The Strange Tale Of Ayla Jae

Chapter Twelve - "...Very Dangerous Over Short Distances."

"Get out of the road, butt munch!"

The chaotic bellow of the truck horn rings in my ears as I finally feel my body start to give way. I look around to make sure I'm off the road now. The irritatingly loud truck engine shifts and roars past me through the intersection.

I cough heavily a few times. I don't know exactly how long I ran, but I can't go much further. I stand still to dig around in my bag for my reusable bottle. I practically fly the cap off, and I desperately take a swig of the most necessary drink of water I've ever taken in my life up until this point. It goes down a bit rough, surprisingly, but it's relieving.

I lean against the gritty brick wall of some business that's behind me. I can't stand anymore, and I slide ungraciously down the wall, hitting the concrete sidewalk harder than I anticipated. For a second, I realize it's probably not the best idea to stop in front of some place in the middle of the night, but here I am.

"Move your feet!" A gruff voice yells towards me. Instinctively, I react and pull my aching legs back. A speeding bike barrels past me, carrying what looks like a wannabe professional biker doing some night riding. I don't get much more than that before he's gone out of view, and the night falls quiet again.

I try to breathe slowly, but it takes a while. The impact of what I've just done still hasn't really hit me. Subtle shadows are being cast all over from the old street lamps and blaring LED business signs lining buildings. Aside from the rider, I see only one couple walking away from me on the other side of the street. Everything else is still.

The moment of stillness starts to be overtaken by that nagging feeling of unease that any town at night is bound to instill in someone, especially someone young and vulnerable. I don't know if I necessarily fit that description, but I doesn't matter. It's always dangerous and a risk, and I've already risked enough by now.

I quickly glance down to my dinky phone. 12:34am.

There some quiet footsteps approaching, and before I can react, they get loud, almost slapping the concrete. My adrenaline launches, but something sounds odd about the steps, like they're from a smaller person.

"Wait! Ayla! It's me! It's me!"

The words catch me just as I'm clutching my bag and in a stance ready to bolt again. That voice sounds familiar. I don't know who though. The shiver still rips through me.

"I didn't mean to freak you out, but I thought that slowly approaching might do just that. Agh, sorry girl."

The voice starts to sound warm and mellow, despite the tense situation. It makes me feel a little at ease, before I tense back up.

I summon the courage to turn my head behind me.

Before my eyes is Daren Hopelmen. That's all I know. I don't know or remember anything about him. All I can hear in my head is me saying his name, Daren Hopelmen. I can only imagine how my face is jarringly blank as I stare at his blue eyes, afraid to move or react.

"It's been a while, I know, but I've been looking all over town for you, dude." He takes one step forward as he puts his hands up.

"Who--." I can only get the first word out of my mouth as I step back. Why can't I remember him? Why in the world in he here? Who is he? I should run.

"I managed to get Sam to tell me that I could find you, Dave, and Chloe at that Woodwall Motel." I don't think he even heard my poorly formed question he responded so quickly. "I got there just in time to see you sprinting down the sidewalk. Fast as ever. You're a natural sprinter." He lets out a nervous chuckle.