade as the figure carved on front bit deeply into the palm of my hand.  All I can do is close my eyes, clasping the figure, the necklace threatening to break off, I counted to ten attempting to bring calm.

One, my heart beat so fast I shook with terror

Two, I hear only the blood rushing to my head

Three, my mouth clamped shut I wanted to cry out to my mother

Four, attempting to control my heart rate I slowly drew in my next breath

Five, released

Six, I drew in the next one even slower

Seven, sound slowly returned from outside

Eight, released the bad air

Nine, heard a slight scuffle come out from the alley

Ten, this time I easily took my next breath with control

With complete serenity I opened my eyes, looking at an ad on the other side of the doorway for an underground rave from long ago, I released my amulet.  The jade monkey figure almost stuck to my palm fell away back between my breasts, leaving an impression of a face with its eyes covered. 

I left the alcove ignoring that once feared alley and walked back to the club.

As I turned down the corner where my group waited I caught Stacey sitting at the curb hands to her face as if trying to hide from the world.  A dark figure was stepping away from her. 

Donna broke my trance as she cried out upon seeing her best friend, looking at them for a mere millisecond, I quickly looked back for the stranger, but he was nowhere to be seen.

“Donna.” Stacey called out and her friend responded by bending over and hugging her.  Sue and Mary moved in the tension melting away, I moved in closer as the two on lookers giggled.

I in turned smiled, the idea of a dark figure melted away.

  ©2013 Kinse, My Sweet Hero

You Know

"I think I would rather be a man than a god. We don’t need anyone to believe in us. We just keep going anyhow. It’s what we do."  ~Shadow (American Gods, by Neil Gaiman) 

Getting Back Up

Tuesday September 9th

I got the job!!!

It has been exhausting several months, begging borrowing getting back on my feet. Proving to my family that I can be trusted. 

I know they are still a bit skeptical, rehab was a nightmare, shit there were plenty of times I wanted to give up, how I could expect my family to believe in me when I could not believe in myself. 

So after several interviews and trying to convince total strangers I can be trusted I was finally hired by a solid firm.

Sure they pride themselves on giving people second chances, after all the chance I had in life I did not hold my breath for this one. 

It's funny several of the interviews I went on prior I had great feelings for, only to be disappointment after no return calls, but this one was tough, I thought for sure they would not get back to me, but they want me to start this coming Monday, as long as i pass their drug tests (for once in my adult life I am not concerned at all, i will be peeing in a cup with a grin).  

Wednesday September 10th

Had lunch with my father and sister this afternoon. My mom didn't show, I wasn't surprised. 

I scraped together what I can find so I can pay. I know I will be struggling even with a paycheck, but I wanted to show I can take care of myself.  

Anyway the lunch was to give them the news about the job, Lizzy was so happy for me. My little sister, she always saw the best in me, even when I thought I was lost, her sweet innocent face always looked up to me like I can do no wrong. 

She is still so young, but growing up so fast, being eleven years older i remember so clearly the day they brought her home, I was so excited to have a little sister. Seeing her respect for me in her eyes alone makes my decisions the past year and a half so so worth. Anything less from now on would kill. 

She will be seventeen in December. I am planning to live off of Rama noodles till then so she can have a sweet birthday, not enough will make up for the ones missed or the shit I put her through over the years. But it won't stop me from trying. 

And papa, seeing the pride in his eyes this afternoon nearly brought me to tears. No I'm not going to lie, I wept like a baby when he hugged me and gave me a kiss on each cheek.   

They held onto my every word, little Lizzy made me tell the story of the interview twice. 

We briefly talked about mama, pops tried to excuse her, I knew the truth, I understood. I will keep trying, one day I will go back home on my knees and beg for her forgiveness.   But I need to forgive myself first. 

After pop insisted on paying, he can be so stubborn sometimes, but in the end he saw in me that I needed to do this, a small token but letting me take the check was a very tiny thing but it meant respect. 

