He was running quickly down an alley. There was someone chasing him. Suddenly, he heard a bullet whiz by his ear. He dodged behind a dumpster to take a breath, but he knew he had to keep moving. When he ran again, there were bullets ricocheting against brick walls, windows, and doors. Dan was terrified. He looked behind him to find a woman, rushing to keep up with him. It was Delight; she was reaching out for him. As he grabbed her hand, she burst into flames.
~~~~
He sat up from the nightmare gasping for air, and drenched in sweat. He was out-of-his-mind frantic again, and couldn't seem to breathe normally. The red, digital clock, next to the bed read 2:19am. He didn't care; he threw his jeans on, and dashed out the room door.
He stumbled down the hall to the front desk. There was the same skinny man, that had checked him in, sitting there watching TV.
"Hey, man. Can I bum a smoke?"
The guy behind the desk smiled and pulled out a pack of reds. "Gatta take it out back though."
Dan nodded as a thank you and went outside. He didn't smoke often, but he used to; it came with the heavy drinking. He preferred menthol, but this full flavor would do just fine right now.
He found two benches facing a large ashtray that looked like it used to be a bird bath. He sat on the ground, behind one of the benches, and propped his back on it. Still shaking a little, he pulled his matches out of his pocket, and lit the cigarette. He inhaled deeply.
This was getting ridiculous. He didn't like feeling this way. He sure as hell didn't like dreaming about Delight like that. Ah, Delight... THE light of his whole, wasted life. That wasn't her real name, of course. She had told him her given name the first night they camped out, up in the mountains, in Northern California.
****
They drove straight up the highway, all night, only stopping once for a bathroom break. It had been daylight now for some time, and Dan's eyes burned. He needed to stop and rest somewhere.
Just ahead, there was a sign that read: Whiskeytown Campgrounds TURN LEFT.
"Perfect!," exclaimed Dan. "Sounds like a place named for me." He chuckled.
"I'm so tired. It'll be fine. I needa lay down." Delight was fidgeting in her seat.
"Hell, you've been sleeping, girl! I haven't closed my eyes!"
"What are we havin' a contest or somethin'?" Delight was sharp and snappy.
She was born and raised in California, and definitely had the valley-girl in her blood. Dan loved it; he liked a feisty woman, and she was a smart one, too. Oh yeah, he was attracted. There was no denying that! However, he didn't show it. He was suave, and good at keeping his cool.
"So, Miss Thing, you going to be able to handle roughing it for a while?"
"I've had it rougha than ya can imagine, Jacky boy." She winked at him with her good eye.
He laughed and shook his head. "You're nuts, girl."
"No. YOUR nuts. If ya eva call me crazy again."
YOU ARE READING
Anxious
Misterio / SuspensoLeslie was raised solely by her loving, but mysterious mother, Sheryl Locks. They seemed to be all each other had in the whole world, until Leslie was 18, and her mother was killed in a fiery car accident. The young woman felt absolutely alone--unti...
