Don't Tell; It's Our Secret

Chapter 2

Tommy
A few days ago

Black orbs stared deeply into my soul for a split second before my soul crashed into my body.

"Run bitch!" My inner self shouted at me as the long legged man in front of me reached out and grabbed me.

It was too late.

The buzzing of the old fluorescent lights was all I heard as I was hoisted up by the long legged man and released and ear piercing scream.

"God damn kid! Shut up!" The long legged man tossed me over the counter like a sack of flour.

I screeched as my body hit the floor.

My ears started ringing and I pried my eyes open ever so much to see a shadow hiding in the one part of the gas station where the lights were shot.

Like a jackal hunting it's pray, the shadow moved closer.

My head dropped as I coughed, but a pair of stained converse appeared, standing somewhat in front of me.
I let my eyes gaze upward. I saw a cigarette in his hand. The smell assaulted my nostrils.

"Pick him up," I could hear a thick accent from the man somewhat in front of me.

The long legged man appeared behind me like magic and grabbed me up again.

He held me firmly under my arms, assuring that I could not pass out, fall, or run away.

I cowered as I looked at the man with the accent.

He was tall...just ever so much taller than the man who had long legs...his hood was up and I could barely see his face. He was smoking and his black leather jacket had designs on it. His white shirt was spattered with a red substance...most definitely blood.

"Hmmmm," the man in front of me mused. "Kě'ài de (Cute.)" I thought I saw a flicker of a smile as he spoke. I couldn't comprehend what he said. "Drop him, Lin." He waved his hand and the man holding me up dropped me flat on my ass.

I cried out as my body hit the floor. My face smashing into the cold ground. Tears stung my eyes.

The sound of my bag crashing onto the floor drew my attention. I looked up slightly and the man with the accent was kneeling down in front of me.

He grabbed my chin with his fingers tightly, and forced me to look up at him. He wiped the blood dripping from my nose, and he wiped the tears from my eyes.

As his face drew more into the flickering light, I cowered even more at his sinister smile. His eyes were black as night, his skin was porcelain, and he had a slight cut on his rosy colored thin lips.

"Wu," the other man called to him. "Don't play. Not now."

The man in front of me rolled his eyes and dropped his cigarette on the floor in front of me. He used his shoe to snub it out.

"Hmmmm..." he mused once more.

"Wu!" The man behind me was stern.

I heard his footsteps walk up behind me and I heard the cocking of a gun.

"Ah ah ah!" The man called Wu wagged his finger and the other man. "I'm feeling generous today Lin..." my skin felt like it wanted to crawl away.

"Generous?! You?!" I could hear the others sarcasm.

"Leave him," Wu waved his hand. "I've got better plans for this one..." he leaned down again and took my chin in his fingers, forcing me to look up into his obsidian eyes. "Get out of here, kid." His accent was thick as he gripped my chin a little and then threw me back a bit.

I scrambled onto my feet, but he didn't need to tell me twice as I grabbed my backpack from the floor and darted out of the gas station. I didn't care what had happened or what would happen.

Did I witness a murder? Maybe. Maybe.

Did I see something I shouldn't have? Yes, most definitely.

Did I leave my post as Knots Gas Station Attendant? Yes, I sure did.

Did I give a shit? Nope. Not even a little.

I threw my back pack on my back and I didn't stop running until I came to the front door of my house.

I lived five blocks away and it was pitch black dark outside as I stumbled my way up the front stairs. I searched through my pockets for my key, but I couldn't find it.

I was feverish with fear, so I grabbed the pot that held the extra key and dropped it on the concrete.

It shattered into several pieces.

I shifted through the dirt till I found the spare key. I shivered with anxiety, but I managed to unlock the door and pull it open.

I waltzed in the house and closed the door tightly. I looked through the peephole and only saw the plant I had murdered for the spare key.

I breathed a sigh of relief...but I made sure to lock every lock the door hand and I put a chair in front of it to boot.  I was door to walk through the house and make sure every window was closed and latched up tight.

I barely noticed my nose dropping blood down onto my work shirt.

I didn't care how much noise I made; my parents wouldn't wake up.

My father took so many meds they knocked him out early, and my mom, well, she took so many anti-depressants and sleeping meds she too was out like a light.

I hot footed it to my room, turning the light on and closing the door behind me, it I locked as well.

I was hyperventilating as I yanked off all my clothes.

The image of the man on the ground being shot; the smell of cigarette smoke; the stare of the long legged man, the smile of the man with the accent; it all raced through my mind as I used an old shirt to wipe the blood from my face and climbed into bed.

Despite myself and my never ending mind, I managed to fall asleep within seconds, my body tired and worn, physically and mentally, from the actions of the day.