The One Who Saved Him

Part One-The Day It Began

It started the day I saved him. Nowadays the memories are blurred, some blocked, like a traumatic incident. I just remember walking down the alley, watching the streetlights glimmer and seeing a young man treading carefully in the darkness. It had just rained, so the black bitumen was fresh with puddles and stepping hazards. He was dressed well, in a fine black suit, hair combed, and I could hear the echo of his shoes echoing around the street. On the left were delerect houses, some still with doors and windows, some falling apart at the foundations. I cannot even remember what I was doing in that alleyway. I wish with everything I have that that circumstance had not eventuated, had never existed, if I'd only been somewhere else. Only minutes walking there had passed when the man looked back. His eyes were cold as steel, his light gelled brown hair glistening in the lights. The look he gave me sent shivers down my spine and caused the hairs on my neck to quiver. That expression of evil scared me to the core. I don't think I've ever recovered from that. He turned a corner and walked towards one of the delerect houses. A light was on in the front windows and I could see silhouettes of hunched people over a table. Before I had a chance to think, I saw another man, much older, much scraggier, enter the alley from the other side. Intuitively, I crouched behind an old car. I've heard of the things that have happened to young girls in dark alleys. He didn't seem to notice me. On he walked, with determination in his stride and a fixed eye on the young man. Suddenly he started running towards him. The younger man turned around, his eyes wide, obviously knowing who was about to be his attempted murderer. The older man grabbed him around the neck and began to squeeze. He laughed with satisfaction as the younger man squirmed and splattered. Without a thought of anything, I looked around. Seeing a wooden plank, I grabbed it, and began running towards them, adrenaline pumped through my veins, and a mixture of determination and bravery surged through me. With all the force my body could allow to use, I slammed the plank down on the older man's head, and he released his grasp, falling to the ground unconscious. The younger man collapsed, and I caught him just before he hit the concrete. I checked the unconscious man's pulse. He was still alive, but heart rate dropping. I turned to the younger man.

"Are you alright?" I asked. My memory of his glare was present, but my instinct to keep them alive was dominant. He nodded.

"Thanks to you." His words were filled with gratitude, but his face spoke in the same emotions his glare had possessed. Something about the way he stared at me put me on edge, made me feel uncomfortable.

"I'm Josie."

"Antoine."

"Who is that guy?"

He shook his head. "I cannot say."

"So you know him?"

"I cannot say."

"What do you mean you cannot say?"

"With respect, it is not yours to know."

"I just rescued you from being murdered, I think I have a right to know."

His glare returned. "I only say nicely once. It is not yours to know." His stare was intense now. I got the feeling I should run from this man with the glaring grey eyes and the one on the ground with murderous intentions, but I was transfixed. Suddenly my gaze broke.

"I need to call the ambulance."

"You will not. You will not call anyone."

I began to panic. This man may have been strangled, but he did not seem kind. I was genuinely beginning of thinking to strangle him myself.

"Ok, I'm going to leave." I stood to walk away and felt his hand on my arm. It was cold, and made my skin tingle.

"You will not."

"Let go of me!"

"You are coming with us."

I struggled and pulled but he was stronger than me. A group of people in black cloaks emerged from the shadows and formed a circle around me. They began walking me towards a black van.

"Help!" I screamed, my lungs bursting. "HELP, SOMEONE HELP ME!" My eyes were bursting with tears and my heart pounding with terror, as I was shoved into the back of the van, and the door slammed shut, leaving me in pitch black.