Nomad's Baby

Bad Reputation 3

Whisper parked between some empty industrial buildings near the marina.

They walked a few minutes to get there in silence.

The area was dark and empty.

It was a spot for workers and all of them had gone home.

A few scattered boats were at the dock but none of them seemed to be occupied, no lights on including Joel's which was buoying at the far end.

It was the exact boat they were saving for, the exact one.

Anger attempted to boil her face but she tamped it down to focus.

"I don't think he's here either," she whispered.

"I'll check it out first."

Whisper used the side ladder to hop on.

Sera glanced around for any nosy bystanders but the area just stayed eerily quiet outside the sound of water.

A couple minutes later he signaled for her to join him.

So Sera used the ladder to climb onto the boat. Whisper offered her a hand to get over the side. The less noise they made the better.

"No Joel," he said quietly.

He led her to the entrance and they entered a cool living room, lit by the marina lights.

It was crazy but she remembered his smell, and this place reeked of it.

Sera took a moment to flip through some of his mail. When she looked up she noticed Whisper had taken some hershey kisses from the counter and popped a few in his mouth.

They continued searching the room. And Sera was thankful for what little lighting they had.

"No man, no." A chuckle followed.

It came from outside. A moment later footsteps sounded on the boat.

A laugh sounded out echoing, Sera knew exactly who it was.

It seemed Whisper had disappeared into the dark. Sera dashed to the side of the door, pressing her body against the wall.

This would likely go to shit quick if he wasn't alone.

Food hit the air as he pointlessly used a key to get in. Chinese.

A white earbud dangled from the side of his face. He'd cut a lot of his hair.

A flip of his finger snapped the lights on. And he turned to shut the door, spotting her fist right before it clocked his jaw.

He fell back hard, dropping the paper bag and a six pack of beer. A few scattered and rolled across the rug.

Pained groans filled the room.

Breaking that hundred for the brass knuckles had been worth it.

He only wore a thin t-shirt and a pair of basketball shorts. No gun on him.

Which meant she lucked out because things could have gone extra left.

"Fuck." The hit dazed him, pretty bad. Slowly he reached for his face but stopped short lurching his head off the ground. Joel's eyes snatched across the room wildly before landing on her.

A stunned haze consumed dark eyes.

The same pair that had charmed her.

Made her laugh.

Gave her hope, promises.

Then broke everyone.

In the quiet he didn't move to get up.