Betrayed

The Advice from the Stranger

Its December. So far I've been on the road for 1 day and I've gotten my ass kicked, of course.

'Have a merry Christmas. Its the best time of the year. Have a merry Christmas this year.' How ironic. I felt every punch hit my abdomen, each feeling like they weighed almost a hundred pounds.

Lesson number one when you're on the road; don't walk into a bar filled angry, burly, and hairy bikers.

I fell to the floor, and felt their boots stomp on me as if I were a piece of gum, and they're trying scrape me off their cowboy boots. I could feel something warm running down my face and saw a red stain on the floor. One of them kicked my stomach, I coughed a pool of blood. I tried to get up, they threw down back on the floor. ''Shit stomp on the brat.'' Said the bartender, I could have sworn I saw him with a camcorder in his hand.

It wasn't until I layed dead on the floor til they left. I got up on my feet, having trouble keeping my balance. I think I know how Jason's dad feels when he comes home, I walked into the bathroom, and tripped into a sink. I looked at my face, no black eye or busted lip, just blood. I took a swig of a water and spit out blood. They took my jacket, money, and food.

All I had was a bloody t-shirt, my laptop I safely secured into my bike's leather bag. I reached into my shoe and took out my keys. Thank god, I hid the keys in my shoe during the fight.

I threw some water onto my face, to keep myself awake, or at least alive.

I walked outside into the bitter cold. I was close to Canada. I started my bike and followed the directions I got from an old man in the bar. As long as I followed this road, I should get to Canada by morning.

I stayed on road for an hour, until I hit a road bump. Well, actually a toll booth.

Those thugs took all my money. I pulled outside the road and looked around. I found a cottage a few meters away, I hated this, preying on others to get what I want. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a crumpled glossy picture. Her long dark hair, hazel eyes, full lips, and her beautiful smile.

I walked up to the side of the cottage. I saw an old man and his wife, about 70, give or take.

I took a large bandana from my duffel bag, and wrapped it around my face. I placed my hand under my shirt and made it look like I had a gun. I closed my eyes and smashed the window as I jumped through it.

''Gimme your wallets NOW!!!' I screamed, I hated this.

The old woman screamed and collasped on the floor, I was worried. The man reached into his pocket and pulled out 60 dollars. ''That's all I have, I swear.'' The old man speaked in a quivering voice.

I took the money and shoved in my pocket, and prompted towards the window to escape...

But I heard the man crying in fear, I looked back and saw his eyes, swollen with fear. In his eyes, I saw who I was, a monster. I was no better than Jason after he assualted me, no better than those thugs in the bar. I crouched down and took off my mask, looking at the old man. He flinched in horror, ''Please, no more. That's all I have honest. Just please leave us alone mister.'' I reached out and gave him back his money. He looked confused.

''I'm sorry.'' I tried to make amends.

He took the money and spoke,'' Who are you, young man?''

I looked down,'' My name is Alex, I'm sorry I attacked you and your wife.''

He asked why I would do such a thing,'' Sorry, I had no choice.''

''We all have a choice, son.''

I looked down, and he looked at my tattered clothes.He said he would come back in a second, he took his wife in his arms and settled her on the couch. I felt he would come back with a gun and say he called the cops. He didn't.

He came back with clothes in his hands. ''Here, these were my son's clothes. I'm sure he won't mind, with him being in the army and all. Here.'' He handed me a leather jacked with a hood and a pair of worksman jeans and brown boots.

He turned around and covered his eyes,'' Alright I ain't peeking.''

I stripped my clothes and put on the new clothes, they fit perfectly. I now had a white shirt with a black jacket and blue jeans. I washed my face and dried my bloody face.

He sat me down and handed me cocoa. We drank some, and talked about stuff. He told me how he and his wife eloped and build their cottage with their bare hands, how his son joined the army, and how he and his wife were in love since the 8th grade. He showed me a picture of his wife as a teen, her name was Alice. She was pretty, black hair, a perfect smile. Almost similar to Allison.

''Names Jose.'' He said with a smile.

I told him how I was on a mission to find answers, how I ran away, and oddly enough, about Allison.

''So why not stay there. Sounds like a pretty good life to me.''

''Not really.''

''Its not too late to turn around son. Erase your past mistakes.''

''My mistakes are why I'm doing this.''

''You're alot like my son. You're stubborn, daring, and caring.''

He stood up and jiggled through a drawer in the living room. He handed me almost 200 dollars cash. '' For your troubles.'' I was confused. I broke into this man's house and now he's willingly handing me money.

''What about your wife?''

''Alii will be fine, don't you worry about her.''

I walked out his door and waved good bye. As I left, I saw their wedding picture, it was a beautiful wedding. They looked happy. It was amazing how they could go through so much and be happy.

I hopped on my bike and rode away, passing the toll booth. I was on my way.

And thanks to an old man, I had new hope.

I made her a promise to come back for our date. So I will.