Our story begins not so long ago or far away, it begins in the small town of humptulip Washington. Population 255 people. One girls name was jennifer she was an up and coming news reporter always looking for a new story to tell, And here it begins with one news story that would change her life.
she walked up and into a small dance studio in the middle of town and looked around. The shop was small, quaint, and didn’t have much in it. mirrors lined the walls a bar was set against the mirror and that was that, that was everything there.
“May I help you?” A voice called out.
“Yes I'm actually looking for the owner i had an interview set up for today”
“You must be Jen” a tall figure lean and muscular walked out and into the light in a suit and hat.
“I am. Who are you?”
“I’m what you’d call a nobody from a small town gone to nothing…”
“That doesn’t tell me who you are.”
He let out a gentle sigh under his breath, “I’m Matt”
“Well Matt shall we get started with this interview??”
“Follow me.” A small smirk crawled onto his lips as he walked back into what looked like a dressing room. Jennifer followed shyly keeping a bit of space between them out of fear. The people around were harmless from the looks, but from the looks of Matt he wasn't from around the area. He looked like he was from a black and white gangster movie from the 1920s. He walked into the room and vanished through the door. Though scared Jen couldn’t help but think what a story this could be.
Jen walked into the room soon after him and was transported into an all new place, it was a dense forest not hot not cold, with a stream running through the forest. Then, without warning, Matt took her hand and started sprinting fast, dragging her behind him; till they got to what seemed to be the center of the forest to a treehouse up in one of the trees. Matt climbed up and into it the tree, it wasn't any tree though it was a sequoia tree. The big giants that attract so many tourists into organ and the northern part of California, They got up the tree and Matt pulled her down onto the couch.
“Listen to me okay...i was sent to find you…the guy I work for isn’t too happy about you.”
“What did I do??” She looked at him
“Well...you haven’t done it yet….you won't do it for another ten years but Jonny wanted me to go ahead and blip you off. I’m sorry, you really do seem like the bee's knees, and like quite the swell doll but...i just gotta do my job”
“Is there anyway you could just tell me what not to do and let me go?”
“Well, maybe, if you promise not to go and do the thing i tell you not to do”
“Alight deal”
He sighed “well sweetheart in the year 2016 - Ten years from your time - yous gonna write a story about my boss, Jonny Stephan Mckurman, and it shows some truths that we would rather not be released”
“What is this so called truth” she leaned on her hand
“He’s part of Al Capone’s gang and left him. We’s behind the eight ball because of you. you leaked that out. You just had to goes and mess that up for us doll.” Gunshots began to go off and pierce through the wood Matt grabbed her hand and ran out of the tree house busting through the window all you could hear were jens screams.
“What the hell matt!!”
“Zip your trap dolly now's not the time to go on squealing” he scooped her up bridal style as he ran dodging the bullets and leaped off a cliff not caring about the height;Jen clung to him in terror as they fell and he tumbled them into the brush and trees.
He panted heavily and held her close to protect her, but also to keep her mouth covered as he spoke quietly in her ear “imma go get materials for a quick fire doll..do not talk make a sound or move you got that sweetheart?”
She nodded through is hand in understanding. he stood up and vanished into the woods; she carefully looked around to make sure he was gone, and started to run quietly as she panted softly with every step -she was a reporter not an athlete- she made it about a mile before she was grabbed from behind and blindfolded and gagged.
A few hours went by and the blindfold and gag were removed she was in a dark damp room and a bright hot light was shining on her
“Who brought you here bim? Was it the marks twins i swear to god if it was their dead”
“No one brought me here i swear”
A woman shoved the light further into her face “I don't believe that for a moment sweetheart”
“I promise you it was no one!!” She cried out
She shook her head, “that's no answer”
Matt walked in “kala out of here you ill witted moll”
“Jonny ain’t gonna be too thrilled with you matt” she walked over and wrapped her arms around his neck “but i mean he never has to know”she played with the hair on the back of his neck “it wouldn’t take all that to keep me quiet”
“Get off me” he shoved her off and untied Jen “squeal all you want no one will listen to you your just some egg and that's all you are pocket to help feed him”
She smacked him and stormed out
He rubbed his cheek and glared at Jen “lets get going” he grumbled and gripped her arm as he walked out with her.