I returned to the halfway house with a skip in my step, i even were the shirt and tie i were to the interview (only ones I got). 

Thursday September 11th

So I had that dream again, THE dream. 

It's after 3AM, I don't know if I can't go back to sleep or just don't want to. So I am writing to distract myself from my nightmare. 

In a few short hours i have to stop by my new job to take the drug test. I don't want to show up sleepy, but I am afraid to drink coffee in the morning as to not skew the results or take sleep aide for the same reason. 

I am going to try my sleep again. 

------

So peed in a cup. Yeah not the best opener for my journal but I am happy that this is the first that i am worried that something I did a week, a few days, or even a night ago would haunt me. 

Still a bit tired, after i check in with my PO i think i am going to take a nap. Might as well take advantage of my free time I am planning to work a shitload of hours! 

After pissing in the cup I ran into ms moira, the lady who interviewed me, she seems a hell of a lot nicer now then during the interview, i basically volunteered myself on three different projects. I know I may have but off more than I can chew, but if i throw myself into it it's sink or swim, right?

I thought at first it was a small law firm, but the office i interviewed in was just an annexed office from a larger firm. My first job is to help catalogue and pack records to move to the larger building. 

Ms Moira is going to point me in the right direction to get my bachelors. Getting my associates was very difficult, I can use all the help I can get. 

I am looking forward to starting work on Monday, if it was not for my own lawyer doing pro bono work, working his ass off for me cause he saw my potential, i think this is what i want so I can give back. 

I guess i got a lot of people to thank and to apologize to. If it were not for that night though i don't think I would be here writing this.

------

Meeting with Burke, my PO, went okay as usual, through me off by a surprise drug test, so twice today I got to pee in cups. 

He barely gave me an 'uh huh' when i told him i got a job, without even making eye contact he pushed a form in front of me to fill out. 

You know I was piss at first but then I realized I have nothin to prove to him, fuck I ain't got nothin to prove to anyone but myself, so with pride i filled out his form giving the details of my new employment. I already disclosed to the firm my records, I'm gonna do this right, won't hide nothin won't lie about Shit so no shit will come back to bite me in the ass later. 

Afterwards I thought about officer Burke, he probably sees so many low lives pass through his office, most makin promises none succeeding, I thought I had it bad but this poor Schmuck had to witness the low point of humanity. 

Looks like those critical thinking and humanities classes paid off. Note to self, after my probation is over a year from now I will pay Burke a visit and show him at least one person can change. 

Friday September 12th

Fuck!!! Fuck fuck fuck fuck!!!

The firm called me this morning, they said they had a mix up with some paper work and the position was no longer available. 

Jesus, what is this worth it?  Why am i fucking trying? Why didn't you just kill me two years ago? 

I should have died, if this is my karma working against me because of all the shit did and what i did that night, i might as well be dead I might as well go to hell then live through this hell on earth. 

Fuck this shit, thought writing would help , thought by putting it on paper would...

just fuck

Saturday September 13th

I almost used today. 

I risked going down to the old neighborhood to score. I ignored the old haunts, the gangs, and that alley way. 

I had the rock in my hand, my last twenty was already exchanged hands and the rock was handed off to me by the currier.  

I started east to the only place I can take this hit unseen, an abandoned building that was marked 'condemned' years ago, now riddled with junkies so far gone that this was their only place of refuge to get high. 

I wanted to go there so I can get lost in the sea of faceless zombies and just melt away. Too cowardly to just straight up take my own life, but to end it in a blissful high. 

Unsurprisingly the building was still there, cops occasionally raid the place, most of the time the junkies get advance warning, but in the end the police leave them to their devices, as long as we are killing ourselves and not others (I guess)

The back entrance loose board access is still present, getting in was easy. 

I only had one thing on my mind was to shoot up and get lost in my own head. 

Without even realizing it I automatically made my way to the corner my old gang used to occupy. 

