The Fall

What the HELL we that?

The next day I was feeling a little better, physically not emotionally. I was still wallowing in self-pity and anger at Mike and Sam, but at the same time, I was feeling sorry for them. A lot of questions started to pop up. Like how long had Mike known that he was gay, and how difficult it must have been to hide their love from the world and all of the other problems that they are going to face. So in a way, I was starting to feel mad at myself for being such a b***h to them when they told me. I think it was at that time that I decided to forgive them and move on. After all, they say there are other fish in the sea too bad that I am such a terrible fisher, O and I have almost no bait.

Pulling into the parking lot at the gas station. I was not looking forward to a full day of dealing with people, but I also had a cable and cell phone bill that had to be paid before I was cut off from the rest of the world. The day went by just as slowly as usual with the exception of fewer customers. Tom and Janice were quieter than normal, but I was not complaining. The entire day had a melancholy about it, so it fit my mood.

At about 9:30 on Friday, I was getting ready to close down for the night (I was looking forward to the long weekend of my pity party) when Mrs. Smith came in. She was one of a few customers that I actually liked. Something about a 90-year-old woman having as much pep and fight in her made me smile. She was the sweet-looking grandmother that would curse you out and kick your ass if she had to. She was the kind of old person I wanted to be.

“Good evening Mrs. Smith," I said

“Oh hello Jane, I was just going to pick up a few things, you’re not closing now are you?”

“No I have a few minutes left, go ahead and get what you need and take your time. I have no place to be.”

Ten minutes later she was standing at the register waiting for me to check her out.

“Are you alright?” she asked me.

“Yes…… why do I not look okay?” I asked not really wanting to know the answer.

“Yes... you just look.... a...little run down. Do you have that bug that's going around?”

“Ya I did but I’m over it, I still feel a little queasy but I’ll be fine. How are you doing? Did you get sick?”

“No, at my age you have to outsmart the common cold in order to see your next birthday.” she said jokingly as she pulled open her coat and showed me her “I got my flu shot” sticker on her shirt.

“Cute, want help carrying your bag to the car?” I asked actually being sincere.

“No, I can get it. It is part of my cardio. That’s what is keeping me so young.” she winked at me and grabbed the bag off the counter and started for the door. I keep watch from the counter. I could see her car and Mr. Smith in the front seat. Even though he looked like he was sleeping in the drivers set. I thought to be old and not have to worry about much other than, what game show am I going to watch today and Oh look I have outlived old what's her name from down the hall.

I went to turn off the lights and on my way back I noticed that the back of Mrs. Smith’s car was still open. I guess that she did need some help after all. I grabbed my coat/sweater and keys hit the alarm and walked outside to help, my car was only a few spaces away from the Smith's. As I got closer I did not see the Smiths. I called out “Mrs. Smith are you OK?” There was no answer just a small moaning sound like if someone was injured. Oh no I thought something must have happened to Mrs. Smith. She must have fallen or had a heart attack or something happen to her husband. I started running toward the car and the moaning was growing louder. As I rounded the front of the car I was expecting to see at least one of them on the ground, but there was nothing. What?!? Where are they, all of the other shops were closed and there were no other cars besides ours in the parking lot. That was when I heard someone scream from behind me. I whirled around and saw Mrs. Smith standing by the door that I had just come out of. She must have tried to get in through the side door as I was locking the front door. She screamed again. I looked where she was looking and saw Mr. Smith on the ground. I started towards him. As I got closer I saw why she had been screaming, there was blood all over the place. That stopped me in my tracks, what the hell was going on? Mr. Smith looked like he was put through a wood chipper, but he was still moaning. Holy crap he was still alive. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my cell phone to call 911, as I was pushing the last one Mrs. Smith screamed again. I turned to where she was standing a minute ago, but she was gone. I followed after her screams, to the back of the building and in the dark, I could just barely see her on the ground that was when I realized that she was being attacked by someone. I did the first thing that I could think of. I threw the phone at the assailant to try to get their attention. But that did not work; they just kept on, with what looked like biting and hitting her. I turned toward the dumpster and grabbed the first heavy thing I could find. It was a piece of metal shelving that had been thrown out last week. Lifting it I ran to Mrs. Smith and whacked the assailant three or four times before I hit him hard enough to knock him out. He rolled off Mrs. Smith and I kicked him even farther away from us. Kneeling down next to her in the dark I could tell that she was hurt really bad. s**t now I wish that I had not thrown my cell phone.

“Hold on Mrs. Smith, I’m going to get my phone.” Standing in the dark, I scanned the area looking for my cell phone. I saw the light reflecting off the screen under the dumpster. I knelt down next to it and reached under the dumpster reaching till I found my phone as I picked it up and I heard the assailant moaning again. I stood and pushed the power button and nothing happened, s**t. Putting the phone in my pocket I ran back to Mrs. Smith and tried to see if she would be able to walk, but as I got to her kneeling next to her I tried to shake her, but as soon as I touched her she felt wrong. She was not breathing. She was dead. I started talking to her begging her to get up that we had to get the help that we could not stay here. Tears burned my eyes and throat. Giving in to the anger I picked up the piece of shelving and walked over to the moaning assailant. He still had not gotten up just sliding almost a crawl toward Mrs. Smith. I kicked him hard rolling him over and in the dark, I could see that there was something wrong he looked dead himself as if he too had been put through a wood chipper, he was also missing his right hand and most of his upper arm.

“WHAT THE f**k IS GOING ON HERE!” I screamed. He just moaned back at me in response.

He reached for me and grabbed my leg trying to bite me. I kicked him off and took several steps back. Then I heard a different moan it was coming from where I had left Mrs. Smith. Walking slowly over to her she was starting to move, but something about her movements was so unnatural that I stopped and backed away. Standing there I felt confused. As she stood, her movements were awkward and robotic I knew that something was wrong and ran to my car. Fumbling with the keys, I got the door opened and jumped inside. Locking the doors, I reached into my pocket and pulled out my cell phone again, it didn't even go on. “f**k,” I said throwing it. I grabbed the steering wheel and tried to make sense of what just happened.

I put the keys in the ignition and started the car; then I looked up and saw Mrs. Smith standing right outside my car door looking at me with dead eyes. she slammed her hands on my window, covering it in her blood. She was trying to get in. I threw the car into drive and stepped on the gas pulling away as fast as I could, leaving Mrs. Smith behind me.

“What the HELL was that?” I asked when I was no longer able to see the lights of the gas station in my rearview mirror.