Time Got In The Way

Chapter Two~Watch Where You're Going!

"HEEEELLLPP!" I shrieked at the top of my lungs, desperate for a rescuer.  "Help me!" I sobbed.  A half moan-half scream erupted from my throat as I was kneed forcefully in the stomach. One of them clapped their hand tightly over my mouth, and held me to him around the waist.  I screamed through his hand, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Shut her up!" Someone whispered urgently.  A knife was held to my neck and I eyed it fearfully.

"Scream, and we will kill you!" Another one said threateningly.  I bit my lip and let the tears stream silently down my cheeks.

"Anyone know where Vinny is?" The one holding me asked.  The shadowy figures all shrugged.

"Right here," a voice said.  Vinny emerged into the alley.  "What have we got here?"  I guessed that  Vinny was the gang leader, and that he had just arrived.

"A pretty girl," the one holding me said with a smirk, as he kissed me on the cheek.  I jerked my head away, and he dug the knife into my neck a little.  I held in any sound I would make, knowing they would do worse to me if I made a noise. 

"She's got a rich father too," someone else chimed in.

"Well," Vinny said. "Sounds like we've got quite a catch."  He took a few steps toward me, and as his face entered the light, I realized I recognized him.  I knew him from somewhere.  Then it dawned on me.

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Earlier That Day

After I walked out of the alleyway, leaving my dad behind, I made a right.  I walked down the street, taking in the sights and sounds of a world 110 years in the past.  A cute little store across the street caught my eye.  It was called     .  Looking both ways, I ran across the street and over to .  The building looked relatively new, but so old-fashioned.  I examined the exterior, my face pointed up at the sky.

All of a sudden, I slammed into the ground.  I looked up and saw a cute boy about my age staring down at me.  "Watch where you're going," he said angrily, with a glare.

"I'm sorry, I was j--"  His face seemed to soften as I talked.

"No, I'm sorry," he interjected, holding out a hand to help me up.  He smiled a little as he pulled me off the ground.

"Thanks," I said, returning the smile.  "I'm Elaine."

"You get back here, boy!"  The shopkeeper at Woolworth's shouted at him.

He looked at me quickly, biting his lip. "I gotta go." He said hurriedly, and took off.

I felt myself frown a little, then I walked into s.  "Excuse me, do you have a restroom?" I asked the man at the cash register.  He pointed toward the back corner of the shop, and that's where I headed.  Once inside, I pulled out my phone and called my dad.

A 3D image of him projected up out of the phone as he answered. "Hey Elaine.  What's the matter?"

"You never told me where we would be staying," I pointed out.

"Right," he laughed. "Sorry.  I'll send directions to you."   A 3D map was projected by the phone.  I thanked my dad and hung up.

I found my way to our "new house", which was quite big compared to the other houses I'd seen so far in the 60's.  Realizing my dad probably wouldn't come home for the night because of his mission, I figured I would go out for the night; I could explore the town.  I quickly wrote my dad a note just in case he did come home, and then I hit the road.

I don't really remember everything that happend after that--I just walked around exploring.  But about fifteen minutes ago I wandered into a bad part of town.  Shivering, I looked at the rundown buildings and houses.  Then I was snatched into an alleyway.

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Vinny was the boy I had collided with earlier that day.  I stared into his eyes with panic, wondering if he recognized me.  Realization suddenly hit him, and the smirk disappeared from his face.  His warm brown eyes stared into mine.  "Let her go." He said sternly to the one holding me.

"But Vinny I--"

"I said, Let. Her. Go." Vinny's glare sent shivers down my spine, he was that caustic.  I was released and cotemplated making a run for it.  Part of me said, Idiot, run!  But the other part of me wanted to stay for some strange reason I don't think I'll ever understand.

Vinny turned his gaze to me, but it was much softer than it was before. "Get out of here." He said coldly. "I don't want to see you here again."  At the time, I was upset he had said this, thinking he never wanted to see me again.  But later, much later, I realized he never wanted me to come back to the bad part of town, because I wouldn't be safe there.