No old memories surfaced. 

A  bedroom in once was a two bedroom apartment, the other bedroom long ago got lost into the neighboring apartment with walls being torn away by time, neglect, and vandals. 

Immediately i noticed I was not alone, on the far corner was a dark shape lost in his or hers own wonderland.

I just made myself 'comfortable' in the opposite corner knowing my roommate was in no condition to mind. 

I slid my back down the wall and sat on the floor bringing my knees to my chest. Soon my eyes adjusted to the darkness as I unwrapped my prize. 

While opening the baggy, a loud snort caught my attention, I quickly looked toward the figure in the corner. From what I can make out he was facing me, his eye appeared to be open and staring at me or in my direction. 

He looked awfully familiar. 

Trying to ignore the man who had no care for me at all, I went back to the task at hand, but I could not shake the mystery of this stranger. 

Finally giving into my curiosity I leaned forward going to my hands and knees (still gripping the drugs in my right fist) I slowly crawled across the room so I can get a better look.  

My God!!!! It was Carlos, shit fucking Carlos!!!

He was in bad shape, real bad shape. 

Looking at my old friend immediately brought those suppressed memories of that fateful night to the surface. 

Me leaning over that poor girl, Carlos standing behind me, laughing, laughing at the disgusting thing I was about to do to that innocent angel. My god I am a monster!

I was monster. 

Remember looking over my shoulder after Carlos grew unusually silent, to see that dark figure in my peripheral, the one that haunts my nightmares till this day,  then flying through the air. 

I could have died that night, fuck I should have died. It would have been the least I deserved. 

Finally waking up on the roof of an apartment building ten blocks away. I would have past it off for a drug induced dream if it were not for that hand shaped bruise on my shoulder that took weeks to heal. 

Snapping out of my daydream, still on my hands and knees I lifted my right fist, forced it open and looked at the contents in disgust then chucked it against the wall. 

I don't remember making my way out of that building, nor the first few blocks, but i ran and ran and ran, i found myself in front of my childhood apartment, where my folks and little sister still resided. 

Without a second thought i made my way to the fourth floor and banged on the door.  My momma answered and when she saw me she opened her mouth to yell, but before she got a word out I dropped to my knees hugged her at the waist and wept.

I wept uncontrollably, soundlessly my mother pried my arms from her body enough to join me at kneeling level and held me tightly and began to weep herself, my face buried in her shoulder, my tears soaking her blouse as hers ran down my neck in a river.

When we finally broke free; it was then I noticed my papa and Lizzy had joined in.

It must have been some sight for the neighbors who peeked through their peepholes to see a family on their knees crying at the thresh-hold.

After dinner and hours of talking they let me stay on the couch this evening, I am very tired, it had been a long ass day, but I had to get this day on paper before a lot of it faded from memory.

Sunday September 14^th

I dreamed again, of that night of that alley, but this time it was different.

This time at the end of the alley the girl was not there, at first it was empty.  It started the same way where I ran down the dark passage unable to control my actions, reliving the evil of that night, but this time when I made it to the dead end the girl was not there.

For the first time I was able to take control.  I quickly turned around, Carlos was not there, but the dark figure was.

At first I was scared but not for long.  Instead of grabbing me he just pointed to the end of the alley.  I turned around to look at what he was pointing at and saw a being of a pure light, then I woke.

I am not sure if that figure was an angel or not, but what I was sure of that was the last night I was going to have that nightmare.  I have not come close to forgiving myself yet, but I know I am on the correct path to learn how.

My family is getting up now, I agreed to go with them to church.

------

I forgot to turn the ringer off during mass, my phone chimed in the middle of sermon, my mother almost blew an aneurism.  Forgetting how to work the damn thing I plucked out the battery.

After service I quickly excused myself and checked my messages, only my PO and my resumes have my phone number.

