Down on Booker Street

I sat in the car, waiting for him to arrive. It was near midnight, and he was late. The street lamp flickered, then went out. Then I heard the soft crunch of footsteps on the road, and my heart began to race. I knew it was him. I hear a soft tap to my window, and I roll it down just slightly.

"Jason?"

"Yes Annabelle?"

"Do you have the stuff?"

"Of course."

"Then you can come in."

He opened the passenger door and slid in, with a big black bag that he set on his lap. For a small moment, i stared at him. He hasn't changed since I saw him last week. Same short golden brown hair, same scarred face, even what appeared to be the same 5 o'clock shadow. His definitive muscles were hugged by his old green army surplus jacket just right. My eyes traveled down and I realized he was wearing no shirt, even though it was snowing outside at the moment. As they continued their travels, I saw the bag again. I grinned and hungrily reached out for it, but then pulled back, knowing I hadn't fulfilled my end of the deal yet.

"What do you want this week?"

"I want The One. You know I do. Every other week like clockwork I take it. Where is it, don't you have it with you?"

Like an addict waiting for his weekly fix, he clawed at my arm whispering, "I want it. I NEED it."

"Jason! Let me get it out!"

His hands withdraw and he watches me reach between the space of my seat and the car door. I pull it out, and he gasps, as if seeing it's beauty for the first time. It was a wonderful leather and gold original handwritten copy of Beauty And The Beast. He had been enraptured with it ever since I found it when I discovered my underground home. It's edges were barely worn, and it looked brand new. I handed it over with reluctance, and he set it so gently on the dash, then handed me the black bag. Forgetting my sorrow at losing my prize for a week, I quickly unzip the bag and stare at them. Books. LOTS of them. Full of new adventures and people and animals just waiting for me to meet them. I look up, and grin at Jason, and he grins back.

"See you next week!" he shouts and then jumps out of the car, sprinting away. I zip up the bag and fire up the car. I gun the engine and speed away, nervous at how long I spent there. I knew I was being watched, but I was almost positive they hadn't followed me there. If they had, they now had Jason's face and would hunt him too. I promised him I wouldn't get him involved.

2 1/2 Hours Later

I shot down into the subway, my car scraping the sides. The side mirrors, long forgotten, dangled by the cords where they had been knocked off when I stole it. I bounced in the car as it rolled down the steps, then made a hard right and shot onto the subway tracks. I heard a small zip and knew that he was gaining on me. Flooring the gas pedal, I zoomed ahead. The official was right behind me. I narrowed my eyes and continued to follow the tracks, hitting all of the impossible turns to try and lose him.

12 minutes later and He still isn't gone. I can't lose him! I must leave the subway and find someplace else. I speed out of the nearest exit and onto the barren landscape of the countryside. Now it's just a matter of speed. And time. The sun will set soon, and with it, my light.

After 35 minutes of a floored gas pedal, I decided to look behind me.

He wasn't there.

I looked in front of me, and a second too late saw the stopped bike.

My car and his bike collided.

In the span of seconds, it all happened.

1

I saw my parents, being shot in front of me for teaching me to read and write. I was five.

2

The day I fled the orphanage when the government officials came for me. The caretakers reported me for writing on my bedroom walls and I jumped through my second-story window to get away.

3

The day I saw my face on the officials' newsletters. I was wanted for breaking the utmost law, treason against the government.

4

The day Jason saved me from the officials. There were two of them chasing me, and he killed them and helped me steal my car.

5

3 hours ago, getting my new books.

6

I look out my window as my car flips. I see the official standing there, watching me with his helmet off. He grins and in slow motion shakes his head as if to say the game is over.

7

The trunk of the car slams the ground and my head hits the dash. I hit my emergency exit button.

8

My seat stops moving and the car goes around me, me portable bike coming up beneath my seat and catching.

9

The handlebars come to the front and I look to my right at the official as my seat transforms into one for the motorcycle. If I had more time, I may stop to admire his perfect teeth and beautiful golden-blonde hair, but I mustn't forget he wants to kill me.

10

I face front again and rev the engine, driving off into the night.