Emily braced herself for the impact, thinking she was going to die in the process of helping a total stranger.
"But what will my dad and siblings do when I am no more? No, I can't die like this." With that thought on Emily's mind, she suddenly felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through her body.
Then she acted on pure instinct. She stood up hastily and started to drag the oblivious out of harm's way.
As the car sped past, it narrowly missed climbing on the man's leg as Emily dragged him.
"I did it! Yeah!!!" Emily stated jubilantly and let out a happy laugh. Then she and the man lay sprawled on the wet pavement.
After a moment of breathing in and out heavily, she turned to the man, her chest heaving.
"Are you alright?" Emily asked, sounding concern.
The man blinked, as if just registering what had happened. He stared at Emily, looking so bewildered.
"What... what just happened?" He stammered, slowly sitting up.
Emily let out an exasperated huff.
"I just saved your life, that was what happened!" She exclaimed.
"What do you mean by that?" The man asked. Emily was taken aback by the question.
"What did I mean?" You were just standing there, right in the path of that car. What were you thinking?" Emily shot back.
The man furrowed his brow, his gaze shifting as he tried to piece together the events.
"What is happening to me? How did I get here? I thought that was a dream... It wasn't?" The man mumbled to himself.
Then without sparing Emily another glance, he started to walk away.
"Hey! Are you just going to leave like that?" Emily asked. It was her turn to look bewildered.
"What should I be doing then?" He asked coldly, not even glancing at her. Emily began to trail behind him, without even realizing.
She was totally pissed off by his attitude.
"You don't know what you are supposed to do?" She retorted and let out a scoff in disbelief.
"No, I don't." He replied curtly and kept walking.
"I saved your life! You should at least say a word of gratitude!" She snapped.
The man didn't stop, instead he walked faster and got into a SUV parked not far from where Emily had rescued him and drove off immediately.
Emily's mouth was agape. She stood still and watched him drive off.
"Wow, so unbelievable! She muttered, running a hand through her damp hair.
"The nerve of that guy? Like seriously?" She added in utter disbelief.
She walked back to the scene and picked up her bag that she had discarded in the heat of moment, then picked her phone.
Emily's eyes widened when she touched her phone screen and saw the time.
"Crap, I'm going to be late for my shift!" She exclaimed, then began to hurry towards the bus station.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
By the time she arrived at the bar, Emily was practically out of breath.
"That rude man... So annoying!" She mumbled as she changed into her uniform and headed out to the floor.
"What does he really think of himself?" She scoffed in annoyance.
"Emily, get to work!" Her manager snapped at her in his usual angry voice.
"Of course!" She yelled back and rolled her eyes.
Afterwards, she decided to keep the memory of the mysterious man's cold indifference away from her mind and get right into her work.
"Welcome to Sally's, what can I get you gentlemen?" Emily asked as she approached a table of rowdy young men, plastering on a forced yet sweet smile.
One of the men, already well into his cups, leered at her.
"Well, hello there, beautiful! How about you keep us company for a while?" He slurred, reaching out to graze her arm.
Emily suppressed the urge to cringe, her fingers tightening around her notepad.
"I would appreciate it if you kept your hands to yourself." She said firmly but still kept the smile on even though she was boiling inside.
The man's friends erupted into laughter, egging him on.
"That's my guy! He has eyes for beautiful things!" One of his friends said.
"C'mon, darling..We are just trying to have a little fun." The man continued, his voice dripping with sleaze.
Emily tightened her jaw angrily, the forced smile finally leaving her face.
"Well, your 'fun' ends here. I'm not interested in being anyone's plaything." She retorted, taking a step back.
The man's expression hardened at her reaction, and he made a move to stand up, but his friends quickly pulled him back down.
"Whoa, easy there, buddy!" One of them said, casting an apologetic glance at Emily.
"He didn't mean anything by it." He said.
Emily scoffed, shaking her head as she turned to head to the next table.
"What a day today has been!" She grumbled as she weaved her way through the crowded bar. She couldn't shake the unease that had settled in the bottom of her stomach.
~~~~~~~~~
After some minutes of working, Emily needed to pick up something at the resting area and she was able to take a break.
"Huh, the noise usually finds a way to invade every of my senses..." She mumbled and chuckled dryly, grateful for the brief respite.
As she reached for the wine she was sent to pick up, the door creaked shut behind her.
"What's that?" She wondered, feeling shocked. Then she heard movements behind her.
Emily quickly turned around, and her eyes widened in recognition.
It was the man from earlier.
"You? What are you doing here? You aren't supposed to be here!" She asked, her voice slightly trembling.
The man stepped forward, a sinister grin spreading across his face.
"I have been waiting for you, beautiful." He said, his voice low and menacing.
Emily felt a shiver run down her spine.
"What do you want?" She managed to keep her voice steady.
"Should I tell you?" The man asked, cocking an eyebrow and he started advancing towards her.