The only message was from the firm! They quickly explained they called the wrong person on Friday!!! I was the reason the position was no longer available because it went to me, I was not supposed to get that call and they need me to report to the office at 6AM!!!!!

In the hall of the church once again I was on my knees (the third time this weekend) when my little sister found me, I was laughing hysterically, she thought I lost it.  After I told her about the call, she fell to the floor next to me and joined in on the laughter.

I got the job!!!

 ©2013 Kinse, My Sweet Hero

And Four to Go

“Good morning my dream man, you are quite the sleeper.” My smiling bride stood over me as I open my heavy lids allowing the morning sun to flood over  me.

I cleared the remaining cobwebs from my head by rubbing my eyes with the thumb and index finger of my right hand.  Turning to my wife about to mirror her grin, two large thuds leapt onto the bed either side of my resting form.

“Daddy, daddy!” my twin girls yelled as their 6 year old bodies kneed various parts of mine as they made their way up the bed for hugs and kisses. My other daughter, eleven years old, stood at the door beaming at the scene. 

Working night shifts throughout the week I return from the job after they leave for school and return from work after their bed times, so Saturdays are special when I eventually wake up midafternoon, this is the days I spend with my favorite four women.

Getting out of bed and lead to the kitchen by the twins holding each of my hands, wife follows with her arms crossed and my eldest daughter leads the way to the breakfast feast spread out on the counter.  Suddenly realizing I am starving I attempt to lunge for the pile of bacon, only to meet resistance by the little monkeys pulling me away from my prize and my other daughter tugging me by my tshirt toward the kitchen table.

Stickler for tradition we make it a point to gather around the table as a family as much as we can for meals.  I cherish these moments, this is why we were put here for this short period of time granted to us.  Family.

As I sit at the head, the three ladies fiddle over the buffet eager to serve the man they rarely see during the week.  Pride swells up as I admire the scene before me.  But something does not feel right, a distant memory, more like an instinct tugs at me.  I feel like I am forgetting something important, like suddenly remembering that you left the stove on or the front door unlocked as you just arrive at work.  I can just remember that….

A large glass of OJ being clonked and splashed onto the table startles me out of my daydream.  Sheri, the smallest of the twins, barely manages to get the glass from the counter to my place setting, not without leaving a trail of yellow drops in her wake.

Mary, my eleven year old, sets my silverware in front of me patting me on the head like a pup as she completes the setting with a folded cloth napkin.  I smile and look at each one of them as they complete the rest of the table.  I patiently wait for them to finish before digging into the mound of food before me.

The kids sit at their respective spots and dig in, showing no such restraint, my wife bends over to my seated level and moves her mouth to my ear.

I take a forkful of scrambled eggs and as I am about to shovel it in she whispers, “nana has volunteered to take the girls out for ice-cream tonight, so we will have the house to ourselves.”

The last six words were drawn out suggestively and grin deepening I shoved the forkful into my face.  Immediately I choked out the contents, the eggs had the texture of sand.

Still feeling the grains of dirt coating the inside of my mouth I reach for the juice to wash away the taste.  Concerned my wife places her hands to my face, instead of feeling the softness of her flesh I felt hard gravel.  Horrified I pulled away.

Equally terrified she screamed looking from my face to my blood on her hands.  Her screams, though, did not sound feminine at all; instead they sounded like…

..Caw…Caw…

I quickly closed my eyes to shield them from the burning daylight.  Second attempt I opened them more slowly allowing to adjust to the harshness.  As my eyes came into focus I saw two dark shapes a few feet away. 

I was laying on a hard rocky surface on my stomach, it was extremely hot, and there was a sharp pain in my right cheek.  Now that my vision was clearing I can clearly see that the two dark shapes were large crows, eagerly waiting to see if I was easy prey.

Forcing myself to sit up the crows decided I was not worth it and took off with one more cry of frustration.  Brushing myself off and taking in my surroundings I seemed to be in good shape with the exception of a small cut from the stone I was using as a pillow.