As night fell he sat up building a fire and cooking a squirrel he had killed earlier Jen messed with her hands as matt finally spoke up “so what’s a pretty thing like you doing working as an underpaid reporter”
“I’m An observer who likes to tell the stories everyone else is scared to tell. My dad was a politician my mom a business woman. You can get a lot of story’s growing up like that. What about you? what's a sweet guy like you doing as part of a gang.”
He shrugged “I ain’t worth nothing. My momma left mes for dead Johnny took me in under his arm and here I am. Betraying the only family I gots for some girl.”
“Then why don't you shoot me” she looked at him
“No man kills a woman. That’s no man thats a coward” he handed her some food
She nodded “thank you..” he gave. Simple nod and sat back tipping his hat over his eyes as he leaned back on a tree.
The morning came and Jen was up and writing on a story, matt woke up and sighed “come on dolly let me show you somethin’ you’ll need it probably”
“What do you mean?”
“I get your job is to ask questions but shut up” he grumbled and took her out to an empty meadow and handed her a gun we’re gonna teach your preppy self to shoot cause we are going against the mafia and I have a slight feelin you don't know how to shoot”
“I..um..okay your not wrong i can not shoot. Gun” he nodded and walked p behind her and put his hands over top of hers, guiding them where they need to be.
“Take in a deep breath, let it out, and point to your target. One you have your target in sight relax your body your mind look forward and pull the trigger doll” he smiled softly as Jen took the shot and hit right in the center of the tree where she was aiming. She tossed the gun own and jumped happily as she jumped into his arms not thinking.
“I did that!! Did you see that I did it!!” She giggled happily
“I did see that doll I’m proud” he chuckled and sat her down “now do it again without me” She bit her lip and picked the gun up repeating the action till she practically had it memorized. “Good...maybe we won't actually have to die by the end of this..” he smirked sarcastically
Jen shoved him playfully “oh hush you could save us without even trying” she giggled
“Well thank you ma’am not every second hand is as talented as me” he laughed and froze quickly as he Heard rustling in the bushes around them and quickly separated from her as he saw johnny and ran to his side.
Jonny smirked “good job you got her alone matt and right with the rest of us” people surrounded Jen on all sides“just turn yourself in sugar” Jonny smirked “it will be a lot less painful”
Jen looked around in terror “I’d rather die” Jen tried hard to stand proud but was failing poorly as she fumbled the the gun matt had given her as she took in a deep breath remembering the pointers he had given her
“Well doll I can arrange that” he motioned his men to start shooting as she started running and tried to fire the gun and failed. Matt was in the group of men surrounding her as he tried not to think about her. He ran out in front of her and started shooting at the others he was known for his aim as he had taken out every single guy leaving Jonny
He shook his head “matt. I thought I could trust you. I guess all is fair in love and war if that's what you’d call this monstrosity I see in front of me”
“I don't love her Jonny she is just another dame from the streets to me”
“Then you won't mind if i shoot her”
“I’d prefer you didn't but if you did i wouldn’t care”
He nodded and took a shot at Jen matt jumped in the way as he fired at Johnny. Johnny's shot went straight into Matt’s stomach, and Matt’s went right between Johnny's ribs. matt fell to the ground and Jen ran to matt and kneeled beside him and cupped his cheeks “mat please god i cant lose you please I’m not ready to lose you Matt” she cried out as she held him.
“Look at me doll.” He carefully rested his hand on her cheek “you’ll be okay. Your tough smart and god damn your the most attractive flapper I’s ever seen” he coughed as he tried to speak “you’ll make it through this sweetheart, you’ll be okay” he smiled weakly as he coughed and in turn let out his final breath as went limp in her arms. Jen cried and held his head to her chest and rocked him close sobbing.
With that our story ends with no happy ending no little twist to make it perfect like life it ends. Sometimes unexpectedly, we lose who we love and that’s that. We risk ourselves for the ones we love. So let's not take those around us for granted shall we?
