I Couldn't come up with a proper title for this one, perhaps you might assist?  At times it can be to most taxing element of writing.  Beyond that side note, another chapter of Silhouette is here for your viewing.  Out of classes I'm picking up the pen again and work through series two.  More material coming your way and don't forget to check out Nothing Presents at nothingtoshownow.blogspot.  And be sure to 'like' The Teej 

for more updates.

Yours Truly,

Teej

A Trip to the Store

Her nametag reads Heather, describing the lovely evening shift clerk at a rubbish, locally owned convenient store in a shit part of town.  Her face, strained and expressionless, maimed from wear and tear added 10 years, telling about the two kids at home, the disappearing father, the alcohol dependency recently manifested by her amusing insurance plan which now failed to fund her previous pill addiction; she’s adding to her morning coffee now.  There’s a bruise hidden by her right sleeve as a testament of her new love, Brian; a reasonably aged joke of a salesman in a substantial amount of debt, prone to alcohol and testosterone fueled rages, with reoccurring promises that it’s the last time.

In front of her is a man she’s never seen before.  His eyes widen and anxious while barring something of a crazed smile.  He’s watching Heather, contemplating the last time he’d had consensual sex.  Her company issued outfit reflects in his gaze as he proceeds.  He’s here for a more lucrative purpose and must work with haste.  The sheer willpower it takes for him to ignore the overwhelming impulse to leap over the counter and rape her on the spot is unbearable.  If caught, it meant another five in a state pen.  His presence there violated nearly every part of his parole; adding the gun, a black Beretta outstretched and leering at Heather, there was no telling what his sentence would be.  His jet black hair is starting to gray and his nerves aren’t what they used to be.  The on duty officer got called out and this was his chance.

From over his shoulder he keeps an eye on the rest of the shop.  Customers had hit the floor once the gun had been produced.  ‘Cooperate and it’ll all be over soon.’  A frail old woman who’d just popped in for her weekly quick pick had stumbled backwards and shook with terror once making eye contact with the weapon in hand.  Her purse escaped her by a few paces and drew the attention of the crook.

Midst his rifling through her possessions, the slamming of a cooler echoed over the tense atmosphere.  It startled the robber, dropping the purse and again pointing the gun around the room frantically.  He fired, twice, overhead to gain control of the room once more.

“Hey what’d I say about fuckin’ moving?”  A noise arose from the corner which he dealt with by blind firing.  “Come on out or people start getting’ shot!”

Palming his head from behind, she forced it in collision with the till.  She appear out of nowhere.  The criminal struggled to straighten himself, his piece promptly kicked from his hand, he was rendered powerless.  Pulling him closer, she whispers in his ear, “How’s it feel to be the victim?”  She stuffs a knee between his thighs bringing him to a slump and presents him one last kick for good measure.

Leaving a few coins on the counter, she left without a word; soft drink in hand.  Returning outside she rejoined her companion.

“Seriously?  I go inside for a second and have to come back to see you smoking?”

“We going on this again?  What’d you care?”

“It’s bad for you to—“

Em-Aych rolled his eyes.  “Yeah, we’ve gotten that.  Dunno why every person feels the need to go around reminding us.  Surely our knowledge of medicine has given us that little tid bit.  And you’re one to talk.”

Silvia was caught mid sip on her carbonated beverage.

“You got any idea what sort of shit they put into any of those?”

“Do you really want to go comparing the two?”

“Might be interesting.”

She frowned, “might want to place some distance from here; flashing lights are bound to show up soon.”

The outreach of sirens cried over the rush of early evening traffic.  It was enough of a warning to indicate to Em-Aych that they didn’t have all that much time.

“Ah, now look what you’ve done.”  He looked around for the best direction.  “This way,” he steered with a hurried pace.  Officers had a knack for pointing him out in a line up.

They drifted around the corner and stopped.  The side street was vacant and inspired confidence that no one would drop.

Silvia inspected the battle with curiosity.