The dream of breakfast with my family fading as I racked my brain of how I got here, realizing I was still in my work uniform.  Ruling out mugging after I found my wallet, I hear a soft groan to my right.

Leaning over I searched the ground to find Tony not too far away, lying on his back he had his hand to his head as if he were waking up from one mother of a hangover.

Feeling like this might as well have been the morning after a hell of a party, our company had strict rules about drinking.  Any violations is met with an immediate dismissal and a lawsuit.  Vetting out people who were even careless about drinking even on off days, the firm took this shit seriously.

Seeing that Tony was okay for now I surveyed the area for the possibility of my other colleagues out here in the same predicament.  Sure enough I spotted Michael and Bruce, Bruce was already on his feet and was helping Michael to his.

Following his example I ignored the aches in my muscles and forced myself up making my way to Tony who seems to have his wit about him and is looking around himself.

“How the fuck….” He says looking up at me, but the words came out dry and raspy. 

He takes my proffered hand and when standing we make our way to the others. 

We are in a desert, the dry and rocking kind rather than sandy.  To the north of us about ten miles was a mountain range, to the south the barons seem to go on forever before we can see a lone mesa in the middle of the harsh landscape.

The sun was high above us so it was certainly after twelve PM.  We were now standing in a group taking in our surroundings.  Besides the cut on my face we seemed to be in good shape, nothing missing and nothing taken.  The only casualty was Bruce’s ‘GuardSafe’ patch over his left chest pocket, it must have torn while he was trying to roll over to stand up, the patch barely held on by a thread.

Michael, our night manager spoke first “Does anyone have any idea how we got out here?”

We shook our heads and I spoke up, “Last I remember sir, was walking the perimeter, one of us said something over the talkie but it gets foggy from there…next thing I am staring down a couple of crows.”

“That was me.” Tony chimed in, “I saw someone approaching the main gate, not close enough to make them, I called out on the talkie to see if it were one of yous.” He spoke in a thick Brooklyn accent.

We all look at each other shaking our heads, Michael was rubbing his chin taking in our words visibly trying to piece this thing together.  

Feeling around my pocket I found my iphone I quickly pulled it out and held it up.  The guys all looked on in interest, Bruce feeling around for his.

No dice, the phone was dead.

“I got something” Bruce said as his droid chimed signaling power up.

Moving in closer he instinctively held it to the sky while the power up screen was still loading.  When the screen finally turned to the main menu of the device we all slumped when the words No Service appear at the top left of the screen.

“Wait!” Bruce exclaims pointing to the date and time portion of the phone, “According to this it is only 3:12PM”

“What day?” Michael asks, stepping forward to get a closer look.

“Today?”  He responds quizzically as he stares at the date.

If that is correct, we have been out for less than twelve hours, I was on my 4AM perimeter check just before our night went to shit.

At this point we all came to the same conclusion Michael voicing it first.

“We must be somewhere near the west coast, if it is three our time and clearly after….”

He was cut off by a distant sound southwest of us.  We all turned our heads to see the source.  Off the horizon we spot a quick reflection of the sun, as the sound grew louder.  Soon we were able to make out a metallic shape.  It was an approaching truck.

Moving toward the vehicle the guys took off.

“Wait” I shouted.  They turned around slowing to a jog, I pointed directly to the west and finished “The truck is approaching from the south west, we need to head in that direction to try and cut it off.”

With that I took off, jogging at first and then a full blown run as I saw the truck was coming up quick.  But it was futile, we slowed as we watched it pass on by.  The road was still a good three miles due west of our position.

However not discouraged we continued with a renewed sense of purpose, for now we know there is a road and with that a way out of this predicament.

Epilogue

An elderly couple heading east on I10 spotted four uniformed men standing at the side of the road.  Slowing down to pick them up his wife did not protest.  Hitting the road from California, they were spending the first few months of retirement travelling across the United States. 

