Death Alley

Chapter twenty-two

Brian stood in front of me in a field of daisies, his red hair gleaming in the sun. His blue eyes crinkled as he smiled at me, and the sight was one I could look at for eternity.

"This is nice," I said in a hushed voice.

Brian nodded, taking my hand. "It's so warm," Brian added. "But not scorching hot. It's the perfect temperature."

I smiled. Having a normal conversation with him was a treat. Typically, there was too much going on in our lives for us just to stop and enjoy each other's company, sharing small talk. I felt accepted again.

Brian plucked a nearby white daisy from the ground, pinning it on my hair. He cocked his head to one side and said, "That daisy looks horrible compared to you. You make even a pretty flower look like trash."

My heart thumped harder, and I blushed uncontrollably. I didn't know what to say, but come to think of it, what I felt could not be verbalized.

Brian squeezed my hand harder, and then he leaned in for a kiss. It wasn't an intense, passionate buss like normal, but it was a sweet peck, like he wanted to savor the taste of my lips on his. I felt the delicate Brush, and I couldn't help but kiss back.

Once his lips left mine, however, Brian said the oddest thing. "...one...two...three..." Brian whispered, following with another kiss.

The pattern continued two or three times before I tried to pull away, wondering what was happening. The counting became louder, and Brian pulled me closer. "One,two,three," he said more rapid now. "One, two, three."

Within a few minutes, I was struggling against his grip. My eyes were closed, but I couldn't help but fight him. What was he doing? Why was Brian acting so strange?

When I separated enough and opened my mouth to call Brian off, water came out instead of words. My eyes shot open, and the face I was staring into wasn't Brian's.
***
In horror, I looked up at a middle aged woman in a tight bun and ragged clothes. Her khakis were torn and muddy, and her warm shirt had had better days. Yes, this person definitely wasn't Brian.

"Who eez zhis?" She asks in a thick, Russian accent.

"Um..." I begin. " My name is Bailey."

The Russian woman's nostril's flare as she studies me, perceiving my entire being with analyzing eyes. "Is zhis your boyfriend?" She points to Brian who sat up, soaking wet, a few feet away.

"Something like that..." I conclude, unsure of myself.

The woman nods, saying no more. She had a mean demeanor about her, like someone you wouldn't want to mess with. She didn't seem like a bad person, not like a villain. However, she could be if you got in her bad side. Her face contorted into a constant glare, looking into your heart, studying your actions. This woman was dangerous and obviously smart as well.

My eyes leave the Russian woman and gaze at Brian, and he to me. We locked eye contact for a few seconds, but he turned away, ashamed. I supposed he wasn't the one to save me from my watery death.

My eyes reluctantly turned to the Russian woman who was still kneeling over me. She kept watch on me, and her stare sent chills down my spine. She then stood, holding out a meaty hand.

I took it, and the woman propelled me up from the ground with incredible strength.

As the woman stood, I was able to get a much better overlook of her. She was about six feet tall, maybe more. Her body was plump, but that didn't stop her. In fact, it probably helped her. Her arms were large and muscular, as were her long legs. The woman looked like she could strangle a bear with her own hands.