Her

Part Nine:

Noises of the fight surround me outside. My blood pressure is pounding in my ears, and my head is dizzy in the darkness. I jump and squeal as, what I presume is a body, slams against the SUV.

Maddox?!

No, it sounds heavier, like the beefy guy.

Please  let Max be okay. How does the store clerk not even see nor hear this!?!?

Grunts, thuds and smacks sabotage my ears. Panic rises in my throat yet again, clenching up my chest and suffocating me. I begin kicking and flailing at every inch of what I can reach, trying to budge anything, but nothing works.  

I am being kidnapped. I am going to die. And if Maddox isn't already dead, he is going to die too.

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I vaguely remember going blank from panic, the doors of the SUV opening, Maddox yanking me out and half dragging me across the parking lot over a body. 

He gently, then more urgently, keeps slapping my arm to wake me up, so I can drive us out of here I guess. Finally my mind craze busts, and we are on the road faster than a southern belle can say 'Y'all'.

I speed down the road, making random turns here and there that put more and more distance between us. So much for gasoline.

I glance up every five seconds at Maddox, trying to see if he has moved his face towards the center of the car, but he hasn't.

"Maddox. Let me see your face."

"No." he says to the window.

"Maddox! Let me see your face!"

No reply.

I pull over on the deserted dirt road, unbuckle and lean as close to him as I can get. I take both my hands and gently, but forcibly, turn his head towards mine.

I gasp.

The bruises that he still has from the Torturers now match with a busted lip, gashed forehead, torn shirt, and blood everywhere. He pushes me away then cranks the door open and is huffing down the street before I can catch up.

"Maddox!"

He keeps going and I run to catch up. 

"Maddy!" I grab his arm and turn him around. Yes, this is what I will call him. Maddy.

"What." he sounds more gentle, but still.. unsettled.

"Are you okay?" 

"I..... I knew that guy. From before. I don't know how the h-", he swears, "he got to Iowa and found me, but I just killed him. I don't know what he wanted. Nevermind." He pulls away.

"Hey.. hey... It's okay, I mean, not that you killed him, but it was self defense. I am sorry. It will be okay. I killed that nurse... I know how you feel. Sort of. I need to dress your gashes, though." He nods. "Maddox?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you. Really, thank you. If you hadn't fought for me back there I probably would be dead or on my way to looovely  things right now, then death. I barely know you but it means a lot that you would do that for me."

He looks down at me and I look into his eyes. My heart ripples and I feel like jelly. I make a mental note  to stop developing feelings for people.

He tilts his chin towards mine, but pauses, his eyes hard and searching, then he shuts his eyes and moves away. We both quietly walk back to the car.