He came to a full stop and the lead man stopped at the open side door after slowing from a jog. 

“Trouble?” the old man asks.

“We seemed to be lost.” The lead man replies as he steps into the cab followed by two more.  The fourth man was just finishing up a phone call and hopped in closing the side door behind him.

After a quick round of introductions, the elderly couple assured that they made the correct decision agreed to drop them off to Phoenix.

The men sat in the back talking quietly to themselves as the one called Michael takes the offered phone from Bruce and places a call.  The conversation could not be made out but the men were all grimed face at some news after Michael hung up.

“You boys alright back there?” the old man shouts out his concern.

“Now worries Mr. Kline, we are just a bit wary from the walk.” Michael replies.

“Did you boys hear about that terrorist attack last night?” the old lady speaks up, “We almost didn’t make the trip when we heard the news this morning.”

The old man interrupts “I aint gonna let no a-rab ruin my plans, no offense son” he quickly adds the last part looking at Bruce who had a darker complexion.

“Um…non taken?” Bruce replies after he realized the old man meant him, asking in a quizzical tone since he was clearly Mexican, not Middle Eastern nor even African American.

After a moment of silence the old man spotted police lights coming up fast behind him.  Slowing down and moving somewhat onto the shoulder, the cop car just continues to tailgate him, matching his pace.  Taking the hint he continues to pull over to the side of the road coming to a complete stop, he takes a quick look in his mirror at his passengers only to seem them somewhat alarmed.

“Not sure why they are pullin me over, was barely doing five miles below the limit.” He peaks at them.

Two men approach from either side of the RV, quickly the old man realizes they are not police.

“Funny they seem to be military.”

 © 2013 Kinse, My Sweet Hero

Pursuit

Tak tak tak, of her heals hitting the concrete pavement as she turns down a one way street.  The sound of her pursuers now less than a short block away.

Stumbling over a stray garbage bag set out several hours earlier for the predawn pick up she cries out almost falling to her knees.  Quickly recovering she has no choice but to hold back anguish, she cannot afford to waste time.  Yelling out has already proven to be futile, only alerting more of his gang now riled by the hunt.

A beautiful prey celebrating her 21^st birthday separated from her herd of girlfriends by a fight with her boyfriend which seems so trivial now.

Why did I turn down the support of my friends,  she thought to herself.  Stubborn by nature even as a little girl she hid in her closet whenever things did not go her way, preferring to be alone rather than seek the comfort of those close.

Now wandering the streets of New York she came across three young men wearing red bandanas around their right thighs.  Being a young well-dressed NYU student she was quickly noticed, when they saw she was alone they slowly approached.  Quickly recovering from her emotional outburst she did not hesitate in darting the other way.  Calling out for help only attracted two more from a parked car doing gods knows what.

Now winded from the chase, her pursuers did not bother with a stealthy approach, hooting and hollering, knocking over pails and banging street signs they quickly closed the distance between them and their mark.

Her only option is to find a dark place to hide and hope they pass her by unnoticed.  Now a block ahead with a turn of the corner obstructing their view she sees a dark alley as a possible refuge.  Ignoring that screaming voice in her head telling her NOT to go use the alley, many scenes of many movies flip through her mind as the clueless victim goes into the basement or enters the attic or lets the hitchhiker into her car.

She moves down the narrow passage between the buildings, dodging stray pails and ducking behind a dumpster.  Making herself as small as possible she wills herself to calm down, listen to her surroundings.

The sound of footfalls grows louder.

She takes deep breaths; taking control of her heart rate.

The men’s hollering seem to be on top of her.

Her breathing now a controlled rhythm deep breaths, in then out in then out.

The steps slow down near the mouth of the alley.

In then out, her heart rate begins to pace her controlled breathing, her hearing now growing more acute.

