A Gentleman's Shot

He thought he heard her coming up the path; feet crunching in the leaves and gravel.  He had prepared for this encounter carefully; watching, studying her daily movements for the last month.  All he had done was send her a drink at the bar one night.  He'd tried to make conversation; been nothing but friendly.  Sure he would have loved to take her home but it was only the drink he'd offered so openly. He wasn't that way.  She had snootily pushed it away as if it contained piss.  She had rolled her eyes and haughtily replied "Uhhh I don't THINK so..."  It wasn't the first time he'd sent her a drink, but she didn't even recognize him from those different occasions.  She just rolled her eyes and dismissed him.  She had laughed; waltzing away or turning her back to him cold and hurtful. He would simply drink what he'd bought her an pocket the glass.  Maybe Evan wasn't the BEST looking man, but he wasn't laughable and she was about to learn this. His chance was coming and quickly.  He was glad he'd practiced so many times. He would have to wait just a little more. He fumbled in his pocket feeling a little encouragement by what he touched there.

Marissa rounded the corner and saw a figure standing at the edge of the path.  She felt all the alarms go off in her head and race through her body.  Her nerves tingled hotly and her mouth felt full of straw.  She slowed, hoping the hooded man was just a walker, passing by her.  She turned to run back but he was too quick.  In an instant he had grabbed her, reeling her in like a fish; first by her jacket, then by her hair so he could wrap his arm around her neck.  She kicked at him but he shook her to the ground. The punch in the chest felt as if she'd been struck with an anvil.  Her breath had simply disappeared, rushing from her in a panicked bark. She stared helplessly as he knelt above her, pulling a knife from his pocket. Rocks and tree roots bit into her back and legs as he cut her clothes away. When her breath finally returned she used it to beg him to stop.  Her brain was screaming for her body to DO something more to save herself.  But she simply couldn't budge from underneath his bulk.  She felt his breath up under her chin and the cold sting of the knife as it hungrily circled her newly exposed flesh. Marrisa slammed her eyes shut and began to pray.

With strength the stranger had not anticipated, she elbowed him and kicked at him.  He was not new to this behavior and was able to shake her loose from the ground, folding her like a card chair.  He kneed her in the back and  quickly pinned her down with his powerful legs, and punched her in the chest.  She collapsed, gasping wide eyed and frightened which was just what he wanted. He surveyed his latest prize and felt himself begin to stir. He was getting good at this.

She wasn't sure where the scream came from.  It was deep and gravelly.   There was a sudden jolt as she was violently pitched to the side, now underneath what looked like a football tackle. Elbows and knees jabbed at her. Marissa felt the thump and saw the lights as contact was made over again with her head and body. She felt the dirt below her grind into her skin and shifted to pull back from the ruckus.  She heard grunting and scuffling.  Tearing her eyes open, she discovered two men rolling into the brush.  The larger one with the hood was wildly swinging a knife.  The smaller one was punching and kicking so fast Marissa thought he looked like a rabid hummingbird.  There was a yelp and a flash of red. Then the bigger man wobbled to his feet and began to sway aggressively; tossing hand to hand the now bloodied knife.  The smaller one cupped his wound and stood still. Waiting.

"C'mon little man."the larger growled.

Evan wiped his mouth and remained still.  "First move is always for cowards and cheap shots." he snarled and motioned with his fingertips.

The bigger of the two loped forward and jabbed at him.  Evan moved aside and helped the stranger to a face full of Earth.  He punched him several times and grabbing the injured man by the hair, proceeded to whack his head into the ground until he had been more than stunned. Evan then quickly snaked his belt off and tied the hulk's hands behind his back. Turning sharply to Marissa, he barked;

"Run back and call the police."

She sat frightened on the jogging path staring at the semi-conscious monster who was chuffing dirt and mud. She was pale and shaking her head. Shock was forcing her into a ball; full of frailty and denial.

"DO IT" he snapped again.

Her head flipped to him.  Only then did she begin to pull her clothes around her and start to get up.

"Oh my God... " she repeated. "You... you..." she stumbled like a newborn giraffe.

"Go get help." he tried a third time with a little more gentleness.

Tears began to fill her eyes.  She stood and looked at herself, shocked at what hadn't happened.  Marissa turned and ran back up the path at first whimpering then whispering and finally shouting for help at the top of her lungs.  She and several others came back including a beat cop.  Upon returning, she found only the hulk of a man face down in the dirt wallowing in defeat and pain and a small cup.

No one else.

Marissa was swallowed in police reports and legal work.  She sought comfort in the company of friends and tried to hang on to her life, never forgetting the horrible incident that could have happened. She fought for control over a fear that choked her every moment.  Trying to get to her car from a store, training, or just sitting alone in her home had become incidents filled with an almost crippling terror.  It was why she reluctantly agreed to go out with her friend.  Marissa simply couldn't stand the extra shadows or whispers that crept through her house at night.

They sat so she could see the door; back to the wall.  Marissa was content to sip her cranberry and seltzer while shifting gently in her seat to the music. She watched and smiled as her friend danced, received drinks, compliments and phone numbers.  The bartender brought over a glass and set it in front of her. Marissa instinctively pushed it to her friend's seat.

"No. For you." said the barmaid scooting back to her.

"Ahhh I appreciate it but I'm not drinking tonight." she pushed it away.

"It's cranberry juice." the man said from her side.  She jumped, almost falling from her perch.  Quickly she scanned the room, searching for her friend and an exit.  Her heart pounded under her jacket as nervous sweat tickled her skin.

"That's nice of you. So you have been watching me?" she shifted uncomfortably.  Her knee pumped up and down as if trying to crank start an engine.

The man smiled lightly. "No. I asked the bartender what you were drinking."

"Oh. Ha. Of course." She glanced nervously for her friend who was lost in yet another one of her all time favorite songs on the floor.  Once she started drinking, they were all her favorites.  Marissa was blocked in.
She sighed heavily and gave an uneasy smile.

The man leaned in. Marissa instinctively pulled back and put one foot on the floor as if she was about to hurdle the bar or karate kick him in the stomach. "I would like to talk to you some time." he said sweetly.

"Oh I don't..."

" I think we have a lot in common."

"Ohhhhh no...I don't...." her head shaking quickly.  Her mouth felt full of hot oatmeal. "I don't think..."

"I do. Here is my number.  I'd love to take you out somewhere quiet and enjoy your company."

"Im sorry, do I know you?"her voice was filling with alarm.

He took her hand.  The gruff touch of the bandage around his made her look down. Her jaw dropped.
He took her cranberry juice from the bar, drank it, and placed the small glass in her palm with a note.

"Give the nice guy a shot."

He left her there with a soft smile crossing both their lips.





Ha I know, it's almost corny, but I still like it.  I hope you did.  I have some others but as you know, I suffered from vacation distractions and a little writer's block.  Oh well, you'll come back and visit soon won't you? I sure hope so.


thanks as always.