Meryl had no business being there. Not at that hour of night and all alone. She knew it was unwise for her to be walking down the dark and infamous alley of Glee Point town, a deserted street marked for its constant involvement in drug dealings and perpetual increase in crime rate every waking day, giving the hour but she had to. Because Brandon, the love of her life was in danger and she had to do something. She was not sure what she could do all by herself but she knew she had to be there for him. If he needed her, she had to avail herself just like he's always done for her through out their three years of being together.
She slid into her purse for her phone, she needed to make sure she was in the right place. For some reason the whole area was empty, as if no one had stepped foot there in like forever. The piercing silence and the cunning emptiness gave her whiplashes. The cold air against her thighs and bare back was not helping either, her dress was too short and revealing for a place like this. But no one warned, she had never been to this part of town, not in all the six years she'd been living in Glee Point. It was, she got the message about an hour ago. It read, 'Meryl meet me at the jargon street ASAP. Don't tell anyone. Love Brandon.' It felt strange to her at first because Brandon would normally call if he wanted to meet her, or would just come unannounced. She couldn't help the fear that crept its way inside her heart again as she read the again. Not only from the creepiness of that unfamiliar place she found herself but also for what her boyfriend might be going through. He hadn't been answering his phone since that suspicious message. What in hell's name has he gotten himself into? Where the hell was he?
Just as she was about to slid her phone back and continue her walk, she heard the clicking sound of shoe steps from a distance approaching her, the place was so airy it echoed. Warning bells started going wild in her mind as she started retreating, there was a danger that came with every step the person took, something scary, something that loved her not. She needed to call someone, the police, yes, she needed help, her messed up brain started to put two and two together as she took long strides back to the direction she came from.
Before she knew what hit her, she was on the cold stamping ground with the left side of her face stinging furiously with pain, her phone nowhere to be found. Her cheek ached so much she could not think straight, not even when the unknown man squat beside her and vigorously grabbed her by the hair. The adrenaline that shot through her like a ball of lightning a while ago was long gone, leaving her with nothing but weak limbs.
"What do we have here?"he asked, a snicker in his voice, "a lost rabbit?"he added and that earned him a laugh from the other men that were present. Of course they had to be more than one, that explains how she got hit out of nowhere, so fast, her mind worked the math.
"A vey juicy rabbit I see," another voice colder than the first one came in, earning him a good laugh from the others. Meryl knew then how screwed she was, there was no way anyone would come to her rescue no matter how hard she screamed, she was not sure if anyone was treading the area at that hour. And running was not an option since she couldn't feel her body.
The clicking sound of footsteps that sent the warning bells in her head not a while ago stopped right in front of her, interrupting her thoughts. The air suddenly became thick, she forgot how to breath for a second. What was this feeling, was it death knocking her door, was this how it all ended? Before she could lift her head to take a peak at his face, he was gone. Where did he go so fast?
"I told you not to hit them on the face," came a rumbling voice which instinctively shoot Meryl's unmoving body up. What she saw next brought fear palpable as the clear night to her heart. One of the men was held up high against the wall with his feet dangling in the air. He was being choked by the mysterious man with the crazy expensive shoes, that made so much noise. He seemed to be the boss since everyone around had their heads bowed down as if afraid to look. It was hard for her to believe that they were the same people having a time of their lives a while ago when they were tossing her around.
"Sorry.. ma..ster?"the man managed to stutter out the words even though he was on the verge of being choked to death. His eyes were bloodshot red and his veins were about to pop out but the mysterious man seemed to not have had enough yet and then Meryl heard a snap and seconds later the other man's body was dropped on the floor unmoving. 'God he is dead,' Meryl screamed in her head. Her eyes wide as saucers, fear shining visibly in them. What was this person? What did they want with her? How was she able to play so foolishly into the devil's hands.
She could get her answers later but now she needed to run as far away as possible now that the focus was not on her, she didn't want no part in whatever shit show this was. God forbid if she stayed there any longer.
Gathering every ounce of strength she had left, she shot to her feet so suddenly and started to bolt so fast she was one with the air, all the while looking back to keep an eye on the men tailing her. They weren't in a close range with her yet. Her sudden flight had taken them by surprise it seemed. God, if only she had her phone, she would have called for help. As if God had heard her silent prayers, she saw the headlight of a car coming ahead of the direction she was headed. Picking up her pace, she run into the middle of the road and started shouting while waving her hands in the air for the car to stop.
The car screeched to a halt right in front of her and she run to the side window and started tapping for the occupants to take her in and save her from her pursuers. However, when the door opened and her eyes fell on the men in coats, she withdrew and took hastened steps back. These men were not her saviors, but unfortunately for her when she turned to run again, she collided straight into a human wall. It was him, the mysterious man from earlier and he had a handkerchief in his hand which he brought to her nose as he held her trapped securely in his arms. "Everything is going to be over soon baby," he whispered softly as she slowly lost consciousness.