Broken Times

Chapter three: "The Force"

(The picture above is how Prielle's hair would look like)

Adam

She's hyperventilating.
She needs to calm down or they'll see her. They'll find her.
Although I don't know who they are.

From where I'm sitting, crouched behind a trash can, I can see her shaking. She must be here because of the scream, I also heard it. But when I went to check, I didn't find anything, and I've been here a good ten minutes before she came out. Maybe it's some kind of trap. Perhaps to lure women out? I've been exposed here like a sitting duck and nothing. Whoever it was, is, hasn't given me the time of day, or night, in this case.

I'm trying to go where she's standing a few feet before me, without making a sound. The last thing I need is to alert someone of her presence, if she doesn't do it herself first. But I won't have it being my fault.

What I could make of her is her hair, since she's with her back to me. In this dim lighting of the moon, all I know is it's a vibrant color. I don't know more than that and the fact that it's long, to at least past her waist. I can imagine how much attention she probably draws to her during the day; intentionally or not. I did know she was wearing some big glasses on her straight long norrow nose, since she was giving me a side glance of her profile now. That's all I can make out of her features. Now that I think about it, the glasses seem like they're taken out right from a 70's sitcom. And even if I don't know her face, I could tell it suits her.

Just a few more steps to go and I'm still contemplating how to take her out from here without scaring her or making a scene. I know she's holding something in each hand. One, long and glinting in the moon; I'm almost sure that's a steel bat. The other, tiny in her hand and dark, so I don't know what it is. I'm still weighting my chances when suddenly, as if in a movie, I step on a branch. Are you kidding me? I was gonna argue in my mind how ridiculous this is when she turns around yelling like a mad woman declaring war, and launches with the bat.

I barely evade the swing to my right side when she takes the tiny can. That's not what I think it is, right? Without much time to think, I duck and cover my eyes, because in fact it's exactly what I thought it was. A pepper spray. For a couple of seconds I completely forget the bat, and it's enough time for it to come pummeling down on my left side. I swear the stars they show on cartoons don't do justice to the ones I'm seeing. Trying to contain an agonizing scream, I bite down hard on my hand. Somehow at last minute I sense the direction of the bat, I put my arm up protecting my ribs, and by the numbing pain, I know I hear right; the crunch of bones breaking.

I don't know how I do it with the unbearable pain I'm currently feeling, but I grab her hand with my good arm and drag her to a safe place before she can react. When she opens her mouth as if to scream, I cover her mouth with my palm.

"Hey! Hey! Shut it. I'm trying to help you." I hiss closing my eyes, seeing white from the pain. When I open them I try to concentrate on her, but I can barely see her as it is because of the poor light. "Are you calm?" She nods, but I doubt it. I take my palm from her mouth and see as she starts spitting as if it was gross. Rude. But cute?

She lifts up the bat again "Who are you? How do I know you're not with whoever is out here to begin with?"

"I'm Adam; Adam Rhys and I was just passing by when I heard the scream. I ducked behind a trash can, looked out for a bit and then saw you walk out with a bat and a... pepper spray." I glare at the can in her hand and grit my teeth. "I was about to help you because I think it can be a trap, when you gave your war cry and almost made a home run out of my head."

"Wait... but, how do you know it's a trap?"

"Just a guess. But they didn't do anything when I started searching for the source, and I think they might be in hiding. It can be a way to lure women out."

She's silent for a couple of seconds after analyzing what I just said. She looks down to my bleeding hand and what looks like a really, really broken arm, grimacing. "I'm Prielle Evans" and shyly, probably still doubting, shakes my good hand.

°°°°°

After safely escorting Prielle to her doorstep with not a clue as to what happened with the screaming woman or knowing if it was a trap or not, I head to the hospital.

That's an interesting name. I keep thinking to myself while the doctor and nurse check me.

My arm is broken in five places. I don't think it was just the steel bat, as much as the force that she hit me with... The force! I chuckled at my lame joke.

°°°°°

I'm on my way to a nearby market when I see her. I don't even get a good look at her face, but for some reason, I'm almost sure it's her. And her hair is not the vibration color I thought I saw. The first thought that came to mind was fire. Her hair was like fire that draw a moth to the flame. And I felt like burning in her presence. 

I want to know more about her.

And for some reason, as if my life was a constant movie waiting to happen, the floor underneath me starts slowly humming and I can imagine it coming. Then the ground starts shaking.

And I try to call her name.

*****
Author's Note:

What did you guys think of Adam?? Be honest! I appreciate the feedback.

That was my second surprise besides the double update, I was gonna introduce the new character in his own P.O.V.

Follow, comment, vote! XO. ❤