“You don’t think I drink these too often?  I mean, I barely ever buy them.”

“It’s not to say that,” he reassured.  “I’ve been cutting down anyway.  It’s just one to comment on my habits while you entertain your own.”

“Look whose Mr. Sensitive.”

“No it’s not—“

“Did I strike a chord?”  She continued to tease.

He tried backing, but she followed his face.  Persisting to pester he attempted to shove her away.  All the while, Silvia became more and more motivated to annoy him.

“It’s the oral fixation there, yeah?  Could look for a sort of replacement for that!”

She didn’t hear the car approached from behind and Em-Aych had to force her around for her to call attention.  Flashing its lights, as predicted, overhead, a squad car pulled up.  The officer in the passenger seat steps out.

“Alright no sudden movements.  What’d you think you kids are doing back here?”

The two froze, looking to each other for some plausible tale.  Silvia stood between him and the inquisitive cop and on the off chance he’d overlooked, slowly removed his hat.

“Just conversing with my girl her officer,” he put his arm around her waist, and immediately swatted back.

Loud chatter rose from the radio in the interiour of the cruiser; the driver looked concerned and hurried.

“She’s not a prostitute?  Let me see some identification.”

Silvia began shouting, infuriated by the accusation.

“Who the fuck do you think you are trying to call me a whore, you stupid—“

“Ma’am calm down.”

Em-Aych joined in with the offense as the officer nervously turned to his partner who reminded him about how they didn’t have the time.  A rookie mistake announcing his weakness, interpreted quick by the two ‘kids’.

“Lemme see that badge of yours to get a good look at you!”

“Keep the plates in mind.  What a bastard!”

“We’ve got a crime scene to attend to, bugger off!”

Submerging back into the vehicle, the squad car screeched away, fluttering papers of the alley twirling behind.

“And sometimes you get a lucky break,” Em-Aych sighed; returning his hat to its proper resting place.

“Luck is the only thing to call it.  Do you suppose they’re responding to—“

“Quite likely; I’m not one to stick around either way.”

Kicking off a bike rack, he clambered up the side of a low concrete structure.  From there, it was little effort to reach the second story of the parking garage.  Following his example, Silvia tore through the car park, ascending multiple flight of stairs.  Em-Aych was perched on the fence.

“Where to?”  He wondered.

“Got to stop by the shop later, Steve has something he wants to show me or whatever.  Work related.  We could head that way?”

“Had something to talk to Rain about anyway; good to see what she’s working on now as well.”

“Yeah, she just finished that thing with the nut cracker…Shop’s that way,” she pointed forward.  “But the best place to cross is probably in that corner on the third floor.”

The gap below was wider than normal.  From where they stood they were ten flights of stairs to the ground; going around seemed the only way.

Em-Aych nodded and took a few steps back with Silvia before bolting back to the wall.  With precise footing and a magnificent leap, he launched himself off the garage.  Silvia ran to the side, concerned he’d jumped short.  Keeping his legs tight, he flew over the alley, the upmost concentration in his eyes.  Having cleared the gap, his legs made contact with the ground as he immediately transitioned into a roll.  Returning to his feet, he turned around to Silvia safely on the other side.

She’d doubted the possibility before, but she had a difficult time accepting defeat, knowing the glowing smirk that would await her.  She gazed at the jump for a moment longer, then, satisfied, made her way to the stairs.  She knew her limitations as well as the consequences.

Soaring from the third floor, the distance wasn’t nearly as bad.  She caught a window and puller herself up.  A fire escape was just a bit further and could carry her the rest of the way.  He’d waited for her, sure enough, barring a smirk.

“Gloat all you want, I’m catching up to you.  I’m just not that suicidal; yet.”

“It is madness that drives us,” he laughed.

“It’s pretty steady all the way back to the shop, right?”

“I’d say so.”

“Try not to trip then,” she giggled as she sprinted off the other end of the building.

Taking a deep breath, he followed.