The group slow past the alley, one looks in as they move on, sure that this beauty is not that stupid as to duck into such a trap; they continue one so they will not lose their prize in an obvious hollow pursuit.

Nearly holding her breath she listens intently to the clatter pass the opening, not daring to let the next one out in fear that she will give herself away.

The men move on hastening the hunt to make up for lost time.

Listening to them moving down the block she finally releases that aching breath, about to let the tears stream down her face, she holds her hands over her eyes and begins to….

Suddenly a loud clink clink clink of a glass bottle being kicked echoes off the brick walls of the surrounding apartment buildings.

Complete and utter terror grips her, unable to speak or breathe she falls heavily on her backside arms thrusted back to keep from lying flat on the hard ground.

Two of the five gang members walk around the metal dumpster eyeing the end of their pursuit almost seemingly eager for them to take her.  Like drooling hyenas they move toward her, not bothering to hide their excitement, malicious grins plastered on their faces the drool practically gleaming in what little light the moon had to offer in this hell called an alleyway.

She looks upon them defeated her heart no longer contained beating so fast it threatened to rip itself from her chest cavity.  Not being able to get up she attempts the only escape possible, a backwards crawl further down the alley, only to smack against the previously unseen dead end.

The closer of the two adjusted the uncomfortableness in his crotch, gently he goes to one knee as if to pop ‘the question’ leans forward, now on both knees, brushes a tear from the stream off her right cheek. 

His faux ‘concern’ only increases her terror, knowing what comes next every fiber of her being screams at her to fight, but the shear horror of the scene leaves her frozen in place, making her an easy prey as the first man leans closer as if to kiss, cupping her left breast with the hand that just before showed feigned compassion.

What happens next occurs in two heart beats, something she will remember the rest of her life, seared into her brain as the sun leaves its mark on ones eye after looking too long into the yellow ball.

Not wanting to make eye contact with her would be rapist, she could not help but look at his grinning companion as her eagerly waits for ‘sloppy seconds’.  For a split second she forgets what is about to happen and looks curiously at him.  Catching her eyes he his smile disappears.

The man suddenly vanishes into the night sky, her head darts up to follow the fucker as he quickly disappears from view.

The other man stops kissing her neck and leans back to look at her face to discern as to why the sudden change in her victims expression, the terror now gone from her eyes replaced by something else almost, almost, ruins the mood.

The girl, no longer enraptured with the person who is engulfing her body, clothing still intact, she spies a dark figure standing where the waiting gang member once stood.  Her breath is caught in her throat.

Before her attacker can turn around to see what she is looking at, the figure steps forward grabs the man by the shoulder and tosses him into the air, in pursuit of his fellow gang banger.

The girl takes one look at him, then covers her face in fear.  Not knowing what is to come next.

Instead of feeling the brunt of a possible third attacker, she feels the embrace of caring guardian as the dark stranger hugs her, she feels safe and begins to weep.

Still holding her hands tightly to her face she does not dare look at her protector, in fear that it was just a vision brought upon by trauma.

A distant memory plays at the corner of her mind as the figure lets her go.

“Kinse.” She whispers as she is completely released from his grasp.

All of a sudden another hand grabs her arm and tears her hand from her face, light rushes in and she lets out a long overdue scream, her only thought was the rest of the gang was here to finish the job!

As the new arrivals come into focus, the sound of the busy street rushes into her ears.  She is surrounded by her friends that she left at the club what seemed to be an eternity ago.  Now sitting on the curb to the left of that club, the dark figure nor the other gang members are anywhere to be seen.

“My God Donna, where the FUCK did you come from?” the one who pulled her arm exclaimed.

Instead of responding Donna grabbed ahold of her best friend pulling her down hugging her tightly.

Her friend hugged her back allowing the relief that this girl is ok wash over her.  Tension leaves loosening the once taught muscles in her back.

“Jesus.” Said one of the other girls, as they all giggled at the awkward sight.

© 2013 Kinse, My Sweet Hero