The Turmoil of Time

Chapter 3 - Damien

I don't know how long I've been driving for, but it's dark by the time the symbol lights up on the dash, alerting me that I'm low on gas. I look around at the graffiti-covered walls and potholed roads, just realizing that I'm in the wrong side of town.

I look back down at the gas sign, contemplating if I'd have enough to turn around and get to a filling station in the safer half of Ferndale.

Biting the inside of my cheek, I decide to take my chances.

Just get out, fill up, get back in.

Easy.

I pull into a gas station. After a quick scan of the place, I hop out of my Jeep, locking the doors behind me. Speed walking to the gas tank, I unscrew the cap and push the gas pipe into it.

Just as it starts filling, I hear something. Something scuffling against the bitumen. After a few seconds, it halts.

I listen to my common sense telling me to stop fueling. After all, I just need enough gas to get me out of this area. I screw the cap back on the tank and jog to the gas station to pay.

To my surprise, there's no one inside. I peer over the counter, trying to get a look into the back room, but don't see any movement. I look around, confirming that there's no one here, before leaving a wad of cash on the counter. Just as I'm leaving, however, I hear it again. More feet shuffling, followed by a muffled cry. On alert, I walk over to the side of the building.

I gasp at what I see.

A guy, probably in his mid-twenties, has his arm wrapped around a girl's waist. His other hand is cupped over her mouth. She struggles against him, but he's just too strong.

I look around, hoping a police car magically appears. Just as I pull out my phone to call for help, I hear a pained scream. The guy's arm is still holding the girl securely against him, but he's shaking his other hand. Something drips from it, and it takes me a moment to realize it's bleeding.

The guy yells in outrage, "You bit me!"

"Get off of me!" The voice sounds eerily familiar.

My attention snaps to the girl. Now that his hand is no longer covering her face, I can clearly see her. Raven hair, pale skin, almond-shaped eyes.

I gasp. Addison.

"Hey!" I scream, already charging forward.

Both heads swing towards me. Addison's eyes go wide while the guy spits out in rage, "Stay out of this! It has nothing to do with you."

"It has everything to do with me," I lie easily, "She's my girlfriend."

The guy retorts, "You a thief too?"

I stutter, momentarily taken aback, "Uh, no. Neither is she."

"Then how do you explain those?" He points at a backpack lying a few feet away from him. I cautiously take a few steps towards it, using my foot to lift the unzipped cover. Inside is a bottle of antiseptic and a pack of bandages.

"She wasn't stealing them."

The guy quirks his eyebrow, obviously not believing me.

Undeterred, I continue with the lie, "She forgot her money at home so she called me, asking if I could drop by to pay. She was in a hurry so left before I got here." I take out my wallet, offering him some cash, "This should be more than enough."

He looks at Addison, then at the money, unsure of what to do.

Please, just take the damn money.