Last Bandit: Book 1 in The Bandits Series

Somebody Save Me

Chapter 6: Somebody Save Me ~

There's a rest stop in Oklahoma City where I take a leak and buy new batteries for my Walkman. I have been drowning in my music since I left Mary Ann. It doesn't help me forget about her, but it takes away some of the guilt.

I've got twenty minutes to explore this place. I start by stopping in a liquor store and buying a fifth of Jack Daniels. The whiskey will also help wash away the pain. It's not enough, though.

I go back into the men's bathroom at the bus stop to wash up and take a few swigs of the medicine. The warm water feels good on my face, and the warm liquid feels good sliding down my throat.

Suddenly, I hear screaming. A woman screaming and it's so close. I leave my things in the restroom and exit, searching for where the yelling is coming from. It's inside the woman's bathroom. I've got a bad feeling about this. So I walk in to see what the problem is.

Ah. The weird guy and the petite girl are fighting over which one gets to have her. The man is trying so hard to get her to shut up and obey. And she's trying so hard to retaliate and get away.

I feel my need to step in. So I pull the guy back, turn him around, and punch him three times in the face until he's on the floor bloody. Then I look at the girl and she looks at me in bewilderment.

I hurry to the men's restroom, grab my things, and then start towards the bus. I don't wish to be charged with any kind of felony or whatever in case the police are around. And I'm particularly not in the mood for that dude to wake up and come after me.

The girl I saved from being hurt walks onto the bus soon after I take my seat in the back. She stares at me with that same look of awe then sits down. Just before the bus leaves without her attacker, she comes back to me and says thank you.

"You're welcome," I reply.

She gives a genuine smile and then walks back to her seat as the bus starts moving. The driver announces that our next stop will be in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

I pull out my whiskey and drink it straight from the bottle, which is what I always do. It tastes bitter and much like household cleanser would. It tastes like motor oil and strong syrup. It tastes like a lot of things.

But I can still taste Mary Ann on my lips.